Anger can get to the best of us. Life is challenging and sometimes you may feel angry. Sometimes you may shout and lose yourself. And that’s okay. However, if anger occurs regularly each day or several times a day, then learn to control it before it takes its toll on your mental and physical health or your personal or professional relationships.

Here are some top tips to deal with anger and if you feel that these are not working for you, then it may be necessary for you to consider professional help, especially if you feel that you may harm yourself or someone else when you feel angry.

• Take a few moments in the form of a time-out before you say something in the heat of the moment that you later may regret.

• Understand the feelings of anger and where they have come from. Anger is a secondary emotion and there will always be something that has caused it for example, feeling controlled, fearful, insecure, jealousy, not good enough, not feeling important or respected.

• When you feel that you can express your anger in a way that is assertive and without using hurtful or offensive words, then speak. Do not name call or point the blame at the other person; express how you feel or how their action/words have impacted you.

• Be sure to talk using “I” statements to describe the problem and be specific. Do not accuse of blame the other person. For example, say, “I’m upset that you did not help to empty the dishwasher tonight after dinner”, instead of “You never empty the dishwasher.”

• Forgive the other person; try not to hold on to resentment and bitter feelings. We are all trying our best and no one is perfect. We all come with our ow ideas and behaviours based on our own unique experiences.

• Try to use humour in the moment to lighten up the situation and relieve tension. Be careful not to come across as making fun at the other person.

• Go for a walk or a run to let-off some steam and then see how you feel about the situation.