"Pins and needles, needles and pins; it's a happy man that grins."  These classic words were made famous by Jackie Gleason in his role as Ralph Kramden in the 1950s TV sitcom, The Honeymooners.  So why in the world was America's favorite bus driver so intent on repeating this phrase whenever he was on the verge of losing his temper?  Quite simply, by changing his self-talk or inner conversation with himself, Kramden was using a popular anger management technique that continues to ...

There are several anger management techniques that become more effective when you have the opportunity to practice them in advance.  As the saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”  By mentally preparing for a potential stressor or anger trigger, you will be ready to handle whatever comes your way.  So take some time before April 1st to …

Although uncontrolled anger can be quite costly, when channeled properly anger can also be very positive. Among other things, anger can motivate us to work harder to accomplish our goals. This could mean playing harder on the defensive end in a basketball game, studying longer for an exam, or putting in more time when learning to play an instrument.

Assertive communication, one of the  most important anger control tools, can be accomplished using a technique known as the Compliment Sandwich.  In order to minimize the other person's defensiveness, you would begin with a compliment (the first piece of bread), then present your complaint or criticism (the meat), and then finish with another compliment (the second piece of bread). When used appropriately, the Compliment Sandwich can be very helpful in managing your anger.