Dealing With Anger for Athletes

Ways for Athletes to Deal With Anger

Questions about this topic:

Do you feel angry often? 

On a scale of 1-10, how often do you feel you get angry.

What typically triggers the anger?

Have you dealt with this your whole life, or only recently? 

When do you get most angry?

When do you get mildly angry?

Have people mentioned your anger before?  If so, who?  What did/do they say about it?

Can you control your anger, or does it happen without you being able to control it?

Steps to deal with anger
1.   Be aware of it.  When you find yourself angry, mad, or pissed off, take a moment to notice it.  Just pause for a few seconds and look around. 

2. Notice what is making you so angry.  What triggered it?  Is it a relationship, a family member, a friend?  Is it external?  Is it internal?  Are you angry at yourself or somebody else?

3. If anybody has brought up your anger, notice how it affects them.  Maybe even ask, “How does my anger affect you?”  Get their perspective on it since they are seeing it from the outside and may have more knowledge/insights into what triggers it, when it happens, etc.

4. Take one deep breath.  Breathe all the way in, then slowly let it out. If you can, close your eyes for 5-10 seconds and just breathe a few more times.

5. Really put your finger on what is making you angry.  Notice it, and think about it.  Figure out why it triggers you and why it makes you mad.  Look at the situation from an outside perspective.

6. Eventually, smile about it, and laugh at the situation.  Laugh at what was making you so angry in the first place.

7.  Optional, but write it down.  Write down what was making you so angry, and really analyze it.  Why does it make you angry, why does it always happen, etc.  When you feel the situation arise again, you will have already analyzed it, so you won’t just get emotional about it.  You’ll look at it from an intellectual perspective.

8.  Deal with the situation as you see fit, without getting emotional.  This will give you major clarity.  If it’s a relationship that always gets you angry, talk to that person about it or possibly get them out of your life.  If it’s yourself, take action on what would make you not angry at yourself.  If it’s something else externally, figure out what you can do to keep a level-mind in it. 
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No situation is worth our constant anger.  Our mental health and mindset is the number 1 priority.  If something is straining us mentally, we must take action to change it or get it out of our lives.  

​These are a few ways for how to deal with anger as an athlete.