6 Ways to let off steam effectively
1st Jan 2015 Health Conditions
Men tend to show their rage more than women, but anger can increase cholesterol levels and suppress your immune system—it may even give you a heart attack. So what can you do to defuse it?
Take three deep breaths
Breathing deeply helps you release tension and lower your feelings of internal anger.
Don’t punch a pillow
Studies have found that, far from helping, hitting something only serves to increase your hostility.
Remember, whoever loses it, loses
Losing your temper makes you look like the bad guy, no matter who’s at fault. Visualise a scene in which you got angry and replay the “tape” several times, each time imagining yourself responding in a different way. That will give you new options for dealing with tricky situations.
Picture a red stop sign in your mind
Alternatively, wear a rubber band on your wrist and snap it when you find your anger beginning to boil. Then take a few minutes to put the issue into perspective.
Don’t get mad, get active
Jump on your bike and go for a ride or attack the weeds in your garden. Vigorous activity helps dissipate anger.
Invest in an iPod
Then, when you feel yourself getting riled, switch on your portable music player, pop your headphones on and tune out the aggro.
