Some of the most common causes of anger are frustration, hurt, becoming annoyed, harassment, feelings of disappointment or of being threatened. When these feelings occur adrenaline is released into the bloodstream. This adrenalin reinforces your feelings of anger because your heart pumps faster and your blood courses through your system. Your blood pressure will increase and your muscles may feel tense. Basically, your body is gearing up for action in a 'flight or fight' response.

Understanding how to express your anger in a non-threatening manner can actually allow you to use your energy in a constructive way.

You have to remember that ignoring anger will not make it go away. If you don't effectively deal with your anger, you can develop chronic tension and health problems. Accidents and personal problems can stem from your anger, and can create problems with loved ones and on your job. If left unchecked, your anger can lead to abuse, violent behavior and even crime. You need to recognize that you are angry, you need to determine what caused the immediate anger and decide what steps need to be taken to eliminate the cause.

You should never try to resolve your problem through discussion when you are angry, especially if you're angry at someone. Calm down before discussing the problem and do not shout. Shouting only makes the problem worse and increases your anger.

Instead, understand why you are angry. Are you just trying to beat the other person in a competitive sense, or does a real problem exist that needs to be ironed out? You should never get person when discussing a situation that caused the anger. Put your energy into solving the problem that caused the anger, not the person. Getting personal in an argument will only make things worse.

You should listen to what the other person has to say before jumping to conclusions. Do not resort to name calling and insults, which will only extend the anger. It is OK to be assertive and to express your side without yelling and screaming. You also should not pout; no one likes an adult acting like a child when they are angry.

Don't waste time and energy on a situation that is unavoidable. Use humor. Find something funny within the situation to help defuse a potentially explosive situation. Physical activity can help dissipate some of that adrenaline flowing through your blood. Walk, run or perform some other physical action that can take your mind off your anger. Make sure you get adequate rest as when people are tired, little things tend to annoy them, which is one of the causes of anger. Remember, even taking a time-out to calm down before an angry confrontation makes a bad situation worsen. Do not approach the problem until you have had time to think through both sides of the situation.