Anger Management for Expats in Dubai

Anger is a normal human emotion that we all experience from time to time. It is considered very healthy to express any feelings of anger as soon as they arise. Suppressing feelings of anger can lead to long term effects such as anxiety, depression and other health issues.

The problem arises when anger is inappropriately expressed. It can come from a dark place and burst forth in such a way that it destroys relationships in the home, at work and socially. The angry person is often left with feelings of alienation and a lack of control. Anger manifests itself in differently in different people. Some only experience it as a mild form of irritation, which they express in the appropriate channels, while others will experience an uncontrollable rage, which they express inappropriately. The symptoms of uncontrollable rage often include an increase in the heart rate and a boost in adrenalin. Their muscles will also tense up. It is almost as if they are getting ready to fight. The smallest incident can trigger this rage, often being cut off in traffic or hearing the wrong thing at the wrong time.

Anger management is a counseling technique that teaches individuals how to control their anger by teaching new responses and reactions to situations that would trigger episodes of uncontrollable rage. It basically teaches good habits and handy tips and tricks that people can utilize to control their anger. People who have trouble controlling their anger may find that there are more things that trigger them in Dubai. This may be due to the way in which people here drive, or the language barriers experienced.

So, we have some tips on how to stay cool under the pressure and alleviate the stress out of your day.

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5 Top Tips to Help You Keep a Cool Head

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After three calls to the furniture shop to complain about the large dent in your cabinet that was damaged during delivery and still waiting for your store credit, you march angrily into the store demanding something be done immediately. Before you start shouting and biting the clerk’s head off, take a moment to try some of these strategies to help you keep a cool head.

1. Learn to recognise signs that your temperature is rising and that anger is lurking at the doorstep: Tell yourself that you know you are getting upset and may therefore say or do something irrational that you may later regret.

Perhaps now is not the best time to raise a frustrating issue so take a few minutes to collect yourself first.

2. Don’t be waiting to exhale (or inhale): Breathe deeply, from your diaphragm and then back out again. While doing some deep breathing, think of something cute like little puppies or a funny joke, which should help calm you down a little.

3. Put things into perspective. Don’t take any perceived infraction or wrongdoing so seriously. Yes, it is extremely frustrating that the store has not responded to your concerns, but is it really worthy of a full-on torrent of screams at the unwitting store clerk who was probably not responsible for the cabinet damage or non-return of your calls in the first place?

Poor customer service is not a crime although your verbal assault just may come close so do try to weigh your reaction in comparison to the trigger.

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4. Don’t take it personally: As women, we tend to be a little bit more sensitive than our male counterparts, often attributing meaning or motive to the behaviour of others. Your spouse comes home in a cranky mood, providing one-word answers in a gruff tone.

Don’t automatically assume that he is upset with you or displeased with the dinner you’ve cooked. He could have had a hard day at work so ask him what is bothering him instead of thinking that it is a problem with you or your relationship.

5. Things are not always going to be like “back home”: Being an expatriate is not just about having warmer weather and being close to the beaches. It is also about experiencing a different culture and a different way of life.

There will be frustrations that we have to endure, but these all make up the entire expat experience.We should try to be culturally sensitive to the citizens of our host country as well as other expats from around the world who do things differently than we are used to. That does not make their way wrong, rude or weird, just different. Instead, celebrate your ability to learn about different cultures, new ways of doing things as well as learning to have a bit more patience.

So, the next time an aggressive driver cuts you off, take a moment to breathe deep and take five.