How to Navigate Anger Issues in Relationships

Negative emotions like anger or frustration are healthy and normal when painful or difficult conflicts arise. Unfortunately, improperly managed anger can result in lashing out at loved ones. Yelling, hurtful comments, slamming doors, and silent treatments are poor ways some of us have coped with anger that later we’ve come to regret.

Managing anger issues in a relationship can be the difference between falling apart and staying together. If you or your partner has anger issues, follow our helpful suggestions for navigating these bumps in the road. Strengthen bonds and learn how to solve problems through couples therapy or anger management sessions with a licensed mental health professional. Make an appointment with Miami Hypnosis and Therapy today.

Avoid Shutting Down

Communication is the key to successful relationships. As individuals, we are responsible for our own happiness and health because we know better than anyone else what we need. While depending on others is an essential part of the human experience, mind-reading is not. This expectation can go on to contribute to anger issues in the relationship.

When your partner has anger issues, expressing that anger and not containing it is important and should be done in a productive way. Your loved ones might not realize you’re angry or upset, and refusing to communicate your feelings will only make it worse. Shutting down resolves nothing, and silent treatments will only make your partner angry or upset in return.

Learn to Manage Yourself, Not Others

No one enjoys conflict in their relationship. When conflict arises and tempers are flared, you might find yourself trying to take control of the situation or calm them down. Your partner at the time may not be able to see your good intentions, causing the anger issues in your relationship to further spiral. The same can be said if the roles are switched: abruptly criticizing your partner while you’re upset may hurt them and elicit a negative response.

Couples who are in relationships where one or both partners have anger management issues need to learn how to manage themselves and accept the fact they are not responsible for another person’s feelings. Moments of high tension and stress are not resolved by telling someone to relax or criticizing them. You’re the only one who can manage your anger issues in the relationship. If your partner is mad, remain calm instead of escalating it. If you’re angry at your significant other, realize impulsive statements are less likely to be heard.

Break the Cycle

Remembering past mistakes and experiences can be both helpful and harmful. The memory of previous failures helps us grow and make informed decisions moving forward. An old fight you and your partner had, while unpleasant and unavoidable, can also teach you valuable problem-solving skills to remember for future conversations.

Dwelling on old conflicts too much, however, makes it impossible to move on. Holding onto old anger issues in your relationship can aggravate minor disagreements into yelling matches that feed into other potential fights, creating an endless cycle of hurt feelings and resentment. Breaking this cycle is important but doesn’t mean instant forgiveness or making excuses for your partner’s anger issues—you’re allowed to be upset. A willingness to let the little things go so everyone can move on is essential when your partner has anger issues.

Recognize Your Limits

The bonds we build with other people are supposed to make us stronger. When something changes or unsurmountable issues cannot be resolved, sometimes the best thing to do is to move on. Relationships with anger issues don’t always allow couples to see eye-to-eye or communicate effectively. Forcing pieces that don’t fit won’t make a puzzle, and spending all your time trying to patch things up leaves you no energy to enjoy your loved one’s company anymore. If your partner’s anger issues become too much, there’s a chance the relationship is no longer right for you.

Contact Miami Hypnosis and Therapy

Miami Hypnosis and Therapy applies a unique blend of neuro-linguistic programming, hypnotherapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy to help resolve anger issues in relationships. Our primary practitioner, Anna Marchenko, is a licensed medical health counselor with years of experience and distinguished credentials. She is recognized by the Department of Education as a board-certified hypnotist and earned her Master of Arts & Master of Education degrees from Columbia University. She also performed post-graduate work for the International Institute of Interpersonal Therapy.

Not every couple has the tools they need to productively communicate and navigate negative emotions. Find helpful solutions and coping mechanisms for managing anger issues in relationships. Book your first appointment today to start your journey.