Don't let anger get the better of you
For Mental Health Action Week 2008 we want you to get your head round your anger.
We are all wired to get angry sometimes, but it can be bad for us. Anger is powerful. It can damage your relationships and your life.
Are you a cool cat or a red hot ranter? Do you breathe fire or simmer in silence? What sort of thing gets your goat? How do you react?
We’re all different. Our quiz will get you thinking about your anger. Be honest, you might just find there’s a pattern emerging…
Answer the questions below. Please take a note of your answers as you go along.
Question 1
You’re in a restaurant and have been waiting for over an hour. Do you:
A) Wait patiently for the food to arrive
B) Call the waitress/waiter over and ask where your food is
C) Leave the restaurant loudly saying that you won’t be back
D) Stamp into the kitchen, confront the chef and demand your meal
Question 2
You’ve been busy working on your computer for the last hour, only for it to crash. Do you:
A) Tut, take a deep breath and start again
B) Go a bit red, clench your fists and call the IT helpline
C) Swear loudly and vow never to use the computer again
D) Scream, lift your computer in the air and promptly throw it out the window
Question 3
You see someone drop some litter. Do you:
A) Pick up the litter and keep walking
B) Tut and ponder how people can be so disrespectful
C) Call the litterbug and say ‘Did you realise that you’ve just ruined my walk?’
D) Make them pick up the litter as you shout “Citizen’s arrest! Citizen’s arrest”
Question 4
You’ve been at the bus stop an hour. The bus arrives and someone pushes in front of you to get on. Do you:
A) Tut and think ‘Things ain’t what they used to be when I was a nipper’
B) Sarcastically say “Excuse you” and get on the bus
C) Tell the bus driver that the person shouldn’t be allowed on
D) Stand in front of the bus so it can’t move off and say you’re not budging until the bus stop bully is thrown off the bus
Question 5
You were off sick when the rota was drawn up. You return to discover you’re down to work more nights than anyone else. Do you:
A) Ask your boss why a few days later
B) Give your colleagues the cold shoulder for the rest of the day
C) Start telling everyone how ill you feel when your bodyclock is disturbed
D) Leap onto a chair, tear the rota into a million pieces and shout “Look everyone, it’s snowing!”
Question 6
You had your keys in your hand 2 minutes ago, but where are they now? Do you:
A) Stay calm and retrace your steps
B) Feel your irritation rising as you move things about in the search
C) Blame the nearest person to you for putting them in a stupid place
D) Curse and tear up the room in a desperate attempt to locate those magical vanishing keys
Question 7
You’re driving on a road where 2 lanes become 1. A car speeds past and cuts into your lane. Do you:
A) Shake your head and concentrate on your driving
B) Grit your teeth and curse under your breath
C) Turn to your passenger and rant about other people’s driving
D) Slam your foot on the pedal, zoom alongside them and shout ‘Where did you get your license? In a Christmas cracker?’
Question 8
Your neighbour’s having a party, but assured you the noise would stop at 10.00pm. The music’s still blasting through the wall at 12.00pm and you’ve got work tomorrow. Do you:
A) Take a deep breath and reach for the ear plugs
B) Get agitated and thump a few pillows
C) Go next door to your neighbour and shout at them to turn it off
D) Gatecrash the party armed with a pair of wire cutters and cut the plug off their stereo
How angry are you? Now add up each of your answers to find out, if you are:
Mostly A's
You’re cool as a cucumber. It seems you react calmly to most situations and don’t let your anger get the better of you. However, even the coolest of cats may need ideas on how to deal with situations which make them feel angry
Find out healthy ways to deal with anger
Mostly B's
Like a geyser you’re prone to the occasional outburst. It seems certain situations get your goat, but mostly you don’t let your anger get the better of you. However you react, there are plenty of healthy ways to deal with your anger
Find out healthy ways to deal with anger
Mostly C's
You’re a bit like a pressure cooker. It seems certain situations really get you fuming and your anger can get the better of you. We are all wired to get angry sometimes, but you can stop flipping your lid your top by finding out healthy ways to deal with anger
Find out healthy ways to deal with anger
Mostly Ds
You can erupt like a volcano. It seems that certain situations make your blood boil and your anger can get the better of you. Joking aside, there are plenty of healthy ways to deal with situations which make you feel angry
Find out healthy ways to deal with anger
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Are you close to boiling point? Need to let off steam? Expressing your anger can make you feel better, but it can also make things a lot worse.
Get it off your chest without scaring your friends witless by having a rant right here. We won’t rant back, but we may pick your rant to join our Top 5 to be posted on www.boilingpoint.org.uk
Please don’t name people, places or companies as they will be edited out. All rants can be anonymous and email addresses are kept confidential.
The contents of the rants do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Mental Health Foundation.
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We have also compiled a light hearted video about anger.
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This page takes a light hearted look at anger, but unhealthy anger can be a serious problem. It has been linked to a range of mental health problems.
More information about mental health and how to get help at www.mentalhealth.org.uk
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