Anxiety, Depression and Anger

Anxiety is an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes like increased blood pressure.

People with anxiety disorders usually have recurring intrusive thoughts or concerns. They may avoid certain situations out of worry. They may also have physical symptoms such as sweating, trembling, dizziness or a rapid heartbeat.

Anxiety Therapy Groups

Want to learn all about depression? Find answers as you read about this common mood disorder – depression -- that affects adults, teens, and kids alike.

Depression affects children in different ways, and sometimes it’s misdiagnosed. Learn more about childhood depression and what you can do to help your child.

Discover the symptoms of teen depression. Teen depression can be masked by adolescent hormones, so learn when to call the doctor for a medical evaluation.

Learn about other mental health problems that may co-exist with depression, including anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and panic disorder. Discover the signs, symptoms, and causes.

Learn more about what causes depression, including the genetic link, so you can seek treatment before depression robs you of your quality of life.

Be sure to read about medicines that can cause symptoms of depression. Then talk with your doctor about your concerns if you’re taking one of these medicines.

Anger is a very powerful emotion that can stem from feelings of frustration, hurt, annoyance or disappointment. It is a normal human emotion that can range from slight irritation to strong rage.

Anger can be harmful or helpful, depending upon how it is expressed. Knowing how to recognize and express anger in appropriate ways can help people to reach goals, handle emergencies, and solve problems. However, problems can occur if people fail to recognize and understand their anger.

Suppressed anger can be an underlying cause of anxiety and depression. Anger that is not appropriately expressed can disrupt relationships,affect thinking and behavior patterns, and create a variety of physical problems. Chronic (long-term) anger has been linked to health issues such as high blood pressure, heart problems, headaches, skin disorders, and digestive problems. In addition, anger can be linked to problems such as crime,emotional and physical abuse, and other violent behavior.

When you start feeling angry, try deep breathing,positive self-talk, or stopping your angry thoughts. Breathe deeply from your diaphragm. Slowly repeat a calm word or phrase such as "relax" or"take it easy." Repeat it to yourself while breathing deeply until the anger subsides.

· Although expressing anger is better than keeping it in, anger should be expressed in an appropriate way. Frequent outbursts of anger are often counter-productive and cause problems in relationships with others. Angry outbursts are also stressful to your nervous and cardiovascular systems and can make health problems worse. Learning how to use assertiveness is the healthy way to express your feelings, needs, and preferences. Being assertive can be used in place of using anger in these situations.

· Seek out the support of others. Talk through your feelings and try to work on changing your behaviors.

· If you have trouble realizing when you are having angry thoughts, keep a log of when you feel angry.

· Try to gain a different perspective by putting yourself in another's place.

· Learn how to laugh at yourself and see humor in situations.

· Practice good listening skills. Listening can help improve communication and can facilitate trusting feelings between people. This trust can help you deal with potentially hostile emotions.

· Learn to assert yourself, expressing your feelings calmly and directly without becoming defensive, hostile, or emotionally charged. Consult self-help books on assertiveness or seek help from a professional therapist to learn how to use assertiveness and anger management skills.

If you believe that your anger is out of control and is having a negative affect on your life and relationships, seek the help of a mental health professional. A psychologist or other licensed mental health professional can work with you to develop techniques for changing your thinking and your behavior. A mental health professional can help you to deal with your anger in an appropriate way. Choose your therapist carefully and make sure to seek treatment from a professional who is trained to teach anger management and assertiveness skills.

For more information online: http://www.webmd.com/mental-health