12 Ways to Lower Frustration
Driving in endless traffic, waiting in long lines or dealing with arrogant people can surely test your patience. It is normal to feel frustrated and angry but giving in to these negative emotions can become destructive. Frustration is always associated with losing your cool. It often leads to anger, disappointments and annoyance. If not managed well, it can create more problems and break relationships.
On the other hand, bottling up your frustrations and anger can also lead to physical and emotional reactions like heart disease and anxiety. According to a 2010 study, it is best to express your frustrations in healthy ways.
Taking Deep Breaths
In most cases, the best remedy in dealing with frustrating situations is to take a deep breath. Slow and controlled breaths allow your body and mind to instantly calm down. All you need is a small place or a comfortable chair that you can inhale and exhale to make you relax. Do this for at least 5 minutes.
Meditation
There are many known benefits of meditation in relieving stress. It decreases stress levels which results in less anxiety. Metta, a form of meditation, helps you develop kind thoughts and feelings towards yourself and others. You can download meditation apps on your phone to let you relax even while you are out or at work.
Yoga
Proper breathing techniques and meditation are the basic foundation of yoga. It is a combination of physical and mental exercises that strengthen your body and calm your mind. Many also believe that through yoga they have a more positive outlook in life because they are more alert, relaxed and happier.
Exercise
Another effective way to lower your frustration is through regular exercise. It is a mood booster that allows you to release all the negative feelings inside. You do not have to spend a dime to do this. If you are on the verge of an outburst, you can just go out and take a walk around the neighborhood.
Journal
When you feel frustrated, you badly want to scream and throw tantrums. Instead of fixating your mind to do undignified actions, it is better to write down your thoughts and feelings. When you write or type everything you want to say to a person without them knowing, it calms your brain and slows down your frustration.
Gardening
Spending time with plants eases your stress. Gardening is known to relieve negative thoughts and feelings and make you feel better instantly. It reduces cortisol levels, a chemical your body produces in response to stress, more than reading.
Music
Many turn to music for relaxation and comfort. Listening to music when you are frustrated and stressed lowers cortisol levels and heart rate. It boosts your mood, promotes healing and improves your emotional well-being. Music therapy is a popular treatment for those with anger issues.
Distracting Yourself
Thinking about your feelings does not always help when your patience is tested. What you can do is lean towards activities that will point you in the opposite direction. You can do puzzles, read or run an errand. If you need a right-at-the-moment reaction, excuse yourself and take a walk.
Getting Creative
Frustration ignites creativity. When you feel frustrated and angry, your creativity boosts. Several studies and research show how negative emotions such as anger and frustration inhibit your brain to come up with great ideas in an unstructured manner.
Finding Solutions
You may not be able to come up with a solution right away so you better calm yourself first and clear your mind. Take a deep breath and look at the problem again with a new perspective. Look for solutions that you know will be helpful. Instead of getting frustrated, focus your thoughts on finding the best way to handle the situation.
Focusing on the Good Things
Lowering your frustration can be a challenge especially if you are used to getting things your way. But you have to bear in mind that this is not always the case. You need to learn to accept defeats and failures as part of growing up. Focusing on your blessings and being grateful and appreciative of what you have will prevent you from getting frustrated.
Seeking Help
Too much of everything is never good. When you notice that you are always frustrated and angry even over petty things, you may have to consider seeking help. If your outburst is starting to hurt your family and friends or disconnecting you from them, attending therapy and counseling will be a big help.
If you are a resident of Riverside, California, Corona, California and Los Angeles, California, visit Mindshift Psychological Services. We provide therapy and counseling sessions for anger management, depression and trauma. Our team of medical professionals is highly trained in handling different cases and coming up with appropriate approaches that will fit our client’s needs.
Visit our website for more information. You may also contact us at (714)584-9700.
