How do you calm yourself when you're angry?

Philippines
July 23, 2012 3:25pm CST
I usually take a walk to blow some steam off but it's 4 am here and the neighborhood is not exactly safe. I can't sleep because I'm still fuming over the fact that someone from our office took my headphones and the usb cable for my phone from my desk and nobody saw anything. I can't leave my desk for a while without thinking which among my stuff would go missing. It's getting on my nerves.
2 people like this
21 responses
@ARIES1973 (11426)
• Legaspi, Philippines
24 Jul 12
When I know that I am starting to get angry, I would go out for a while until I made myself calm. Although I don't get angry easily since I am a very cool person, there are times that some of my friends are just getting it to the limit. I would just take a deep breath outside the office and when I get back they would never know that I was about to explode. There are times that I need to write about this also. Writing helps me express what I feel.
@ladygator (3465)
• United States
26 Jul 12
I love how you said you are a very cool person! You seem to be a very collected person being able to keep the steam in your top is a great asset to have. My son is also an aries, he is a very cool person too. Very observant so he doesnt get mad very often. He is vocal though so he tells people how he feels.
1 person likes this
@ARIES1973 (11426)
• Legaspi, Philippines
27 Jul 12
That was my problem actually. I usually keep what I feel within myself because I don't want other people to know that I am angry. Thank you for appreciating my response ladygator.
@alberello (4752)
• Italy
23 Jul 12
Well, just to answer your question with which you have titled this thread, I can tell you that when I'm angry (and surely this will seem strange), others will not even notice! This unfortunately is my personal defect that makes me suffer a lot inside, because I can not vent my anger on someone who wronged me, but my anger, I keep it inside me! For this reason, my life is not very happy, I still have to overcome various problems like these before I could realize.
• Philippines
23 Jul 12
You sound like my boss. We never really know when he is angry. He just keeps on smiling and doing the things he do and when he can't take it anymore, he just explodes. Keeping the anger inside is a very hard thing for me to do as I am a very expressive person. Besides, keeping all the hurt and anger inside me makes violent when I can't take it anymore. That's why I'd rather let all the negative feelings out of my system as soon as I can.
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
24 Jul 12
I can usually take a nap or just separate myself from others, to calm down. Hopefully your things will just reappear.
@ladygator (3465)
• United States
26 Jul 12
When I am angry I just write, listen to music, paint, do some beading. Sometimes I go for a swim also. I can undertand how you would be so angry. Its really hard to work in a place where you cant trust the people to leave your things alone when you arent there.
• United States
24 Jul 12
I sit and plot the perfect revenge! Usually this means walking away and Never dpeaking to a person .In your case all that can be done is tell your superiors and demand a lock so you can keep all your stuff safe!
@Shavkat (140118)
• Philippines
26 Aug 12
I used to step out for a while in the scene, try to burst it out without people seeing it. Then, face the person's involved. I should still remain calm.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
24 Jul 12
Walking is definitely one of the things that I will do to blow off steam when there is something that is bothering me. However, I do find that there are a lot of times when it is not in my best interest to go out walking and because of that, I have also found that there are other things that I can do to blow off steam. Depending on what time of day it is, I will play typing games on the computer or I will take a nice hot bath with a good book to read.
@Paper_Doll (2373)
• Philippines
24 Jul 12
I had the same problem before. One of my officemates would usually go to my desk to use my things like tissue, dishwashing paste and hand sanitizer. It also came to a point that already knew where my stuff are placed. Actually, I don't really mind that at all. She can use my things as long as she wants as long as she would return them clean and in their proper places. There was this time that when I arrived in the morning, there were leakages of dishwashing paste in the floor and everytime someone would step on it, the floor is getting muddy and that really made me angry. I usually do not talk when I am angry. I just pause for a while and then took some of things she use daily and give them to her. I told her she can have them. I do not know if she noticed that I am angry but she never used my things again.
@jricky1 (6800)
• China
24 Jul 12
This needs ourself to adjust our attitude.Try to calm down and listen to the music.Coz there wouldn't anybody else help us to diminish the angry.So,keep to read some book that tells you how to improve our charactors.Because you can not change other people.
• Philippines
23 Jul 12
Try some breathing exercises. Once you are in an angry mode situation, just breathe heavily to pull out the emotion and supply your body with oxygen which also goes to your brain. Such action will eventually buy you time to rethink the situation and eventually pull out reasonable ways to handle the situation properly and sensibly not relying on emotional tendencies alone. Just take a pause and think. Act with reason and not let your emotion take over.
• Philippines
24 Jul 12
When I am so angry I tend to cry. I can't keep it inside myself. When I was younger, I did not know how to control my emotions so I would let out a lot of hurtful words to show how angry I am but as I grow older, I realized that after the tide, I could not take the destruction back.
• Philippines
24 Jul 12
are there no CCTV on your office? I hope you get your stuff back. As for your title, I usually take a bath with cold water when I am angry, in that way I will be more relax and becomes cool headed. Good day and God bless
@Alesma (167)
• Czech Republic
23 Jul 12
Well, there is no straightforward answer as there may be lots of situations in which you react or you are supposed to react in a certain way. I mean you may feel restricted as to giving vent to your anger by the convention of the particular society. Therefore, if I don't feel bound by any rules and I am usually alone, I swear like a trooper, which helps me get it off my chest. When being in the company of other people, I will more or less keep these feelings to myself unless I play soccerr as I can swear during this game quite a lot too:) Should I feel a bit embarrassed? I hope not:) I am otherwise a polite man.
@Raine38 (12391)
• United States
24 Jul 12
When I'm angry, I prefer to step out even if its just on the balcony and cradle a super iced cold tea while mulling things over and calming myself. Or, if its still early, I call my friend who let's me just rant and rave and she will just listen (I also do the same for her). Sometimes all I need is just to be able to let it out and I will feel much better already.
@celticeagle (168256)
• Boise, Idaho
23 Jul 12
It takes alot to get me really mad but when I get that way I make sure everyone knows I'm mad, I go on about it abit. Then I brood awhile and usually go for drive or a walk. I don't get mad often but when I do the danner is up and my Irish blood comes to he surface. Look out world!
@kingparker (9673)
• United States
23 Jul 12
Thieves are just everywhere. I suggest that you next time lock your precious stuff in a drawer with lock, otherwise, the moment you left your desk, people just grab your stuff randomly. Or you could install a spy cam somewhere on your desk to see who is the ultimate thief. At least you have proof to show to everyone. Shame on that person who stole your headphone and USB cable.
@shylade (3132)
• Philippines
23 Jul 12
When I'm angry, I usually take a deep breath and count 1,2,3. In this way I can think first before I could say anything. But when I'm fuming mad, I really control how I feel. Sometimes I just remind myself that being mad does not make any good to me. Anyway, regarding your lost things at your office. You should report that to your HR so they'll know what to do. For the mean time, locked in your drawer all your valuable things before leaving your desk.
• United States
23 Jul 12
When I'm angry I cry it out. Then I usually find a healthy way to deal with it by communicating the unresolved issue with someone who can help. It's probably important to discuss this issue with your supervisor so maybe they can help you find a healthy way to get past it.
@superbadx (484)
• Malaysia
23 Jul 12
Well, for me it's easy. I would take a deep breath, make a face facing where i'm angry at, (like look at the people who make me angry), and smile at the end followed by some laugh..
@monkmano (585)
• Canada
23 Jul 12
hit something soft and i let it out. honestly thats what i do, i cant count to 3 or breath when im pissed off im pissed off and i let it be. that was very inconsiderate and rude of your coworker to take your headphones and usb cable, do they have cameras in your work? i saw one experiment a worker did because someone at work stole their lunch he put in a camera over the fridge and caught the cleaning lady stealing an apple. you could try this but i do think he got in trouble for putting up the camera and putting it on the internet. but if you want answers for just yourself it may work!