Saturday 2 December 2017

How to avoid an angry Christmas

Learning to deal with anger is a challenge for everyone at times. Stress can be a huge influence on our anger levels and for many, Christmas is the most stressful time of the year. The British Association of Anger Management found that the average family has their first argument at 9.58am on Christmas morning!

The aim of Anger Awareness week is to identify and bring awareness to anger as a social issue that needs to be addressed. Have a read through our top tips for innovative ways to keep your cool this week and throughout the festive period.

Breathe…

The Christmas period can be a busy one. Many of us will be spending more time with close and extended family than we would usually choose to! This can result in louder arguments and messy meals which can cause stress anger levels to rise. If this happens to you, take a step outside the room and find a quieter place to just breathe. Never underestimate the benefits of allowing yourself this time to yourself, to gather your thoughts and think more rationally.

Express yourself…

When we feel that our voices have not been heard, there can be a sense of injustice, which can result in feelings of anger. Once you have taken the time to breathe and are thinking more rationally, try expressing your feelings in a calm and non-accusatory way that avoids any further friction. This can allow them to understand your feelings better and will also provide you with an insight into another person’s perspective, which can sometimes be helpful.

Laugh…

It may seem like the last thing you want to do, but a humorous distraction can work wonders for diffusing your anger levels. Try thinking back to a particularly funny experience or find an online video you can immerse yourself in for a moment to help dig yourself out of the angry hole you’re sitting in.

Listen…

Arguments can often arise as a result of miscommunication. You both might be trying to make the same point but in different ways, but without listening to each other, you’ll struggle to realise this. Try to take in and process what the other person is saying before jumping in with your own point.

Learn…

Christmas is not a one off. Therefore, you have the advantage of knowing what set you off last time. If there seems to be a recurring conversation that has led to an argument before, take action and change the subject. They may not be your mistakes, but it is still worth learning from them.

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