Sunday, November 01, 2009

Health Tips for November 1

Health Tip: Angry?

It's common for people with chronic health issues to feel angry. But being angry all the time can harm your physical and emotional health.

The American Diabetes offers these suggestions for how to deal with anger:

  • Determine what you're angry about, and think about how your anger is impacting your life.
  • Learn techniques to calm yourself when you feel angry. Take deep, slow breaths, sit down and stay quiet for a few minutes.
  • Try to change the things that make you angry.
  • Keep a diary about your anger, and find a better way to deal with each situation.
  • Use your anger to motivate you to change your life.

Health Tip: Managing Your Emotions

Understanding and controlling your emotions is as important as managing your physical health.

Here are suggestions from the American Academy of Family Physicians that may help:

  • Express your feelings, but do it in an appropriate way. Don't keep your emotions bottled up. Talk to a close friend or relative if something is bothering you.
  • Don't ignore your emotions. If talking with a close friend or relative doesn't work, seek professional help.
  • Prepare before you act out emotionally. Don't simply lash out in anger, frustration or sadness, or you may regret what you say.
  • Achieve a healthy balance of work, play and relaxation, remembering to look for the positive in all situations.
  • Since your physical health affects you emotionally, eat a healthy diet, avoid drugs and alcohol, and get frequent exercise.

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