Coping With Anger in Recovery

Recovery is a journey full of twists and turns that will require you to adapt to different situations. At times, it can be life or death, as adverse situations can lead to potential relapse. Anger as an emotion can be challenging to conquer in recovery, but you must learn to properly cope with it if you wish to maintain your sobriety for the long term. By doing so, you will know how to cope with negative emotions, such as anger, and use them constructively rather than letting them defeat you.

Understanding Anger

First and foremost, it is crucial to understand anger at its most basic level. This emotion is often rooted in pain or grief, which can often be misdirected or appear in ways individuals do not plan on. Anger takes many forms, including mental, physical, and psychological.

Instead of lashing out when you feel anger, taking the time to understand where the emotion stems from will help you get to the bottom of the situation at hand. This can save you problems with yourself and those around you in the future.

How Do You Respond to Anger?

Secondly, it is vital to know how you respond to anger. Some people cry, others go silent, and some become physical. Understanding your anger response will allow you to identify it before it happens. Noticing the small signs can help.

Anger can often make you feel hot, perspire, cause your hands to shake, or cause a tight feeling in your stomach. Noticing these signs can help you calm down before things get out of control, and then you can try a coping technique to work through the emotion.

Coping Methods for Anger

Various coping methods help to work through anger, but you must find one that works best for you. Try the following so you can work through your anger in a constructive way.

  • Count to 100
  • Try breathing exercises
  • Exercise
  • Write a letter but never send it
  • Listen to music
  • Call a friend
  • Meditate

Anger appears in many forms, but it can threaten your recovery if you allow it to consume you. To prevent relapse, it is critical to learn more about it, how it affects you, and efficient coping techniques to combat it. This way you can maintain your recovery for the long term. The Detox Center of Colorado strives to equip our clients with successful recovery tools to combat negative feelings and maintain sobriety. During our program, our clients learn clinical and experiential ways to prioritize their recovery over strong emotions. Call us today at (303) 952-5035.

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