Contributed by Jennifer Andrews, Catalogs.com Top 10 Guru

Anger is a normal feeling and may be experienced by everyday people over work matters, family issues or daily aggravations such as traffic.

Although it is commonly experienced, anger can be troublesome for the angry person and those around him or her if it is taken to the extreme and not managed well. It is important to learn how to manage your anger effectively such that it doesn’t affect your life nor hurt the people in your life.

Check out the following top ten anger management strategies to control your own moods in the future.

10. Exercise

Physical activity is one of the top anger management strategies to utilize when times get tough. Exercise gets your body moving, burns up energy, and takes your mind off anger-inducing issues and increases endorphins, the feel-good chemicals in the body.

9. Humor

The next time things get tense and you feel like screaming, try laughing instead. A sense of humor can help decrease angry and stressful feelings and put a lighter perspective on a tough situation.

8. Deep breathing

Anger not only affects us mentally and emotionally but also causes physical strain. Angry people tend to hold their breath which can increase feelings of anxiety and stress. Calm down angry feelings by taking deep belly breaths for a count of 10.

7. Friendly support

Deal with anger effectively by seeking the support of a friend or confidante. Another person can help you identify what it is that is upsetting you so much and help make the situation lighter than what it appears to be.

6. Support group

If anger issues are becoming extreme or difficult to manage, it may be necessary to enlist help on a larger scale. Support groups for anger-management are very common today where people talk about their issues and rationalize effective anger-management strategies. Researching resources for anger management is a valuable exercise.

5. Write it down

Writing can serve as an act of therapy by helping you vent pent-up emotions or sudden feelings of anger. Record an angry incident by noting where you were, what happened and what you felt at that time. Writing it down on paper can help you look at the situation more objectively and learn how to deal with it next time.

4. Soothing sounds

Try listening to music as an anger-management strategy the next time you have the urge to scream or rant. Relaxation music can help calm you down while upbeat tunes can turn your mood around and put you in better spirits.

3. Ask yourself

If you find yourself in an angry situation and ready to blow, stop for a minute. Ask yourself what it is that is really upsetting you at this time and why? Checking in with your feelings can help you determine if you are really upset about a situation or actually experiencing feelings of fatigue or hunger leading to irritation.

2. Smile

Turn that frown – or grimace – upside down! Sometimes, just faking how we are feeling on the outside can help us better on the inside and dissolve angry feelings.

1. Think of solutions

Manage anger effectively by thinking of possible solutions to an angry situation. Instead of wasting energy on getting upset, decide how to remedy a bad situation such as a work project gone wrong by asking for a deadline extension.