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7 | O akville B eaver | T hursday,M ay 9,2019 insidehalton.com LIMITED TIME OFFER UPTO $4,250 IN REBATES* CASH FOR CLUNKERS! REPLACE YOUR A/C AND WE'LL PAY YOU BY THE TON cashfor clunkers! replaceyoura/cand we'll payyoubytheton Cash for clunkers A/C Package includes: •We'll pay you for your old A/C unit • Receive up to $4,250 in rebates • Don't pay until Halloween Call now for details 905-205-3443 atlascare.ca *Restrictions apply. Promo expires June 14,2019. J.M.C Concrete Interlocking LTD Oakville's Favourite Patios & Driveways! DIAMONDDIAMOND DIAMONDDIAMOND LIKE US ONAsk for John www.jmcconcrete.ca 905-878-8595 • stamped concrete • interlocking • exposed aggregate • flagstone • french curbs • retainingwalls • garage floors • free estimates Pud bySteveNease Too often, our society tells us that anger is a "bad" emotion, an unwanted and uncomfortable feeling that results in an urgent desire to eliminate it as soon as possi- ble. After all, anger gets our hearts racing, palms sweat- ing and fists clenching, and it creates an irresistible urge to correct it right away. Anger is, in fact, a healthy and productive emotion that is an adaptive response to re- al or perceived danger. More often than not, anger is help- ing to mask other emotions like fear, pain, anxiety, shame and sadness, and to protect us from being vul- nerable to them. Although channelling an- ger in unproductive ways such as suppressing it, lash- ing out, or yelling at some- one can be normal, there are healthier and more produc- tive ways to manage your an- ger. Learning to identify your anger is a significant first step. Ask yourself: What does my anger look like? Does my heart start racing? Is my breathing sped-up or shallow? Are my muscles tense? What is my anger try- ing to tell me? Is there a dif- ferent way of interpreting the situation or circum- stance? The following tips can be helpful to manage anger in healthy ways: • The 3Ds: Delay, Dis- tract, Decide: Intentionally delay your anger response for 20 to 30 minutes. Engage in a simple distracting activ- ity such as getting a glass of water, and decide how you are going to respond to the situation in a healthier way • Slow breathing: Pay attention to your breath, and notice the gentle rise and fall of your belly as you breathe. Notice any tension in your body, and work on releasing it as you breathe for a few minutes • Regular exercise: Sim- ply going for a quick walk or getting your body moving can do the trick to release an- ger. • Colouring books: Get in touch with your inner child! Keep an adult colour- ing book handy or simply draw out how you're feeling (even if you draw stick fig- ures!). • Journal: Write and ex- press your anger. How did the situation make you feel? Was there perhaps another emotion you were experienc- ing? Why do you think the situation/circumstance/ person made you feel angry? • Embrace your anger: Channel it into a productive conversation to express which of your needs must be met, to set healthy boundar- ies, or to simply acknowl- edge you are sorry for ex- pressing your anger in an unhealthy or hurtful man- ner (we all make mistakes!). Remember that anger is a perfectly healthy and rea- sonable emotion, and these tips are not meant to help you get rid of it. They will simply allow you to dial your anger down a few notches so that you can build a healthi- er, more productive relation- ship with your anger. Melanie McGregor is the communications and ad- vancement specialist at the Canadian Mental Health Association Halton Region Branch, which provides mental health/addiction community support and education. Visit www.hal- ton.cmha.ca for more in- formation and follow @cmhahalton on Twitter. Mike and Dhwani, Anger Management course facil- itators at CMHA Halton Region Branch, authored today's column. MANAGE YOUR ANGER IN A HEALTHY WAY OPINION HERE ARE SOME TIPS, WRITES MELANIE MCGREGOR MELANIE MCGREGOR Column ANIMAL TALES This raccoon was resting on the balcony of Sam Sun's house in the River Oak community of Oakville last month. A tap on the glass garnered this response, but the raccoon soon went back to sleep. Sam Sun photo