[sidebar]Use your words. “Translating your anger into words and sharing them with someone you trust is essential for physical and emotional health,” says Dr. Cox. Speak (without guilt-tripping) to the person who’s angering you. “Say something like ‘I feel angry when you laugh at my problems,’ and go from there,” says Dr. Cox. (Arguing with your hubby? See how you can stop a fight in its tracks.) Put it in writing. “Writing a note is a great way for couples to make their anger known to each other if they can’t talk about it without getting defensive,” says Dr. Cox. Research also suggests that journaling about stressful events may help strengthen the immune system and reduce the toll stress takes on the body. Hit something (not someone). Hitting or screaming into a pillow, instead of erupting at a person, can help stabilize feelings when you’re about to lose it, says Dr. Cox. But limit pillow punching to 30 seconds at a time. Hitting the treadmill may help too: Walking daily has been shown to calm anger and decrease diastolic blood pressure. More from Prevention: 5 Ways To Have A Difficult Conversation
