Using Cognitive Therapy to Manage Your Anger

Learning to control our anger is something we all have to do at some point in our lives. Just about anyone has a tendency to become angry at someone or other, whether it's your boss, coworkers, spouse, or children. Sometimes we express our frustration at other drivers on the road, or even just because someone made an unconsciously annoying statement.

But when anger spirals out of control, you need to get therapy to learn to deal with it. Cognitive therapy is one approach that has shown to be very effective in handling anger management issues. It helps you to understand the causes of your anger how to react more appropriately when it arises.

Traditionally, psychotherapy involves dealing with issues from your past that might have contributed to any number of problems you are currently undergoing. Cognitive therapy, on the other hand, focuses on the present. It helps you to identify why you're thinking or reacting in certain ways in various situations, and teaches you effective techniques for changing your behavior.

Cognitive therapy helps you focus on the specific reasons for your out of control emotions. This enables you to come up with realistic approaches to changing your thought processes so you can get through life more smoothly. This is the core of cognitive therapy: problem solving and learning to change your behavior.

There is a range of methods utilized in cognitive therapy sessions, including relaxation and visualization techniques. These methods teach you to call up certain images or words in your mind to help you relax when your anger erupts. The therapist will offer various suggestions for suitable ways to react to your anger. For example, they might suggest that you look at a situation in a more positive or objective manner instead of immediately flying into a fit of rage.

There are a few ways in which therapists use these methods. First they help their patients to become more aware of their anger. Then they show them how to avoid situations in which they are likely to lose their temper. Third, they help their patients to discover the cause of their anger. Finally, they recommend a plan to change the way in which the patient reacts to others in order to avoid a situation that might lead to negative emotions.

The key to the effectiveness of cognitive therapy is that it doesn't involve the patient going on and on about all of the bad things in his life that are making him angry. Rather, the focus is on recognizing triggers and implementing coping techniques. This type of therapy is widely considered to be highly effective.

Studies are being undertaken in order to figure out what causes anger to erupt. But until scientists fully understand the problem, cognitive therapy is an effective means of managing this intense emotion. Everyone gets angry, but it's how you deal with it that will indicate whether or not you need anger management help.