The last time you found yourself getting seriously angry, how long did it take? A lot of people say they go from feeling perfectly fine to feeling really angry in about two seconds. Some people even report feeling “blinded” by their anger. They do or say things they later regret.
How is it possible for something so powerful to sneak up on you so quickly? The answer may lie in self-awareness.
Self-awareness is knowing what’s going on in your mind and body at any given moment. When you react to a situation—like that driver who just cut you off on the freeway—changes happen in your body and mind. These are your anger cues. They tell you that unless you do something different quick, you might be headed for trouble.
There are at least four different types of anger cues to look for—body sensations (rapid heartbeat, for example), behaviors (such as slamming objects), emotions (embarrassment, fear, etc.), and thoughts (“Here we go again!”). Everyone’s cues are different. If anger is a problem for you, it’s important to become intimately familiar with your own unique anger cues.
This idea fits well with CBT, which can help people heighten their awareness of their own inner experience. This is often a first step toward managing moods and behaviors. When coupled with mindfulness practice, CBT can be used to foster tolerance of anger cues without necessarily acting on them.
For a lot more information on anger, check out AngerManagementExpert.
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