What does this mean?
Anger is a feeling we can get towards someone or something when we feel wrong has been done to us. Everyone gets angry at times and it can be a useful way of telling us when something is not right or feels dangerous. But it can become a problem if it makes us hurt ourselves or other people.
What does anger feel like?
When we get angry changes happen to our body. We may get:
- A hot or red face
- Clenched teeth
- Staring eyes
- Tight chest (feeling like we can’t breathe as normal)
- Heart beating fast
- A shaky or tense body
- Butterflies, a churning feeling in our tummy, or tummy ache
- Sweaty hands or clenched fists
- Wobbly legs
- Needing to use the toilet
You might not get all of these feelings, because we are all different, but feeling angry does happen to us all.
What causes us to feel angry?
We can feel angry for lots of different reasons such as when places are too busy or too loud, when someone says bad things to you, when somebody is ill or has died, or when we have problems with our friends or at home.
When we are angry we might shout, hit or break things, hurt ourselves or others, cry, want to be alone, or feel sad or low.
What can make us feel less angry?
There are lots of things that can help us to feel less angry:
- Count to 10 slowly
- Take deep breaths
- Tell someone you are angry. If you talk to someone you trust about how you are feeling, they can help you.
- Walk away