If you’re a working adult, you’ll always come across stressful daily experiences that can drive you up the wall and make your tummy churn in frustration. Experts say that suppressing your negative feelings isn’t good for health as it will make things worse. Excess anger can lead to various physical illnesses like body aches, pains, headaches, stomach upset and sleeplessness.

Anger is a very natural reaction, especially when you feel as though you’ve been bullied or wronged in some way. In certain cases, anger is even good. It is what drives some people to fight for justice and human rights. It is also what drives mothers to protect their children from harm. However, unhealthy anger should be released productively and safely with these steps:

1. Go out for a run.

Having an exercise session lets you get rid of your pent up feelings, as well as keep you healthy by keeping your weight and cholesterol in check. Additionally, sports like boxing let’s you release your anger on harmless things like punching bags.

2. Express your feelings through writing.

This includes things like jotting your thoughts down in a diary, writing poems, or even making up songs with lyrics. Writing your anger down is the quickest way to channel it out of yourself.

3. Talk to a trusted person.

Believe it or not, ranting about your bad experiences to someone you trust is absolutely necessary to release pressure. However, you must look at it as a healing strategy and not as an excuse to bad mouth people.

4. Perform a releasing ceremony.

Although it’s called a ‘ceremony’, these are actually simple actions you can do to free your mind of the anger. Some examples include channeling your feelings into a rock and then throwing it into a lake, or finding a private space where you can shake the anger off by shaking your whole body. Alternatively, you can get yourself a stress ball and channel all your aggression to it.

5. Watch funny videos or listen to calming music.

You’ll be surprised that this method not only distracts you from your anger, but let’s you laugh or naturally calm down. Psychologists recommend humour as an effective cure for negative emotions.

6. Try to meditate.

Find a quiet place in your home or office daily and repeat encouraging religious or inspirational verses to yourself. You can also imagine your anger as a type of liquid in your body, and slowly imagine it flowing out in your mind. Additionally, you can also practice Tibetan style mindfulness and compassionate meditation.

7. Speak with a professional.

If you feel you have serious anger problems and it is affecting your relationships with your loved ones, do speak to a counselor or therapist. There are certain times that the anger is too deep and complex to be treated with milder methods.