Anger Management
Definition and Symptoms
Anger becomes a problem, often termed “anger issues”, when a person has trouble controlling it, causing them to say or do things they regret. Stress, family problems, and financial issues often trigger anger. Anger itself isn’t considered a disorder. Intermittent explosive disorder (IED) is a disorder is a mental health condition marked by frequent impulsive anger outbursts or aggression. The episodes are out of proportion to the situation that triggered them and cause significant distress. People with intermittent explosive disorder have a low tolerance for frustration and adversity.
Treatment
The majority of research on anger treatment has focused on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). In CBT, patients learn to identify unhelpful or negative thought patterns and change inaccurate beliefs. One CBT-based anger treatment is known as Stress Inoculation. This method involves exposing the person to imaginary incidents that would provoke anger, providing opportunities to self-monitor their anger and practice coping methods.