Anger
What is Anger & How is it Harmful?
"Stress is an emotion characterized by antagonism toward someone or something you feel has a deliberately done you wrong.
Anger can be a good thing. It can give you a way to express negative feelings, for example, or motivate you to find solutions to problems.
But excessive anger can cause problems. Increased blood pressure and other physical changes associated with anger make it difficult to think straight and harm your physical and mental health." (American Psychology Association, 2020)
Anger Styles
Aggressive
This anger style often feels the need to be in control of themselves, others, and the situation. They often manipulate others until the other person feels guilty or backs down.
Behavior Will Look Like: Threats, Abuse, Humiliation
Passive
A passive person tends to avoid conflict and confrontation. These people tend to not express their needs and feelings and have trouble saying no without feeling guilty.
Behavior Will Look Like: Avoidance of Problem, Feeling Fearful, or Uncomfortable
Passive Aggressive
A passive-aggressive person uses subtle aggression techniques to manipulate the situation/person. They use cues such as body language, tone, or actions to convey anger, but won't explicitly communicate it.
Behavior Will Look Like: Silent Treatment, Withdraw Love/Affection
Projective Aggressive
A projective-aggressive person often appears passive, however, they are usually angry and are afraid to own and express the anger. Instead, they project that anger onto someone else.
Behavior Will Look Like: Get others to act on their anger for them
Assertive
An assertive person states their needs in an open and direct way, and don't wait for someone to read their mind. At the same time, they try to consider other people's feelings and opinions too.
Behavior Will Look Like: State what is on their Mind. Takes responsibility over life and choices.
Anger Management
Discover the Root of your Anger
If you get angry quickly over little, and unimportant things, there may be a deeper issue of why you’re upset. The small inconveniences may just pose as a temporary justification for your anger. Chronic anger can be harmful to your health. There is some evidence that supports that anger and hostility are linked to heart disease, chronic pain, sleep difficulties, and digestive problems.
Be Aware of Anger Warning Signs & Triggers
Your body gives you physical indicators when you’re getting angry. Here are few warning signs to consider: pounding heart, headache, breathing faster, clenching your jaw or hands, or tensing your shoulders.
Find Healthier Ways to Express Your Anger
- Learn to Listen-Listening can help you understand the situation more fully. There are several different types of listening
Online Resource for College Mental Health
Jed Foundation has a comprehensive, confidential, online resource center for college students, faculty, and staff regarding mental and emotional health.
Jed Foundation Resources Free Mental Health Apps (Open to Public & Veterans)Breathing & Relaxation Techniques
Breathing exercises are a good way to move your mind & body away from the conflict and anger.
- Relaxation & Breathing Exercises (Audio), University of Houston.
Meditation
- Modern Health offers free online Meditation Workshops Audio
- Audio Meditation Podcasts by Kaiser Permanente: Panic Attacks & Anxiety, Stress.
- "The 21 Best Meditation Podcasts to Listen to in 2020", Sara Lindberg, VeryWellMind.com
- Yoga & Meditation in Houston
Support Groups/Discussions/Programs
- Modern Health provides free virtual discussion-based sessions to cope & manage stress.
Videos
- "Conflict Resolution", University of Houston
- NAMI SEA Center (713-970-4483) The Support Education & Advocacy (S.E.A) Center is a peer-run innovative warm line and Referral Service. The S.E.A. Center is open to any individual who has a mental illness or a brain disorder, as well as family members and close friends of those living with a mental illness. There is no cost or referral necessary to participate. The S.E.A center offers warm line services. YouTube Intro
- Jewish Family Services (sliding scale psychiatry services)-(713) 667-9336
- Avenue 360 (sliding scale psychiatry services)-832-962-4111
- Legacy Community Health-Behavior Health-832-548-5000
- Mental Health and Finacial Services Olive Branch-Muslim Family Services-832-617-8160
- Baylor Psychiatry Clinic - (713) 798-1000
- Baylor Teen Health Clinic (Age 13-23) (Free/ Low-Cost Counseling) - (713) 440-7456
- Catholic Charities - (713) 526-4611
- Center for Creative Resources - (713) 461-7599
- Family Services of Greater Houston - (713) 861-4849
- Houston-Galveston Institute Counseling Center - (832) 471-6538
- Interface-Samaritan Counseling Center - Houston - (713) 626-7990, Spring - (281) 376-8006
- Krist Samaritan Counseling Center - (281) 480-7554
- The Montrose Center (LGBT) - (713) 529-0037
- Nick Finnegan Counseling Center - (713) 402-5046
- Open Path Psychotherapy Collective (Reduced Fee Therapist Directory)
- Psychological Research & Services Center - (713) 743-8500
- Vecino Denver Harbor Family Clinic - (713) 674-3326
- El Centro del Corazon - 713-660-1880
- An-Nisa - Domestic Violence, Short-Term Financial Assistance, Vocational Training, Furniture, Clothing. Muslim Counselors available 8323249111
- UH-Victoria Counseling Training Clinic - Free Individual Counseling, Play Therapy, Family Counseling provided by Master's Level Counselor Interns 281-396-3720
- Memorial Herman Mental Health Crisis Clinics - The Memorial Hermann Mental Health Crisis Clinic is an outpatient mental health service provider developed to serve individuals experiencing a mental health crisis situations. This clinic also serves individuals unable to follow up with other outpatient providers for their mental health needs.
- Take a Mental Health Test-MHA Screening: "Online screening is one of the quickest and easiest ways to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition."
- American Psychological Association has various topics from addictions, ADHD, anger, depression, emotional health, learning & memory, pain, parenting, etc.
- Centre for Clinical Interventions has self-help resources for mental health problems from anxiety, assertiveness, depression, perfectionism, self-esteem, etc.
- The Jed Foundation equips teens & young adults with the skills & support to grow into healthy, thriving adults.
- UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences has various topics & resources for adult, child & adolescent mental health, ADHD, depression, stress reduction, substance use, etc.
- Mental Health America is a non-profit dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental illness & promoting mental health.
- SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline-SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline provides 24/7, 365-day-a-year crisis counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters. Call or text 1-800-985-5990.
- Psychological Treatments from the Society of Clinical Psychology-List of psychological treatments that have been evaluated using either the Chambless & Hollon (1998) criteria or the current Tolin (2015) criteria.
Eating Disorder
- National Alliance for Eating Disorders-The Alliance has a free, eating disorder, clinician-led helpline that operates from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. Central time (Monday to Friday). 1-866-662-1235
- National Eating Disorders Association supports individuals & families affected by eating disorders.
- Online Stress Management Group (Cost: Free): Jewish Family Services
- Online Support Groups through Zoom Video Conference (Cost: Free)(https://www.spiritualityandhealth.org/mindbodygroups)
- Online Stress Management Group (Cost: Pay what you can): Ajana Therapy & Clinical Services
- Bo's Place Grief Support Group
- To find support groups outside the U.S. go to Befrienders.
- Jung Center (self-improvement and personal growth workshops)
- National Alliance for Eating Disorders Support Groups (Recovery, Friends/Family, LGBTQ+, Grief, etc)
Contact an HCC Counselor
HCC Counselors are licensed professionals with master's or doctoral degrees who offer free, time-limited, short-term counseling to currently enrolled students.
Students with documented disability may also qualify for accommodations at HCC. Visit our Ability Services Page to learn more about accommodations.
Contact a counselor to schedule an appointment today
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