[alittlehoshime]

Every day brings situations with the potential to push your buttons. Maybe it's a traffic jam when you're already running late, critical comments from a coworker, or an umpire who makes bad calls at your kid's baseball game. These events and many more create feelings of frustration, disappointment, or hurt, which can lead to one of the most powerful emotions of all: anger.

Anger isn't bad. It's a normal part of being human. But while anger is a natural emotion, how you handle it can make all the difference in your relationships, your thinking and behavior, and even your health.

Some studies have shown a connection between anger and high blood pressure, heart disease, headaches, skin disorders, and digestive problems. And don't think you're off the hook if you hold in your anger. Doing that can be an underlying cause of anxiety and depression.

So how do you deal with this strong emotion? Should you blow up when it shows up, or bottle it up instead? Experts say neither is a good option, because negatively expressing or constantly suppressing anger may present the same risks to your well-being. Instead, try the following tips to manage your anger in a healthier way:

Count to 10—it works!
This age-old advice really can help disarm anger. While counting, you're distracted from whatever made you angry. It gives you mental distance until you can regain control and approach the situation more constructively.

Take a deep breath.
Just like counting, deep breathing helps counteract the stress reaction that fuels anger. Take a slow, deep breath the moment anger strikes. You immediately should experience a sense of relaxation.

Be assertive.
When you're extremely angry, you may lose control. Try being assertive instead. That means expressing your feelings calmly and directly, without defensiveness, hostility, or heated emotion. Honestly expressing your feelings—and your legitimate right to them—will help establish understanding and cooperation.

Break away for a moment.
Buy time to get your feelings under control. Whether it's your coworkers or your kids, simply say to them, "Let's discuss this later." Then take a short break, preferably away from the person or place that's making you angry.

Practice makes peaceful.
When you practice good listening skills, you can help improve communication with others, leading to fewer confrontational situations. You also might try practicing how you'll respond to situations that have "button-pushing" potential. Try getting your kids to practice with you—you'll be a great role model for anger management!

Walk it off and laugh it off.
Exercise helps you blow off steam. Try slow, stretching movements like those found in yoga, or go for a brisk walk. Finally, maintain your sense of humor; deciding to laugh instead of fume can be one of the best ways to gain a healthier outlook on life.

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