3 Strategies To Reduce Anger During COVID-19
Crunch, crunch, crunch! 3 tips to reduce anger eating during COVID-19.
Feeling angry lately? How about resentful?
So many people are talking about feeling angry during this pandemic. If you feel angry but think you shouldn’t be feeling this way because a lot of people have it worse than you….well, I’m blogging today to let you know your feelings of anger are totally VALID!
Here’s why!
You are grieving so many losses and anger is part of grief. Many of us are grieving and have been for a few months now.
Here are some of the losses that may cause you to feel angry or resentful:
- You loss your social connection with friends and family
- You loss your regular routine or work
- You loss all options to keep yourself busy
- You loss the summer activities that you were looking forward to (ex; no soccer, no baseball, no ultimate Frisbee)
- You loss camping or going to your cottage
- You loss your vacation or your well-deserved summer get-away
- You loss travel
- You loss the activities that bring joy and pleasure
- You loss your freedom
- You loss all things “certain”
Anger has a purpose, it sure does!
Anger communicates to us that something “is not fair”. All of these losses, and there are SO many of them, ARE NOT FAIR! It’s no wonder you’re feeling so damn angry.
Here are some go-to foods that actually help discharge anger from your body:
Nuts, Chips, Pretzels, Crackers, M&M peanuts, and any other crunchy foods.
Here are 3 non-food related strategies for you to use:
#1: Gently remind yourself that it’s totally okay to feel angry! Anger is NORMAL. (It’s what you DO with that anger that can get you in trouble).
#2: Write down what’s making you angry. Acknowledge and validate for yourself all of the losses you’re suffering. Another option is to talk with someone who makes you feel safe about how you’re feeling.
#3: Give yourself the gift of self-validation. Here’s an example: Oh, I’m feeling angry right now and it makes sense why I feel this way. So many people are feeling angry right now, I’m not the only one”.
These 3 strategies can really help you discharge the anger (and of course, it’s okay if you decide to discharge your anger with food). Your anger may not go away fully, but you can certainly reduce the intensity of it.
AND, if all else fails, punch the crap out of a pillow! It’s better than taking your wrath out on your family or friends.
MOST IMPORTANTLY: You're allowed and entitled to feel anger about your situation regardless of other people struggles. You matter too!
This too shall pass!
