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Resources Basic Information Introduction to Anger and Its Costs Introduction to Anger ManagementWhat is Anger?Psychology of AngerPhysiology of AngerAnger vs. FearAnger Styles Are LearnedMotivational Effects of AngerHealth Costs Of AngerSocial Costs Of Anger Deciding to Manage Anger Deciding To Manage AngerRecognizing Anger SignsRage RatingsAnger Diary And Triggers Anger Management Techniques & Treatments Anger Management Relaxation TechniquesReality Testing and Anger Management Believable Reasons for Staying CoolAssertive Communication and Anger Management Anger Management and Making RequestsPutting It Together: Use of Anger Management TechniquesAnger Management ProgramsGo With The Anger Management ProgramAnger ContractingAnger Contracting (continued)Mandated Anger Management TreatmentHandling Anger Management Relapses Suggested Readings Recommended Anger Management Readings More Information Wise Counsel Interview Transcript: An Interview with Steven Shaps, MA on Anger Management Tests Anger Quiz Latest News Anger a Threat to Health in Old AgeHealth Tip: Anger ManagementStudy Probes Causes of Anger in Returning U.S. Soldiers Questions and Answers Angry All The TimeDo You Know What's Wrong With Me?Getting Married, Stepsons With Awful TempersIntrusive Thoughts?I Have This IssueDoes Romance Lead to Aggression?Why do I Feel Like Everyone is Trying to Upset me?Preventing Unwarranted ConflictHe Says I'm Ignorant , Being a MoronFrequently Snapping Over Little Things!Guidance To Help My Son Deal With His Violent RagesPlease Help Me OutI Desperately Want to Make This WorkHelp!AdviceAngerDealing with Bipolar DsorderDoes an old brain injury contribute to anger management problems?dont understand meThree different personality disordersMy younger brother is having spells of rageviolent brotherI get violentAnger ManagementAngry at my doctor for prescribing so carelesslyI become very hostile towards myselfMisdiagnosed and Lied ToLiving In Fear Of The Next OutburstA Very Bad TemperAngry But Over-ControlledAngry FriendArgumentativeInner RageScreaming And Cursing HusbandAre These Just Mood SwingsExplosive AngerChaotic Family LifeTemper ProblemsRuining the Best RelationshipsA VIOLENT MARRIAGEJekyll & HydeMy Dad the DictatorViolent Behavior Blog Entries Parenting, Spanking and Later AggressionDo Violent Criminals "Turn" Violent, or Do They Just Stay That Way?Holidays and Family ConflictTwo Powerful Ways to Reduce Emotional ArousalOf Mountains and Molehills and WorryThe Psychology of Road RageRelationships and The Role of Mutual BlameGot Anger? Don't Manage It.When Getting Angry is SmartTurning Anger into AdvocacyProvocation, Anger and ReactionWhy Are People in Such a Hurry?A 3 Day Plan to Break Free from IrritationThe Impact of Stress and AngerDo We Need Enemies?We Love To Hate The BullyThe Frustration of WaitingWhen You Are Angry At Your TherapistAnger Throughout the GenerationsSex, Violence, Rage, Passion: "Being Human."Stress, Emotions and Body ResponseHow You Become the Wolf You FeedHow to Break Free from Life's IrritationsMuch Ado About SomethingThe Case of The Wayword Flight AttendantSpanking and Our Aggression: A ReflectionThe Link Between Anger and StressAn Interview with Paul Ekman, Ph.D. on Emotional ExpressionAnger May be a Symptom of Your BeliefsAnger May Stem from Alcohol and Other DrugsAnger is Like an IcebergDo Disrespectful People Make You Angry?Anger: Taming Your Tiger WithinManaging Anger and Emotional Stressors Could Save Your LifeAnger…constructive, destructive, or both?Rage and Its ConsequencesMen and Anger and Heart Disease RevisitedAn Interview with Steven Shaps, MA on Anger ManagementForgivenessNon Verbal CommunicationBipolar kids see aggression when it isn't there Videos Controlling AngerAnger, Compassion, and What It Means To Be Strong Anger Management Techniques Learn the 6 Steps to Coping with Anger and How To Overcome Anger Triggers Anger Management Techniques That WorkHow to deal with anger appropriately? The Mad Family: Anger Management For Children Coping with Anger After DeploymentDoes Anger Hurt Your Heart? Links [5] Articles[1] Associations[2] Information[1] Journals[9] Videos Book Reviews Action, Emotion and WillAggression and Antisocial Behavior in Children and AdolescentsAngerDestructive EmotionsEmotions RevealedGetting over Getting MadHandbook of EmotionsHatredLetting Go of AngerMaster PassionsMastering Anger and AggressionMindful AngerRestraining RageShame and GuiltTaking Charge of AngerTaking Charge of Anger: Six Steps to Asserting Yourself without Losing ControlThe Irritable Male SyndromeThe Mythological UnconsciousThe Subtlety of EmotionsThe Vehement Passions

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	Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D. A blog about mindfulness, stress-reduction, psychotherapy and mental health.
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There is a story that a recent student of mine shared with me on working with irritations in life. Here is my adaptation of the story.

One day, Krishnamurti, a teacher and philosopher, was eating lunch with his students when one student got up to close the window. Krishnamurti asked why he did that and the student replied, “the sound from outside was annoying and making it difficult for me to enjoy conversation with my friends.” To this, Krishnamurti replied, “You have a habit of irritation.”

The student quizzically responded, “Yes I was irritated, what should I have done about it.” Krishnamurti said, “Your irritation is a habit that expands beyond the walls of this room and windows and invades your everyday life and there is a way move beyond this.”

The student was interested in not being captive by his habit energy of irritation and so again asked the teacher what he should do about it.

Krishnamurti said, “It will take 3 days to rid yourself of this habit energy.”

Day 1: Spend the entire day focusing on what it is like to be irritated. Notice in the morning, afternoon and evening. What does it feel like in your body? What kind of thoughts arise in the mind? Become intimate with the feeling of irritation, get to know it, befriend it.

Day 2: Spend the entire day noticing irritation in others. Look for it, what does it look like on their faces and their body language. Notice the tone of voice that is used and what kind of language comes out of the mouth. What behavior comes from this emotional space of irritation? Study it.

Day 3: Notice the recession of irritation in yourself.

The student decided to try it out and became intimate with the experience of irritation. He noticed many things throughout the day that triggered it, the tension in his body that ensued and the flurry of thoughts that flowed through the mind. As soon as he noticed these things, the irritation already began to subside a bit.

The next day he found a lot of irritation in others. He noticed their language was harsher and body looked tense. Thoughts arose in his mind at how silly everyone looks being so irritated by seemingly small things.

On that third day he was more aware of irritation arising in him, but these moments were interrupted by the realization that he didn’t need to be captive to the cycles of irritation in his mind.

This was his experience, but what’s more important is what our individual experiences are. Try out these 3 days as an experiment without expecting miracles. See what comes up for you. Notice if your relationship to irritation shifts.

As always, please share your thoughts, stories and questions below. Your interaction provides a living wisdom for us all to benefit from.

Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist in private practice in West Los Angeles and is author of the upcoming book The Now Effect, co-author of A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workbook, Foreword by Jon Kabat-Zinn, author of the Mindful Solutions audio series, and the Mindfulness at Work™ program currently being adopted in multiple multinational corporations.

Check out Dr. Goldstein's acclaimed CD's on Mindful Solutions for Stress, Anxiety, and Depression, Mindful Solutions for Addiction and RelapsePrevention, and Mindful Solutions for Success and Stress Reduction at Work. -- "They are so relevant, I have marked them as one of my favorites on a handout I give to all new clients" ~ Psychiatrist.

If you're wanting to integrate more mindfulness into your daily life, sign up for his Mindful Living Twitter Feed. Dr. Goldstein is also available for private psychotherapy.

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