How to temper your temper
By Dr Alan WatkinsPhysician & Neuroscientist
Anger is one of the seven deadly sins and one of the most toxic emotions
which can seriously impair our health.
Some of Britain's angriest people are put to the test in a new BBC One TV
series, Temper Your Temper.
Jason is an ex-squaddie, six foot four and a scary looking character.
He has explosive anger and one of the highest adrenaline levels that I have seen.
This puts him perpetually on the verge of an explosion - not a good trait for a driving
instructor.
“ Two thirds of people have experienced anger or rage at work and
nearly half of the workforce regularly loses their temper ”
Little things can trigger him so we sent him shopping with Saira Khan, the former
which can seriously impair our health.
Some of Britain's angriest people are put to the test in a new BBC One TV
series, Temper Your Temper.
Jason is an ex-squaddie, six foot four and a scary looking character.
He has explosive anger and one of the highest adrenaline levels that I have seen.
This puts him perpetually on the verge of an explosion - not a good trait for a driving
instructor.
“ Two thirds of people have experienced anger or rage at work and
nearly half of the workforce regularly loses their temper ”
Little things can trigger him so we sent him shopping with Saira Khan, the former
Apprentice contestant with instructions that she should be as awkward as possible.
It wasn't difficult. Jason was asked to fetch and carry changes of clothes.
Saira had to tell him none of them were quite right.
Biting the furniture
Within a few minutes he became so angry and frustrated that he ended up sinking his
teeth into one of the display shelves and leaving bite marks.
Goodness knows what would have happened if the cameras had not been there.
It wasn't difficult. Jason was asked to fetch and carry changes of clothes.
Saira had to tell him none of them were quite right.
Biting the furniture
Within a few minutes he became so angry and frustrated that he ended up sinking his
teeth into one of the display shelves and leaving bite marks.
Goodness knows what would have happened if the cameras had not been there.
TYPES OF ANGER
Argumentative
Judgmental
Helpless
Explosive
Adolescent
Nutritional
Jason is typical of people with explosive anger.
Their anger is directed outwards in explosive bursts.
They vent their ire on others, engage in verbal or at times physical abuse or they
damage property. They tend to run very high adrenaline levels and left unchecked
they are at serious risk of developing high blood pressure.
After their explosion and release of energy they tend to feel better for a while but
their outburst can cause lasting damage to their health, their work and their relationships.
Two thirds of people have experienced anger or rage at work and nearly half of the
workforce regularly loses their temper.
The majority of people have been the victims of bullying and 80% have witnessed
such events.
Raging women
It is no better on the roads. More than three quarters of drivers claim to have been
involved in road rage incidents and a quarter admits to committing an act of road rage.
It is also on the rise with a 400% increase in air rage between 1997 and 2000 plus
a 200% rise in attacks on NHS workers in Scotland.
A large proportion of this aggression is perpetuated by people in the 25-34 age group.
Half of all 16 to 24-year-olds admitted they would turn nasty if spurned by
their partner compared to only a small percentage of the over-55s saying they
would seek revenge. And it's not just a male problem. Women are nearly as angry
as men, although the type of anger they suffer tends to be different.
There are six types of anger: explosive, argumentative, judgmental, helpless,
adolescent and nutritional.
For each type, the solution begins with the person accepting that they are the problem,
not someone else.
It is a very common trap for people with explosive anger to believe that their rage is
caused by someone else.
Acceptance
The problem with this view is that is prevents the anger being solved.
Once Jason had accepted he had an anger problem, I taught him how to reduce
his risk of high blood pressure and stroke by developing what I call "cardiac coherence".
This is an improved physiological state which enables Jason's brain to work properly
at times when it would normally shut down.
Once he knew how to get his brain working properly, we taught Jason how to identify
what triggers his outbursts and take avoiding action or catch the escalation before the
explosion occurs. Jason needed to burn off his excess adrenaline and we chose the
discipline of martial arts to help him channel his energy.
Jason, as an ex-squaddie used to discipline, loved this approach.
I have also taught him how to meditate which can be a great antidote to an explosive
nature. He also needed to start repairing his relationship with his wife and we have
worked on that through the judicious use of massage.
Six months later, Jason remains a changed man and is going from strength to strength.
He does an hour of martial arts two to three times a week before he starts work and
he meditates for five minutes between clients to defuse the frustration of having to deal with the Sheffield traffic. We also hear that the local shops have run out of massage oil.
Jason is a testament to what can be achieved. Maybe we should send him shopping again?
Dr Alan Watkins is an Honorary Senior Lecturer in Neuroscience and Psychological Medicine at Imperial College and runs a training and coaching company.
Their anger is directed outwards in explosive bursts.
They vent their ire on others, engage in verbal or at times physical abuse or they
damage property. They tend to run very high adrenaline levels and left unchecked
they are at serious risk of developing high blood pressure.
After their explosion and release of energy they tend to feel better for a while but
their outburst can cause lasting damage to their health, their work and their relationships.
Two thirds of people have experienced anger or rage at work and nearly half of the
workforce regularly loses their temper.
The majority of people have been the victims of bullying and 80% have witnessed
such events.
Raging women
It is no better on the roads. More than three quarters of drivers claim to have been
involved in road rage incidents and a quarter admits to committing an act of road rage.
It is also on the rise with a 400% increase in air rage between 1997 and 2000 plus
a 200% rise in attacks on NHS workers in Scotland.
A large proportion of this aggression is perpetuated by people in the 25-34 age group.
Half of all 16 to 24-year-olds admitted they would turn nasty if spurned by
their partner compared to only a small percentage of the over-55s saying they
would seek revenge. And it's not just a male problem. Women are nearly as angry
as men, although the type of anger they suffer tends to be different.
There are six types of anger: explosive, argumentative, judgmental, helpless,
adolescent and nutritional.
For each type, the solution begins with the person accepting that they are the problem,
not someone else.
It is a very common trap for people with explosive anger to believe that their rage is
caused by someone else.
Acceptance
The problem with this view is that is prevents the anger being solved.
Once Jason had accepted he had an anger problem, I taught him how to reduce
his risk of high blood pressure and stroke by developing what I call "cardiac coherence".
This is an improved physiological state which enables Jason's brain to work properly
at times when it would normally shut down.
Once he knew how to get his brain working properly, we taught Jason how to identify
what triggers his outbursts and take avoiding action or catch the escalation before the
explosion occurs. Jason needed to burn off his excess adrenaline and we chose the
discipline of martial arts to help him channel his energy.
Jason, as an ex-squaddie used to discipline, loved this approach.
I have also taught him how to meditate which can be a great antidote to an explosive
nature. He also needed to start repairing his relationship with his wife and we have
worked on that through the judicious use of massage.
Six months later, Jason remains a changed man and is going from strength to strength.
He does an hour of martial arts two to three times a week before he starts work and
he meditates for five minutes between clients to defuse the frustration of having to deal with the Sheffield traffic. We also hear that the local shops have run out of massage oil.
Jason is a testament to what can be achieved. Maybe we should send him shopping again?
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