Boiling Point 

Anger Awareness Week 2017 (1-7 Dec.)

Almost everyone has experienced feelings of anger. As a society, we are generally encouraged to feel anger and outrage; it sells papers, gets votes, shifts opinions. On an individual level, there are things that cause frustration and irritation on a weekly, if not daily, basis. In some instances, anger can be very useful, injecting us with energy, motivation, and physical strength.

So when is anger an issue? To clarify, we’re not talking about the anger one feels when reading presidential Tweets, nor the midmorning grumps that kick in when you skip breakfast, not even the outrage at the latest oil spill. We’re talking about problem anger, manifestations of anger or rage that hijack our minds and which take a toll on our mental and physical wellbeing. Anger very often comes bound up with other mental health problems, such as low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression. Anger can also contribute to physical health issues, such as lowering resistance to colds and flu, problems with digestion, and heightened blood pressure, which in turn can lead to increased risks of stroke and heart attack.

Let’s be reasonable about this, we can’t just remove anger from our lives entirely for the reasons already stated; but what we can do is look at managing those anger manifestations that cause harm to ourselves and those around us. In these instances, anger causes us to lose control of our behaviour and emotions, causing violent physical and/or verbal outbursts. When this happens the damage to individuals, families and communities can be sudden and long-lasting. A report by the Mental Health Organisation in 2008 on the effects of problematic anger found that more than 1 in 10 people have trouble controlling their anger, with 1 in 4 saying that they worried about the level of anger that they sometimes feel. A staggering 20% of people say they have ended a relationship or friendship with someone because of how they behaved when angry. The report also found that most people considered anger issues to be on the increase in society. Yet very few people feel confident that they would know where to seek advice and help for their anger.

Help is at hand.
When I realised I was struggling to control my anger a few years ago, I felt hopeless. I was frustrated, short tempered, and difficult, and this caused problems in both my personal and work life. It all seemed so mixed up with feelings of anxiety and low mood, and I was at a loss as to where to look to find help. Fortunately, I discovered a Solution Focused Hypnotherapist, and the work that we did together informed everything that came afterward. I felt free and empowered, things that I never thought I would feel, let alone maintain. I made changes. Now, as a Solution Focused Hypnotherapist myself, I help others to take back control and live happier, more fulfilled lives.

If you are looking to break free from anger, or any related issues, Solution Focused Hypnotherapy can help. During our work together, you will gain an understanding of how anger is created, and what can be done about it. This is combined with a focus on finding the answers that work for you, rather than dwelling on the problems that caused the negative emotions in the first place. Finally, therapeutic hypnosis – or trance work – is used throughout the treatment, inducing a relaxed, stress-free state for optimum results.

For more information on this, and any other treatments, please feel free to drop me a line at:
james@jamesgreaveshypnotherapy.com or call on 07711 229177.