We often throw jokes at the body languages of the rock stars! The members of a hard rock band attract our attention through their ferocious body movements, postures and gestures. Some persons prefer to describe this as a way to bring out their inner frustrations and anger! If it is true, then this seems to be a really positive way to express their anger. After all, their anger is coming out as music to entertain other people! You can describe anger as a negative energy and expressing it in some positive form will remain as a challenge for you! The question is, can you manage your anger through physical activities or exercises or in other words, can you channel your frustrations through exercises? Let's find it out gradually.
What is Anger?
Anger is a strong, but a normal emotion which involves a tough and an uncomfortable response to something provocative. A controlled anger is not usually harmful and the intensity can range from a mild irritation to a fury.
What are the Changes Experienced by an Individual When He is Angry?
A person who is angry will experience the following immediate changes in him:
- Irritation to an object, circumstance or a person.
- Increase in the rate and the depth of breathing. However, this aspect varies in degree and intensity as per the degree of the anger.
- Flushing of the skin
- Increase in the heart rate
- Increase in the blood pressure
- Perspiration
- Inability to concentrate on other objects
What are the Harmful Effects of Being Angry?
Anger can cause immense destruction in all the spheres of life. The effects can be physical, psychological and social as well.
- The long term effects of being angry include headaches, mood swings, persistent increased blood pressure, breathlessness and restlessness. These harmful effects, when persist for a long term, can cause severe damage to the health. It can lead to violence and frustration. It can make a person harm himself or others if he does not get a proper way to vent his grievances.
- Psychologically, a person loses his ability to solve problems. It leads to depression which can, in turn, lead to destructive habits like smoking, alcoholism and even sometimes drug abuse.
- Socially, his unacceptable behavior may lead to strained social relations.
Various Anger Management Techniques:
- Temporarily moving away from the place or the object that is causing the anger.
- Breathing deeply.
- Talking to someone about it.
- Writing the problem down and then finding a solution to it.
- Adopting relaxation techniques. These can be specific to the concerned person. Some relax by lying down, some by listening to music and some by reading a book.
- Doing meditation.
- Using reason to control anger.
- Exercising.
What is the Role of Exercises in Controlling Anger?
In recent days, exercise has been known to be used in controlling anger. It is a very useful distraction technique to divert the mind away from the irritation towards more constructive things! In other ways, exercise can also be used in controlling the symptoms of anger, especially the cardiac symptoms. Exercises greatly help the patients with heart ailments during their episodes of anger. Exercise targets to control the symptoms and the damages done to the heart are comparatively reduced.
Along with this, regular exercise is also known to bring positive neuro-hormonal changes in the brain. It facilitates the release of the serotonin hormone, also known as the feel good hormone, which helps to keep individuals in good moods.
According to some studies, regular exercises can cause a significant improvement in the anger threshold.
What are the Specific Exercises that can Calm You Down?
Some of the exercises which have been proved to be helpful in controlling anger are:
- Deep breathing exercises, yoga and aerobic exercises like walking, running and cycling.
- Recreational activities like swimming, dancing or playing outdoor games can also be helpful in managing anger.
- Along with this, playful activities like shooting baskets and hitting the dart board can also be helpful in channelizing the energy in a positive way.
You are a storehouse of energy! But the way you channel or express it will really matter to you and to everyone around you. Anger, a negative expression of energy, can go a long way to destroy your physical health and belongings apart from affecting your relationship with your family, friends and the society at large. Pour your energy into exercises! The activities will not only help to look good and fit, but it will preserve relations as well! And the next time you feel angry, don't forget to give your entire "load" to a stress ball!
