Anger Management 101: #2 Frustration

Frustration can be very difficult to handle because of the feelings of uselessness that often accompany it. For example, you have a child that just won’t listen to you, or do what he or she is told. Frustration can arise because others are not listening to our point of view, or taking account of our feelings, and we feel we just can’t get our point across.

SOLUTION? –Rethink. Try to use the anger and frustration you are feeling in positive ways. One positive aspect of anger is the fact it alerts others to the fact we are agitated about something and that it is important to listen to us. For example “Don’t cross the street without holding Mummy’s hand” can be said angrily to a small child to reinforce road safety messages. Be assertive in letting the other person know you were not happy with their actions. In the short term, children and others are more likely to comply with our requests when we are forceful.