Oftentimes, we get stressed to the point of anger. Otherwise, we just feel pure anger from a situation that may have occurred. Like many, your sources of anger and stress can vary – ranging from your house life, personal life, work life, and more. As such, your anger can cause you to sometimes feel the need to break and smash things as a way of releasing it. Hence, this makes us question whether breaking things actually helps relieve your stress and anger or not.
Repressed Anger
Mental health professionals tend to agree that repressing anger is a very harmful thing and can lead to all sorts of problems, whether they are physiological or psychological. Anger is a very natural thing. However, it is how we manage it that matters. Managing anger in a healthy way is a very important aspect of mental health care. The problem that arises with managing anger is when it is done in a way that is not constructive.
What about Rage Rooms?
Rage rooms provide a great outlet to release your anger in a physical, yet fun, way. For a certain price, you are able to rent out a room for a little while to break things, smash things, and whatever else you can think of. While that provides a great short-term benefit to some, some say that it is not a good habit to gain on the long run. Unfortunately, such a violent and dangerous activity can develop into a very bad coping mechanism that induces even more violence. While they can be fun in the moment, they are not necessarily therapeutic.
How can I manage my anger?
As such, it is important to learn ways to manage your anger in a healthy way.
- Think before you speak. Take a moment to collect your thoughts when you are angry in order to avoid saying things you may regret or that might hurt others.
- Express your anger when you are calm. That way, you are able to voice your concerns when you are thinking more clearly.
- Exercise. Physical exercise can help reduce stress!
- Identify possible solutions. When you are angry about something, try to identify the root of the problem and work on finding solutions to solve that.
- Practice relaxation skills. When you feel yourself getting angry, implement relaxation techniques that may work for you. Breathing techniques are a great example!
- Do not hold a grudge. Forgiveness is powerful. When you allow yourself to forgive others, you avoid crowding yourself with bitterness and other negative emotions.