How Do You Handle Yourself?
That’s the question of the day: How do you handle yourself?
When you’re feeling angry and upset, what do you do? How do you help yourself to feel better?
So many times people take their anger out on others around them. Often times it is the very ones that are supposed to be the closest to them that end up as the target of their anger. This certainly is not the proper way to handle yourself when you’re upset or angry, though.
Do you yell and scream? Do you use a trail of swear words?
Do you even resort to violence when things aren’t going your way? If so, there is a much deeper problem than we are able to help you with here. It is never a good idea to resort to violence of any kind, whether it is aimed at yourself or others. If you have thoughts of harming yourself or others, please seek help immediately. With that said, you can seek assistance through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. You may also call them 24 hours a day, seven days a week: 1-800-273-8255
If you feel that you are having trouble handling yourself and your anger, help is available. You do not have to continue to live like this. A resource that I have learned of from being involved with (in)courage is E-Counseling. You can search for a counselor on this site and have sessions via phone or internet sessions. The point is, help is available, even at the tips of your fingers now with counselors readily available to assist you. There are also counselors that you can find in your local area so you can sit down face-to-face with them as well.
If you just feel the occasional stress or anxiety from your work day or even your family life and just need someone to talk to, we are happy here to help in any way that is needed. If you think you would feel better to talk it out and just need to vent, we’re here for you for that. If you need to write it out anonymously and send it to us in the form of comments or an email, that is okay, too. We offer this just so you have an outlet and those feelings don’t stay bottled up inside of you. If you would like prayer, we would be honored to pray for you. Again, if you would like to share anonymously your prayer needs, that is fine. Comments and emails are always welcome: hislightlovehope @ gmail.com or shirley @ lightlovehope.com.
For me, it helps to have a trusted friend that I can talk to and pour my heart out to. Some times it isn’t pretty in the beginning, but they allow me to come to them with the good, the bad, and the ugly. They are there to help, to reassure, to offer a loving hand to hold if needed. There’s nothing like feeling their love surround you. They pray with me, for me, and over me. They pray for protection, for safety, for relief of the stress and anxiety. I also have a friend that believes strongly in meditation and has sent me CDs and books on the subject to try to clear my mind. Other friends go with me to visit the beach where it is always calming and soothing for the soul. Yet another friend has sent me their special sage as they believe strongly in cleansing all of the negativity around me. She’s even prayed over the sage before sending it to me, too.
It is so important to be able to handle yourself in the heat of the moment without going off on those around you or even directing that anger at yourself.
If there is anything the Encouragement Team can do for you at any time, please … PLEASE … let us know. We are always here for you.
May 28, 2014 @ 9:24 pm
Stress management is one thing that I need to work on. Many times I keep the anger inside until I absolutely can’t take it which causes illness. I am working to find more meditative ways to remain calm in stressful situations.
May 28, 2014 @ 10:55 pm
It does a lot of harm to keep it bottled up inside, Reginia. It’s hard IN the moment, but it does help if you can have things to pull out of your tool box, so to speak, in stressful times. Counting is something that I’ve heard a lot of people do – counting to ten before they react or respond. Saying “stop” to themselves or visualizing a stop sign in their head allows them to take a few moments also before responding to the stressors. Some times it can be thoughts that torment us and cause us anxiety and stress. I’ve heard of people having a rubber band around their wrists, and when they start thinking certain thoughts, they pop the rubber band as a physical reminder of the mental pain that you’re putting yourselves through so that you stop both aspects! Prayer helps a great deal, as does listening to music to relieve stress, and singing along with your favorite tunes. There’s nothing quite like sitting in complete silence as you center yourself, though, and try to listen to the still small voice inside guiding you.