Taming the Emotional Food Chain
Anger management and stress relief could fix eating problems
by Ari Novick
Anger is one emotion we all have. For some of us anger is the
primary way we express our needs when we get upset. What is
interesting about anger is that it is usually a response to some
other emotion we are having. Really give it some thought. Think
about the last time you were really upset. Were you upset because
someone hurt your feelings? Perhaps it was because you felt
blamed or were minimized? Anger is usually a secondary response
on the "emotional food chain". There is usually some other
emotion that precedes it. Learning to understand our true
feelings that get masked by anger is the first way to understand
how we can express our anger more effectively.
Taking a class in anger management can be really helpful. Anger
management classes are not just for people that broke the law and
get sent by the courts. Anger management classes are used by
corporations, managers, law offices, school personal, families
and volunteer. Most good anger management classes teach skills
that many of us just don't learn in school or in life. You will
learn better ways of communicating so that your true feelings and
needs get expressed.
Most anger management classes also teach skills in assertiveness.
Learning to be assertive will help get your feeling, needs, and
mood expressed in the most appropriate way. When we speak
assertively, we do it in a reasonable tone, we don't use
profanity, we make good eye contact, and we feel good about
ourselves. The opposite of being assertive is being aggressive,
passive-aggressive or just passive.
You will also learn stress relief techniques. When we reduce stress
we feel better. We also help increase our life expectancy because
high levels of stress over prolong period of time can have
damaging effects to our bodies (and our minds). Anger management
classes will often teach you the skills you need to identify and
mange stress in ways you never thought possible.
Most anger management classes also teach skills in increasing our
empathy. When we increase our empathy we are better able to
understand the feelings other people might be experiencing.
Becoming more empathic gives us the ability to not get as
frustrated with others and have better insight into our own
feelings. Many anger management classes teach these skills. They
are valuable because they help us become better working with
others as well as having stronger more rewarding relationships.
The bottom line is, don't wait to have anger ruin a valued
relationship. Anger is an emotion that can be understood. Bad
behavior can be unlearned and replaced with more positive and
appropriate actions. The more you can understand about your own
anger the faster you will be able to do something about it. Most
people let anger control their lives. In many cases anger has
ruined lives by destroying relationships and dissolving
partnerships. Learning skills in an anger management class could
change your life for the better. Enroll in a class and try it
out. Getting the help you need could save you more than realize.
Copyright © 2005 Ari Novick, M.A., C.A.M.F.
The AJ Novick Group offers a variety of anger management programs
including in-person classes, home study programs, accelerated
weekend classes and much more. Visit http://www.ajnovickgroup.com
for more information.