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Overview
Anger management
Anger is often the precursor to stress. As Aristotle put it: "To be
angry with the right person to the right extent and at the right moment
and with the right object and in the right way - that is not easy."
Anger often includes physical symptoms such as thumping heart, tightening
of throat and chest, indigestion, headaches and a weary feeling. It
tends to start with an underlying feeling of anxiety, boredom, fear
or restlessness.
Anger management helps people acknowledge the emotion and look at ways
of expressing it and dealing with it in constructive and creative ways.
One of the hard lessons is that although anger is best expressed immediately,
it needs to be done in a way that doesn't hurt yourself or others. Consult
your doctor for more information. Counsellors and psychotherapists are
available on the NHS.
Relaxation techniques for stress
Many people who feel stressed - and those who want to prevent stress
in the first place - benefit from relaxation, in the sense of giving
the mind and body deep rest and revitalisation. Some of the ways of
doing this include yoga (which has many variations), t'ai chi, self-hypnosis
and progressive relaxation of the muscles. This involves focusing on
every part of the body in turn and consciously releasing tension from
each group of muscles. Find out about local groups or visit your local
library for information.
Easing stress through meditation
One of the most popular ways of tackling stress is meditation, although
this is not really the only reason people do it. Again, there are various
ways of meditating but the aims are the same - to experience complete
peace by shutting off all thoughts and outside stimuli and focusing
on a simple phrase or just on the sensation of breathing. At first the
mind is restless but with time and practice - some people recommend
two daily sessions of around 15 to 20 minutes each - it becomes still.
The candle technique
Another variation is to sit looking at the flame of a candle from about
3ft away for five minutes. Then blow out the candle and lightly cover
your closed eyes with the palms of your hands. The after-image of the
candle should appear in the middle of your forehead. It slips away after
a while but you can practise bringing it back with concentration.
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