Lesson 1 Getting to Know Yourself
Don’t Let Anger Be Your Boss
Do you ever find yourself suddenly ____ angry?
One moment you’re fine, and the next ____ you’re slamming doors or rolling your eyes at your parents.
Some people may think ____ just have a bad attitude or are getting too upset about a small problem.
However, these feelings don’t ____ come from stress about everyday life.
Where does adolescent anger come from?
____ a teen, you may feel like an adult, but your brain is still growing.
In your brain, there is a part ____ is responsible for solving problems and controlling your emotions.
____ your teen years, this part is still in development.
The changes in your brain lead you toward independence, social ____ and creativity.
At the same time, however, you may feel confused about ____ you are.
You may also ____ more sensitive to unfairness.
Furthermore, your body is ____ with hormones.
This ____ affects your mood.
The ____ of these factors intensifies your strong emotions.
Getting to Know Your Anger
It is natural to feel angry from time to time; it doesn’t mean there is something wrong ____ you.
Anger can sometimes be a ____ tool.
For example, an angry but open conversation ____ resolve a conflict between friends.
The important ____ is to manage your anger so that it does not turn into aggressive or violent behavior.
This does not mean that you should stop yourself from feeling ____
Rather, you should ____ it in a productive way.
____ yourself some questions about your angry feelings.
This can help you to better ____ your anger.
Questions to Ask Yourself
How often do I ____ angry?
What situations ____ me feel the most intense anger?
Is my anger directed at anyone ____ anything in particular?
Do I focus on the causes of my ____ instead of solutions?
Can I control my emotions when I ____ angry?
How do I ____ and behave when I get angry?
First Aid to Calm Yourself Down
You need to ____ how to deal with anger in a socially appropriate way.
Remember: anger is a feeling, but behavior is ____ choice.
The first step is recognizing the physical ____ of anger.
It is ____ to recognize those signs in advance.
They include ____ increased heart rate, a flushed face, and the clenching of your fists.
When these things happen, take action to ____ your anger.
For example, you could try taking a break to organize your thoughts ____ ending a conversation before it gets too intense.
Finding Proper Coping Skills
In some cases, the strategies mentioned above may not be enough, so you ____ need to find proper coping skills for your personal situation.
Without the right coping ____ you may find yourself becoming verbally or even physically aggressive.
Explore various strategies to discover what is best for you, such ____ taking a walk, drawing a picture, or writing down things that come to your mind.
You can also try to find possible solutions to a problem and then compare the advantages and disadvantages of ____ one.
By developing problem-solving skills, you will learn that there are many ____ to solve a problem without getting angry.
Anger is an ____ that we all experience.
By managing your anger properly, you can be the ____ of your feelings, not the other way around.
This is an important step in finding your true self and taking control of your ____