Hello, I have had years of counseling and wonderful people supporting me emotionally. I have a few things I have found out over the years that have helped me almost entirely eliminate anger from my life (Yeah!). First off, eleminate the chemistry possibilities. Bad diet can be a real bane of anger (I know this may not get through to you as important, but trust me there are many scientific studies on this). There are two essetial fatty acids that the body cannot produce accoring to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. One is Alpha Linolenic Acid and the other is Linoleic Acid. All other types of fat can be produced from these. A lack of Alpha Linolenic Acid is a real major culprit in the American diet. It can be found in very few places. In the vegetable realm (I am a vegan) there is flaxseed oil. It is by far the richest source of this needed nutrient. In the animal realm the use of fatty fish will provide the needed fatty acid (Salmon, Trout, Tuna). It is easy enough to find in a supplement form at your local supermarket like Walmart, etc. The lack of this fatty acid is associated with major depression, bi-polar disorder, severe anger and all kinds of cancers and learning/brain disorders. Again, most American diets contain scant amounts of this "ESSENTIAL" fatty acid. Furthermore concerning fats, the absobtion of this ALA's can be hampered if too many Linoleic Acid rich foods are consumed. Current research supports a 2:1 to 4:1 ratio of Linoleic Acid to Alpha Linolenic Acid. To put this into practical terms, 3 teaspoons (1 tablespoon) of flaxseed oil (containing 120 calories like all fats) to 4 tablespoons (1/4 cup) walnut oil (or about 1/2 cup of raw walnuts) is a 4:1 ratio of LA's to ALA's and represents 600 calories or about the high end of the recommended 20-30% fats a day in the standard diet (based on 2000 calories a day - resting requires 60 calories (sitting at a desk, watching tv, etc. while walking for an hour requires about 300 calories). Try to eliminate animal fats, partial and fully hydrogenated oils (man made oils the bodies enzymes are ill equiped to break down leading to all kinds of health problems later in life (also the source of the infamous "trans fatty acids" now making the news) and refined vegetable oils not contain any ALA's of LA's. For a more rigerous approach to learning about fats and frankly what I think of as the best site of the hundreds I have viewed on the subject (literally I believe) can be found at http://www.scientificpsychic.com/fitness/fattyacids.html Avoiding outher triggers like caffeine, alcohol, tobacco and many other physically addictive substances that withdrawal from even a small amount can make a person moody is also very important. No matter how good or how bad your diet, health practitioners suggest that around 70% of all health benefits are dependent on 30 minutes to 1 hour of moderate areobic activity. Yes, taking a joyful walk around town is enough to satisfy this - it doesn't have to be a visit to the gym or a marathon across New York City (though most of these people are pretty happy too - smile). Finally, I will give you a bit of advice on getting some kind of spiritual life going. Not the complicated religious stuff, but the simple stuff, like laying back on your bed and mentally saying a short sentence to yourself over and over until you pass your consciousness and reach a trusting place (I say things like Love is patient and kind. Love is always hopeful. Love endures all things. Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control - any of these or all of them (and a few others too - ;-) ). Acceptance that the past has happened and that you can live in the now and be happy, even if you have failed your dreams the warmth of the sun is still good. Acceptance is the key to all my problems. Depression is just anger turned on yourself, so getting used to the condition triggering it can help you devise a meaningful method of handling it. Finally, do not fear reaching out to others for help. Seek mental health counseling at multiple places like your community mental health organization (almost every city or county has them), from adds found in the yellow pages, your minister, rabie or other religious affiliation. Try more than one and find the one that you feel friendly with. Be honest with them. There may even be a natural imbalence in the brain chemistry that modern medicine can help you with managing. SmilesAndSongs (though once a dreamer of earths destruction after making everyone squirm at my hand in anger - whew!)
