Your mum insists you help weed the garden – eurgh!. Your dad says you can’t go out next weekend. You catch your little sister going through your stuff. A kid bumps into you at school and your books drop. How do you handle the emotions you’re feeling?
 
You can bury your anger, letting it simmer but hoping it will just go away. You can fly off the handle, lashing out physically or verbally. You can slam doors and throw things out of frustration. Or, you can learn to manage your feelings and express your anger in ways that are not hurtful to anyone.

Anger has a bad reputation but it is a totally normal human emotion. Too often it makes you want to act impulsively, snapping at everyone in your path. You can learn how to direct your emotions in a constructive and positive way. Here are a few strategies:

1. Exercise. It improves your mood and decreases bad feelings.
2. Listen to upbeat music. Music can change a person’s mood pretty fast.
3. Write down your thoughts. If you notice how you feel and release your emotions on paper, they don’t have a chance to build up inside.
4. Relaxation. Deep breathing or yoga can be helpful.
5. Draw. Scribbles, doodles and sketches all help release the anger.
6. Talk about what’s going on inside you with someone you trust. Many times anger is accompanied by sadness or fear.
7. Distract yourself. Do anything that will prevent you from dwelling on how mad you are.