Feeling angry? Don’t blow off steam. Try these tips instead

Vitaly Gariev/Pexels After a bad night’s sleep, you squabble with your kids at breakfast.

Then a neighbour parks you in.

When you finally get to work an hour late, your boss makes one more impossible demand.

No wonder you’re angry with the world.

So what is the best way to control your anger? Is it going for a run to blow off some steam? Or would you be better off meditating? I’m a psychology researcher with a special interest in anger and aggression.

Here’s what the evidence says does and doesn’t work.

When you’re angry Feeling angry is not just about having a feeling.

Your body becomes aroused – your face turns red, your heart rate, blood pressure and respiration rate increase, and you sweat.

On any given day, 22% of us report being angry .

Most of this anger doesn’t turn into aggression (harming other people).

However, about 8% of people say their anger negatively impacts their lives.

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Exercise can backfire You may feel like you need to “blow off some steam”, in other words, do something active to ease the anger and stave off any aggressive urges.

This “ catharsis ” is an idea popularised by the founder of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud.