How do you get rid of persisting anger?

[More Than A Feeling]

I am still angry over a freeper encounter today. How do you get rid of that sort of anger?

[obxhead]

1. I guess you're looking for the legal route.

:smoke:

[LeftyMom]

2. Laughter

Laugh at the stupid freeper, maybe pity them a bit. Take a hot bath, eat something with chocolate in it. Flirt in the lounge, maybe post a pic and fish for compliments.

That's what I'd do. :shrug:

[hickman1937]

3. Sorry, need more information.

If that seems nosey feel free to ignore me.;)

[mwooldri]

4. Republican voodoo dolls?

Not that I practice voodoo or advocate for it, but I could imagine sticking pins into the representation of my source of anger and causing them imaginary "pain".

[nashbridges]

5. You know, traffic

was my flash point for the longest time. I would absolutely lose it on the road with impatience, whether someone sitting at a light too long or someone driving recklessly. Two things helped me out:

1) One person who was tailgating me, honking their horn, flashing their lights, and otherwise being a royal prick had a pregnant wife in his back seat who ended up having the baby on the shoulder of a highway (I didn't stop, but the story was in the paper - same guy).

2) I was driving slow one day because our cat was in my lap and my wife was trying to get her back in the carrier, and I was distracted. Since my wife doesn't like it when I get all crazy behind the wheel, the next time we were behind someone who wasn't paying attention to the road she said: "Relax. She could have a kitty in her lap." That's brought me more peace than anything else, since now I can play a game about what is distracting the driver in front of me instead of focusing on what an asshole they are.

That still doesn't mean I don't lose it for drivers talking on a cell phone. Some things never change.

For the freeper encounter - there was a story in the news today about the parents of a 12 year old Palestinian child killed by the Israeli army donating his organs to Israelis as a token of peace. Not everyone in this world is an asshole, and stories like that prove it. Just think about the good...

{Edited for better flow}

[lizziegrace]

7. Thank you

you never know for whom or when your words will strike a chord in someone.

Yours have.

[nashbridges]

13. Why Thank you back!

Glad I could help. It's hard nowadays to remain relaxed, but it's so much better if you do.

[Sanity Claws]

6. Exercise helps

I like to go for a run. I usually run faster when angry but generally feel looser afterwards. Yoga would be good too since you have to concentrate and you have to concentrate on your breathing.

[Deja Q]

8. Amputation?

:wow:

[Floogeldy]

20. Yes

Start chopping off heads.

They'll feel better.

;)

[NV Whino]

9. A friend of mine got a body bag

when she went through a divorce. Helped a lot.

(Body bag = punching bag the size of a body. Do get the gloves, too. Very satisfying.)

[XemaSab]

10. Opium

n/t

[More Than A Feeling]

18. Thank you all for your suggestions

I will be saving it for future use.

I've decided I need to be way more thickskinned if I am going to be a politician. Henceforth, I will be lurking much more at those sites. Should toughen me up:)

[AlCzervik]

11. go watch something mindless, i suggest The Aqua teen hunger force

and if you have comcast it's available on demand for free.

[KitchenWitch]

12. voodoo dolls!

poke the shit out of them.

[Metta]

14. Tell them you give them back their anger and see it passing to them.

You may need to repeat. Internal dialogue works for me, as well. That is, finish the conversation you'd like to have had with them. If you have anything left over, see it rising like steam and dissolving.

[Ladyhawk]

24. Metta, you've been helpful to me before.

I'm interested...what is your philosophy of life (broadly)? I am an atheist, but I sometimes wonder if Buddhism or Taoism might have truths that an atheist could use. I realize that Buddhism is an atheistic religion, but I'm not much of a religionist; however, I would accept any philosophy that would help me through life.

Thanks,

LH

[Metta]

36. I appreciate your kind words, Ladyhawk.

I'll send you a private message. :hi:

[Ladyhawk]

41. Thanks. n/t

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

29. Great advice

:thumbsup:

[Metta]

35. Thank you.

:)

[LynzM]

15. Realize that life is short,

And that there are better uses for your energy than anger at someone with whom you can't come to a constructive agreement.

On a less deep level, post stuff in the Lounge, read www.tomatonation.com, call a friend :)

[Dave Reynolds]

16. A machete and hockey mask.../nt

[Gregorian]

17. Roofing.

But then, not everyone is a roofer.

Second best would be biking.

Physical activity, in other words. I tried drugs, but they tend to have bad side effects.

[graywarrior]

19. Qualuudes.

That always works.

[Ladyhawk]

21. I have the same problem. I get hurt and angry easily and it's hard

to let it go. I'm looking forward to reading any constructive responses. :)

[Ladyhawk]

22. Question: is it best to get the anger out of your system somehow

or to distract yourself? :shrug:

I wonder if anger builds up if I distract myself???

[RevCheesehead]

23. Give yourself a day (24 full hours) to deal with it...

Be angry, pissed off, whatever - but DO NOTHING IN RESPONSE. After 24 hours, if you feel you need to respond, then do so, wisely. Then promise yourself you're going to let it go.

Honestly, you don't want or need that shit inside you, so cleanse yourself of the anger. You're a Dem - you're already the better person! :)

[Ladyhawk]

25. It takes me about 24 hours, but since I get hurt easily, that can mean

a lot of angry days.

Yeowch! :)

[Ladyhawk]

27. Let me give you a hug while I'm at it.

:hug:

RevCheesehead, I'm glad to know you. Whenever I get angry at fundies, I can come here and encounter you and know that there are good, decent Christians. Thanks!

(Keith Olbermann does indeed rock, BTW.)

[RevCheesehead]

28. Back atcha, Ladyhawk.

:hug:

[spacelady]

26. I just waller in it & spread the joy.

[liberaltrucker]

30. Budweiser

Works for me and is Union brewed :beer: :toast:

[Fox Mulder]

31. Hit something.

As long as it's not an animal or a human. :) I recommend a punching bag or something similar.

Hitting always works for me.

[XemaSab]

32. Serious response:

If you're a Christian, pray for understanding for them and for you.

If you're not, even visualizing where they're coming from may help. (But it may have the unfortunate side effect of making you sorry for a freeper.)

Then go do some yard work. Repot some plants, mow the lawn, dig some beds, and do what needs to be done. Taking care of other things helps dissipate anger. :)

[Wapsie B]

33. Do something that takes your mind off what made you angry.

I've had a tough time doing that. Because some people seem to delight in getting under the skin of others I was an easy mark. Exercise helps me. But for years it was beer and food.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

34. Anger is energy

Use the energy to do something positive. Whether it be cleaning your house, yard work, or raking your neighbor's leaves, you won't regret morphing your anger this way.

[wildhorses]

37. be persistent and

turn the anger into postitive energy
not always easy...
emotions are unavoidable
actions are accountable

[grace0418]

38. This is going to sound strange, but I was amazed at how cathartic

this was. A few years ago a friend of mine asked me to be in his short (art) film. Basically all I had to do was place a peach on a cutting board on the floor and beat the bloody hell out of it with a hammer. Through editing and effects he created a very disturbing, violent scene with the footage. But man, I cannot tell you why, but it really felt cathartic to let go like that and know I wasn't injuring anyone.

You may want to put down a little plastic sheeting or newspapers though. One peach creates an amazing amount of mess!:)

[SoCalDem]

39. I use the "hundred year " rule

as in ..Will this matter in a hundred years?.. It never does :)

[Ladyhawk]

40. What do you folks think of this article?

News: Study: Anger is Good for You

On edit: Anger is a secondary emotion. Usually, either hurt or fear leads to anger. Anger is often a signal that something needs to change/ However, I don't like ANY of those feelings. Fear, hurt and anger all hurt. At some point, anger needs to dissipate.