For the second week of Mental Health Month, Balanced You is focusing on the topic “dealing with anger and frustration.” Emotions are what make us human. Feelings like joy, compassion and excitement bring enrichment to our lives. But sometimes negative emotions get the better of us. During tough times, negative thoughts can spiral out of control. Anger and frustration are complicated emotions that can stem from disappointment, fear, and stress. Learning to cope with these thoughts can train your brain to think differently and improve your overall mental health and well-being.

Tips for Coping with Anger and Frustration

Incorporating mental health tools may not be easy but can be achieved by gradually making small changes and building on those successes. Anger and frustration are both common emotional responses everyone faces. If these feelings become too intense, they can lead to mental and physical distress, and cause problems in relationships. When you feel yourself getting mad, it can be helpful to take the time to pause and breathe before you react. Some people count to 10. This puts some emotional distance between you and whatever is upsetting you.

Another tip for coping with anger is to release built up energy. Because anger is a high-energy emotion, we tend to store that tension in our bodies. Movement or exercise are a great way to release extra energy and improve mood. 

For a full list of tips for coping with anger and frustration, read through the tool Mental Health America created for Dealing with Anger and Frustration  and then download the Managing Frustration and Anger worksheet to help identify the emotions and thoughts behind anger and frustration to determine what is needed to feel better.

More resources

Mindfulness can help quiet our minds and reduce stress. View the Balanced You mindfulness class schedule for spring 2021 and attend an upcoming virtual mindfulness class.

View an overview of mental health resources for King County employees.

Questions

Contact BalancedYou@kingocunty.gov if you’d like help finding the right mental health resources for you.