What is anger?

Everytime you get angry, you poision your own system. ~Alfred A. Montapert

Throughout the day people experience many feelings, amongst them, anger. Individuals may be angry with friends, family, work, school, an illness, or even themselves.

Anger is a common and normal emotion that occurs in response to an individual's perception of being threatened or harmed. Manifestations of anger can include irritability, physical or verbal attacks, negativism, rage, increased heart rate, and respiratory activity.

Anger can be continuous or intermittent, directed inward or outward, and intense or mild. Anger is often focused inward which can result in self-harm, emotional outbursts, legal issues, feelings of anxiety, and violent explosive behaviors.

However, anger can be expressed apprporiately allowing individuals to let go of stress and frustration and those around you understand that you are upset.

The trick is to manage your anger effectively so that effects you positively, not negatively. Wondering how you do this?
1. Know your anger by recognizing its symptoms (physical, emotional, and behavioral).
2. Identify the situation that has made you angry.
3. Implement coping skills to manage your anger positively.
4. Communicate effectively with self or others.

Remember you are in control of your emotions and reactions.

Need help with managing your anger, please contact our therapists at 954-800-0108.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Yesterday is a memory. Today is a gift. Tomorrow is hope. Peace, love, and happiness for the New Chinese New Year!

Hope is an emotion which promotes the belief in a positive outcome related to events and certain circumstances in one's life. Do you believe in Hope or believe it doesn't exist? I challenge you to make a commitment to HOPE today. Change can start today. It doesn't have to be a new year to re-commitment to goals, morals, thoughts, and intentions. Celebrate each day and look forward in the direction you are going.

Need help with committing to HOPE, contact our therapists in the Coral Ridge area at 954-800-0108.

Happy Birthday MLK!

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. -Martin Luther King, Jr.

Character development is crucial when changing the identity of one self to become more congruent with goals, intentions, and morals. Do you know the character qualities you are missing? In order to determine some of these character qualities I want you to think of a goal, intention, or moral that you have been consciously working on. Picture the person who you look up to, kind of like a mentor. Now, ask your self this question: What would a person with more self-esteem, courage, self-discipline, compassion, gratitude, flexibility, and resourcefulness do in my situation? By asking your self this question in relation to your goal, intention, or moral, you end up with a list of character qualities to develop or improve. Now, how do you actually make improvements with your character development? One useful tool is to imagine that you are the person you look up to, your mentor, in all situations and determine how that person would respond to the situation. In turn, you will see your character development begin to change which will positively effect all areas of your life.

If you need help with character development, please don't hestiate to contact our professional counselors at 954-800-0108.

Stress: Good or Bad?

Modern life is full of hassles, deadlines, frustrations, and demands. For many people stress is so common that it has become a way of life. Stress is not always bad. In small doses, it can help for you to perform under pressure and motivate you to do your BEST. But, when you are constantly running in emergency mode, your mind and body pay the price. Here are some useful tips to help cope with stress: eat healthy, exercise, get enough of sleep, self-care, relaxation techniques, or talk to some one you trust. There is "no one size fits all" solution to managing stress. Focus on what makes you feel positive, calm, and in control.

If you need help managing the stress in your life, please contact us at 954-800-0108. We can help.

A New Year A New You!

So, its a New Year and you are most likely coming up with a list of New Years Resolutions. Instead of creating a list, I challenge you to create New Years COMMITMENTS! I know actually committing to something can be difficult. But, you will be happy that you decided to take this challenge. So, you have one year to accomplish the commitment. You can do it! Your commitment can be anything from diet and exercise to bungee jumping.

Here are some tips to make sure your commitment is SMART (S-specific, M-measurable, A-attainable, R-realistic, and T-timely).
1. Your commitment must be specific. Define what you specifically want to accomplish.
2. Create steps to accomplish your commitment. Steps should be small and manageable. Here you are able to see your progress.
3. Identify any barriers that may get in the way of you accomplishing your commitment. Create solutions to each barrier.
4. Identify a specific time frame for you to accomplish your commitment. This has already been decided for you, one year!

Create a NEW YOU by accomplishing your commitment! You can do anything you put your mind to!

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM PROVIDE4!