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-ANGER. WHAT IS IT?-

This is just some random thought that came into my head. Read on; you might find it interesting...

I have been doing some thinking about anger. What causes it? How do I deal with it? And, more importantly, how do I deal with people that are angry?

Causes of anger are different depending on the person. Some people are irritated with the "little things." These can be anything from bad table manners, loud talkers, or people that like to play with plastic packages (there ARE people that do that--don't ask me why XD). Then there are those who flip out when things don't go their way. The things that annoy you or that go wrong are what I call "triggers" to anger.

Dealing with anger is easier to do than you think. The old "count to ten" method does not work for me (I usually get REALLY pissed around seven, lol). The main point in dealing with anger is not to let the trigger get on your nerves. The instant that you let the anger consume you, you have already lost the battle. It will be after then that you will get angrier and angrier as other things go wrong in your day. Next thing you know, you're a nervous wreck. All you need to do when you encounter the trigger is take a deep breath. No, do NOT count to ten afterwards. Not only do I find it unnecessary, but it can make you look like an idiot, especially in a public place.

Now that you have gotten that out of the way, there's one more thing. How do you deal with people that are angry at YOU? First thing's first: put the advice I gave you in the last paragraph to use. If you get angry, you might trigger even MORE anger from the person. This might result in a sticky situation if it escalates. Do NOT walk away. Some people will get even more frustrated, thinking that you are a "coward" or that you "just don't care." Some might get violent. I know this sounds funny, but try to picture the angry person as a child. Why do children throw fits? Because they're not getting what they want. Why do adults get mad? They aren't getting what they want. See the pattern? Try not to laugh as you visualize this, though. Try to provide reasonable conclusions to the reason why they are angry. If you are right, and they are reasonable, you might be able to attain the upper hand.

But what if you are not right? This is easier to do. Just hear them out, without letting them anger you. They might not be mad at you, just at the situation. Once they have blown their steam, they will more than likely be easier to deal with. If they get angry again, just repeat.