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Addiction
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Anger Management Tips
Anger Management When You Are Free from Substance Abuse
Anger is an emotion, which leads
many people to relapse. This is particularly true in early
recovery. That is why anger management when you are free from
substance abuse is so important. Anger is frequently experienced
as a slow, building process during which you constantly think
about the anger-producing issues.
Sometimes it seems that the issue causing
the anger is the only important thing in life. Often a sense
of victimization accompanies the anger. You may feel things
like: Why do I get all the bad breaks? How come she doesn't
understand my needs? Why won't he just do what I want him
to?
Does any of this sound familiar to you?
- How do you recognize when you get angry?
- How do you express anger?
- Do you hold it in and eventually explode?
- Do you become sarcastic and passive
aggressive?
- Can you think of any positive ways to
deal with anger?
Anger Management Tips
Some alternatives to help manager your anger
might be:
- Talk to the person who you are angry
with.
- Talk to a therapist, a 12-Step sponsor,
or another person who can give you guidance.
- Talk about your anger in an outside support
group meeting.
- Write about your feelings of anger.
- Take a "time-out" to help change
your frame of mind.
- Exercise
Most recovering people report having
some problems with anger from time to time during recovery
from substance abuse. For some people this anger, left untreated,
can result in relapse. Therefore, it is important to be aware
of signs of anger and be prepared to cope with the feeling.
Recommended Reading
 Of
Course You're Angry, Second Edition 
A Guide to Dealing with the Emotions of Substance Abuse
By Gayle
Rosellini and Mark Worden
This best seller, written
in a friendly tone, guides readers in discovering the source
of their anger. It shows us how to make anger work in a positive
and effective way that can ease the problems and challenges
of early recovery.
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