How can an individual properly manage anger?
Do now: What makes you angry?
Share student answers on the board.
Anger is a normal human emotion that’s experienced in response to something you don’t like. There are healthy and unhealthy ways to express your anger. Today you’ll learn healthy ways to deal with angry feelings as a way to reduce conflicts and avoid fights.
What are some negative ways people express their anger?
Blaming others, yelling, throwing things or hitting are ways some teens and adults express angry feelings. Other people keep their feelings inside and may use drugs, act recklessly, or endanger themselves and others. None of these are healthy ways to deal with anger.
Meet with a partner and create a list of consequences of expressing anger in unhealthy ways. Allow time for students to create and share their lists. Write student answers on the board. (Expressing angry feelings in unhealthy ways can cause: damaged relationships, a bad reputation, job loss, depression, suspension from school, loss of friends, being arrested).
In groups: Have students fill out 50 Healthy Ways to Deal with Anger.
Strategies to deal with anger:
Stop (don’t react immediately)
Cool Down (take deep breaths)
Find a healthy outlet (crying, exercising, writing in a journal)
Use self-talk
Talk with others
Work out the conflict
Worksheet: Dealing with my anger (allow time for students to share the strategies they would use).
It’s important to identify situations that might make you angry and recognize when you’re angry. Anger management involves good communication and decision-making skills. These skills can help resolve situations and prevent anger from taking control or leading to negative consequences.
When people don’t know how to deal with anger or conflicts in appropriate ways, they sometimes resort to violence.
Some negative consequences of fighting include:
Could injure you or someone else
Could use you to lose your job, be suspended from school or be arrested
Prevents you from learning more appropriate ways to resolve differences
Resolving conflicts without resorting to violence takes skill.
Group activity: Conflict Resolution skills. Have students read the sheet aloud, after each skill, ask students to provide an example of when they might use that skill.
Conflicts will arise throughout your lifetime. Learning to manage your anger, communicate effectively, and negotiate a fair solution ensures your personal safety and reduces the risk of injury or serious consequences.