Anger Management

There are three components to anger. Click on each of the four circles to learn about each component of anger.

Cognitive: This is your mind’s "fight or flight" response to anger. This system bypasses rational thinking and puts the body into survival mode. This works well for life-threatening situations. It is less useful for anger situations.

The good news is that a person can choose to respond rather than react. Your cognitive responses to anger are rooted in what you believe. Your thoughts have a powerful influence on how you respond. Very often, it is our thoughts about a situation or event that will determine how we react.

Behavioral: This is your body’s external response to anger. You may display anger in your movements or vocal tone.

Here are some common thoughts that impact angry behavior:

• I can’t let them talk to me like that
• He/she did that on purpose
• I always get the blame
• I can’t be disrespected like this
• If I let this go others will do the same
• I can’t let them laugh at me

Physiological: This is your body’s internal "fight or flight" response to anger. This is the body’s way of preparing to fight or flee from a perceived threat. The body shuts down certain systems and directs blood flow to others.