Lynette J Hoy - Whats good about anger? : expanded anger management course with FAQs

Welcome to the third edition of What's Good About Anger?

It's hard to believe that there is anything good about anger, isn't it? As you read this book, we are hoping that you will discover, though, that you can learn to control your anger and use your anger for good purposes, with the help of your Higher Power. You can learn how to be good and angry.

This course is not only a book on anger management - it emphasizes the source of anger, triggers that provoke anger, and examples of how to express anger in healthy ways and shows you how to turn anger into problem-solving, assertiveness, conflict management, empathy, and forgiveness.

What's Good About Anger? is meant to assist people with differing experiences in all walks of life. People with "hidden" anger who might be feeling depressed. People with explosive anger. Even people who don't believe they have ever felt angry.

So take your time reading through this book and completing the questions and activities. We hope you will come to realize that anger can be a healthy emotion to motivate you to change.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE OF THE WHAT'S GOOD ABOUT ANGER? COURSE

Complete the Anger Survey. This will help you assess when, where and how you get angry and your general provocation scenario (GPS). The GPS describes typical situations in which you are triggered to become angry. Be honest about your feelings and experience with anger. After all, this course-work is personal and is geared to help you get an understanding of how you can grow in tackling any problem you may be having with anger in your life and in your relationships.

2. Then read through the book, completing the questions as you progress. Additional information is given on how to applyyour general provocation scenario (found in the Anger Survey) to the section in the course on "Handling Anger Effectively."

3. Keep a weekly anger log and progress report throughout the time you are reading this book. Each day think about and try one or two of the suggestions for handling anger. Especially apply the steps in "Handling Anger Effectively" to each situation. Write out your basic concerns, your options and requests.

4. Read "When to Take a Time-Out" in order to make a plan for the situations that come up that cause your anger to escalate more quickly and make you feel like you are losing control. If you still find your anger escalating, then lengthen your time-out period (example: one hour instead of thirty minutes).

5. Read and apply the communication skills taught in the assertiveness and managing conflict chapters. Complete the empathy and assertiveness inventories.

6. Evaluate your thinking with the cognitive distortions questions, and log your thinking patterns. This exercise will help you identify any false perspective you have about people or situations and challenge whether it is correct.

7. Read the new chapter on emotional intelligence, rate your level of empathy, and begin applying these important concepts. You will discover how growing in emotional intelligence is essential for redirecting anger into productive behaviors!

8. Finally complete the chapter "Plan to Change Your Life by Changing Your Thinking," and read the FAQs at the end of the book.

Additional aspects of this course will teach you to apply forgiveness, assertiveness, problem-solving, empathy, stress and conflict management skills, and foundational principles in order to put your anger to work for good.

Please answer the following questions as accurately and as completely as possible.

1. How often do you get angry? (Circle one that applies)

(a) daily.

(b) many times a day.

(c) a few times a month.

(d) several times a week.

(e) very rarely.

2. What happens when you get angry? (Circle all that apply):

I tend to:

(a) feel tense.

(b) withdraw.

(c) exercise.

(d) feel sick.

(e) overeat.

(f) distract myself.

(g) tell someone.

(h) raise my voice.