Feeling Angry? Just count to 10

By Dr James Dobson

We've often heard the old suggestion that we should count to 10 when we get angry.

It can be very valuable to have a cooling-off period before acting on those feelings. The reason for waiting is that anger is not only emotional, it's biochemical as well. The body is equipped with an automatic defence system called the "fight or flight" mechanism, which prepares the entire organism for action. When we're upset or frightened, adrenaline is pumped into the blood stream, setting off a whole series of physiological responses within the body. In a matter of seconds, the individual is transformed from being calm to a state of alarmed reaction.

All of these biochemical responses are involuntary. What isn't involuntary however, is our response to these sudden changes.

We can choose to hold our tongue; to remove ourselves from the provocative situation, particularly when we're dealing with children who anger us.

We can control the impulse to lash out verbally or physically, doing what we will certainly regret when the passion has cooled. Not only can we exercise this self-control, we absolutely must.

From TODAY, Voices – Monday, 22-Jun-2009

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