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Curiosity?
Why do I see people get way too addicted to video games?
A Question the article answers:
What are the effects of video games on your health?
Research path:
Is there any life lessons video games might teach?

Gaming has been associated with sleep deprivation, insomnia and circadian rhythm disorders, depression, aggression, and anxiety, though more studies are needed to establish the validity and the strength of these connections.

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The health effects of too much gaming - Harvard Health

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Thanks for visiting. Don't miss your FREE gift. The Best Diets for Cognitive Fitness, is yours absolutely FREE when you sign up to receive Health Alerts from Harvard Medical School Sign up to get tips for living a healthy lifestyle, with ways to fight inflammation and improve cognitive health, plus the latest advances in preventative medicine, diet and exercise, pain relief, blood pressure and cholesterol management, and more.

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Curiosity?
Is there any pros to to video games?
A question the article answers:
What are some of the benefits video games teach?
Research path:
Do video games teach life lessons?

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Benefits of Video Games For Kids & Adults

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Create a new document and edit with others at the same time -- from your computer, phone or tablet. Get stuff done with or without an internet connection. Use Docs to edit Word files. Free from Google.

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Curiosity?
Why do all gamers want a bigger screen to play the same games they have on their phone?
A question the article answers:
What life lessons do video games have?
Research path:
How do video games help your social skills?

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Mat Apodaca
On a mission to share about how communication in the workplace and personal relationships plays a large role in your happiness Read full profile

We all lose our temper from time to time, and expressing anger is actually a healthy thing to do in our relationships with others. Expressing our differences in opinion allows us to have healthy conflict and many times come to an agreement or understanding that works for everyone. However, there are times when anger can become overwhelming or damaging, and during these times, it's important to learn how to deal with anger.

Expressing anger inappropriately can be harmful to relationships, both personal and professional. You may express too much anger, too often, or at times that are only going to make things worse, not better. In this article we will look at anger management techniques that will help you better control your emotions.

Let's take a deeper look at how to deal with anger.

Expressing Anger

Anger is a natural and normal part of almost any relationship. This includes relationships with your significant other, kids, boss, friends, family, etc. Anger provides us with valuable information if we are willing to listen to it. It clues us in to areas where we disagree with others and things that need to be changed or altered.

Unhealthy Ways to Express Anger

Here are some common yet unhealthy ways to express anger that you should avoid:

Being Passive-Aggressive

This is a term many of us are familiar with. Passive-aggressive behavior happens when someone is angry but uses indirect communication to express their anger.

Some of the more common passive-aggressive behaviors include the silent treatment, making comments about someone behind their back, being grumpy, moody, or pouting, or simply not doing tasks or assignments that they should.

This is a passive-aggressive person's way of showing their anger. It's not very productive but extremely common.

Poorly-Timed

Some people get overwhelmed and express anger in a situation where it can't really do any good.

An example would be getting angry at one person in front of a crowd of people. All that does is make people uncomfortable and shuts them down. It's not a healthy way to express anger or disagreement with someone.

Ongoing Anger

Being angry all the time is most often a symptom of something else. It's healthy and normal to express anger when you disagree with someone. However, if someone is angry most of the time and always seems to be expressing their anger to everyone around them, this won't serve them well.

Over time, people will start to avoid this person and have as little contact as possible. The reason being is no one likes being around someone who is angry all the time; it's a no-win situation.

Healthy Ways to Express Anger

What about the healthy ways to adapt? When learning how to deal with anger, here are some healthy ways to get you started.

Being Honest

Express your anger or disagreement honestly. Be truthful about what it is that is making you angry. Sometimes this will entail walking away and thinking about it for a bit before you respond.

Don't say you're mad at something someone did or said when it's really something else that upset you.

Being Direct

Similar to being honest, being direct is a healthy way to express anger.

Don't talk around something that is making you angry. Don't say that one thing is making you angry when it's really something else, and don't stack items on top of each other so you can unload on someone about 10 different things 6 months from now.

Be direct and upfront about what is making you angry. Ensure you are expressing your anger to the person who upset you or you are angry at, not to someone else. This is very counterproductive.

Being Timely

When something makes you angry, it's much better to express it in a timely manner. Don't keep it bottled up inside of you, as that's only going to do more harm than good.

Think of the marriages that seem to go up in flames out of nowhere when the reality is someone kept quiet for years until they hit their breaking point.

Expressing anger as it occurs is a much healthier way of using anger to help us guide our relationships in the moment.

How to Deal With Anger

If you feel angry, how should you deal with it right at that moment?

1. Slow Down

From time to time, I receive an email at work that makes me so angry that steam is probably pouring out of my ears.

In my less restrained moments, I have been known to fire off a quick response, and that typically has ended about as well as you might imagine.

When I actually walk away from my computer and go do something else for a while, I am able to calm down and think more rationally. After that happens, I am able to respond in a more appropriate and productive manner. Doing things that helps you learn how to release anger can make an uncomfortable situation more manageable before it gets out of hand.

2. Focus on the "I"

Remember that you are the one that's upset. Don't accuse people of making you upset because, in the end, it's your response to what someone did that really triggered your anger. You don't want to place blame by saying something like "Why don't you ever put away your dishes?" Say something more like "Having dirty dishes laying on the counter upsets me-can you work with me to come to a solution?"

When you are accusatory towards someone, all that does is increase the tension. This doesn't usually do anything except make your anger rise higher.

3. Work out

When learning how to deal with anger, exercise is a great outlet. If something happens that angers you, see if you have the opportunity to burn off some of the anger.

Being able to hit the gym to get a hard workout in is great. If this isn't an option, see if you can go for a run or a bike ride. If you are at work when you become angry and the weather permits, at least go outside for a brisk walk.

Besides working some of your anger out through exercise, this also helps to give your mind a chance to work through some ways to address what it is that upset you.

If you're not sure where to start with an exercise routine, check out Lifehack's free Simple Cardio Home Workout Plan.

4. Seek Help When Needed

There are times when we could all use some help. Life can be stressful and overwhelming. It's perfectly fine to seek some help from a mental health professional if it will help you get back to a healthy balance. If you find that you are angry all the time, it might be a good idea to go talk to an expert about learning to control intense emotions. They can give you some sound advice and ideas on how to get your anger to a more manageable and healthy level.

5. Practice Relaxation

We all seem to lead incredibly busy lives, and that's a good thing if we are loving the life we are living. That being said, it is very beneficial to our physical and mental well-being to take time out for relaxation.

That can mean spending time doing things that help us calm down and relax, like being around people we enjoy, practicing deep breathing or listening to music. It could be making time for things that help bring us balance like a healthy diet and physical activity.

Many people incorporate techniques such as yoga and meditation to calm their minds and release tension when learning how to deal with anger. Whatever your choice is, ensure you take time out to relax when warning signs of anger start to bubble up.

6. Laugh

Incorporating humor and laughter on a regular basis will help keep anger in check and help you get over a bad mood and feelings of anger more quickly. This isn't part of formal anger management techniques, but you'll be surprised by how well it works. Remember, life is a journey that's meant to be enjoyed fully along the way through healthy emotion. Make sure you take time to laugh and have fun. Surround yourself with people that like to laugh and enjoy life. Don't work at a job that just causes you stress, which can lead to anger. Work at something you enjoy doing .

7. Be Grateful

It's easy to focus on the bad in life and the things that cause us negative emotions. It's vitally important to remind ourselves of all the wonderful things in life that bring us positive emotions, things that we easily forget because we get caught up in the whirlwind of day to day life.

Take time out each day to remind yourself of a few things you are grateful for in order to help you learn how to release anger and invite in more positive feelings.

Final Thoughts

Life can be overwhelming at times. We seem to have constant pressure to achieve more and to always be on the go or motivated. People we are around and situations we are in can cause stress, anger, and negative emotions. At times, it can seem to be too much, and we get angry and our emotions start to get out of control.

During these times, keep in mind that life is an incredible journey, full of wonder and things that bring you joy. When you find yourself angry more often than is healthy, take time out to remember the good things in life-the things that we seem to forget yet bring us so much positive energy and emotions.

Use some of the tips included here to help with how to deal with anger and better control your emotions.

More Resources on Anger Management

Featured photo credit: Andre Hunter via unsplash.com

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7 Life Lessons I Learned Playing Video Games

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Mat Apodaca On a mission to share about how communication in the workplace and personal relationships plays a large role in your happiness Read full profile We all lose our temper from time to time, and expressing anger is actually a healthy thing to do in our relationships with others.

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Create a new document and edit with others at the same time -- from your computer, phone or tablet. Get stuff done with or without an internet connection. Use Docs to edit Word files. Free from Google.

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Create a new document and edit with others at the same time -- from your computer, phone or tablet. Get stuff done with or without an internet connection. Use Docs to edit Word files. Free from Google.

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Curiosity?
How do young players manage to know all the controls to everything?
A question the article answers:
How do video games improve your social skills?
Research path:
What are the cons of video games?

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Connect online

Gamers have the ability to connect with players locally or team up with people from countries around the world. A large proportion of young people playing multiplayer games have developed good friendships with people they met online.

Video games have created a fun and engaging way of connecting with people and can act as an important teaching tool in developing social skills. Video games can help develop cooperation skills and supporting skills as players have the option to work together to form alliances and create teams working cooperatively. Many video games often result in better outcomes if players work together, encouraging players to be social. Video games also provide the players with the opportunity to take a leader's position, which requires greater social networking skills and team work to keep other players happy.

These skills are important in the outside world for creating and maintaining friendships, especially in school and work environments. Studies have shown that playing video games, including violent video games can create and improve friendships amongst players. Players can be fighting against each other in the game but are developing their friendship as they work together and share the experience.

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Social development as a benefit of playing video games

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Gamers have the ability to connect with players locally or team up with people from countries around the world. A large proportion of young people playing multiplayer games have developed good friendships with people they met online. Video games have created a fun and engaging way of connecting with people and can act as an important teaching tool in developing social skills.

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Curiosity?
What is the worst con of playing video games?
A question the article answers?
What are some cons of video games?

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Kids who grew up in the 1970s and 1980s were the first to really have the chance to embrace video games. That love has never really gone away for them, but other generations have come to embrace video games too. With social and mobile gaming added to the mix, we can play video games today almost anywhere and play virtually anything.

Video games may provide several benefits, but only if they are enjoyed in moderation. Because many games require long periods of sitting, there is a real health danger that must be considered. Keith Diaz, an associate research scientist at the Columbia University Department of Medicine, found a direct correlation between sedentary behaviors and early death. Diaz and his team's research was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in September 2017.

Here are some of the key pros and cons of video games to think about and discuss.

List of the Pros of Video Games

1. A person's vision may improve.
With moderation, video games have been shown to improve a person's vision. For the average person, just 10 weeks of playing video games in moderation offers the opportunity to be able to distinguish between multiple shades of the same color with greater regularity. For those with a "lazy" eye, using it without the aid of the "normal" eye while playing video games helped to normalize the affected eye.

2. It builds social networks.
Games like Destiny 2 from Bungie may not require social interaction to play, but those interactions are strongly encouraged. This encourages people to build online social networks to help them complete game goals. This is the same skill that is required for people to build career networks so that their careers can advance as well.

3. It sparks an interest in specific subjects.
Games create interest through their characters, plot lines, and general storytelling, much like books did for the generations before. By putting a player into a specific world, video games can spark an interest in players for the subject matter covered in the game. That might involve a specific historical era, such as World War II, or a vocational skill, such as computer coding.

4. Not every video game is sedentary.
Many video games require players to move so that goals can be accomplished within the game. Interactive video games can even encourage fitness. Wii Fit U, when it was introduced in 2014, may not have caused gamers to lose lots of weight. What it did do was introduce gamers to concepts like daily Yoga and embrace an online gym community. Those ideas could then translate into the real world.

5. It could slow the aging process for the brain.
Video games are so effective at retaining the sharpness and clarity of brain functionality that just 10 hours of playing can create a lifetime of difference. As people age, the importance of playing games increases. Playing can reduce the risks for depression, help with arthritis, and even be a therapeutic option for aphasia. It also helps people find social connections when traditionally, their age might limit those interactions.

6. It improves decision-making speed.
Making a decision is a skill. Video games require players to practice that skill over and over. That makes it possible for the decision-making speed of some individuals to be improved. Compared to non-players, gamers who spend time daily with fast-paced games can react to questions or situations up to 25% faster.

7. It can replace a vice.
Just about everyone has some sort of vice that bothers them. It could be smoking, drinking, eating too much, or plenty of other activities or decisions. Video games can even be a vice for some. Games can also replace unhealthy vices with an activity that promotes better health. People who play video games, especially puzzle-based games, can experience fewer cravings when they play on a regular basis.

List of the Cons of Video Games

1. It can create psychological stress.
Video games can become an addiction. If that occurs, other levels of psychological stress may also appear. Gamers may suffer from low self-esteem, have social anxieties, or even suffer from depression. Excessive gaming can also inspire feelings of guilt and shame. Uncontrolled gaming can also enhance the signs and symptoms of other mental disorders that may be present.

2. Long-term gaming can compromise personal health.
Gamers must be conscious about the amount of time they sit to play. Physical activities, exercise, and personal hygiene are all important components of good health. Gamers may also find their sleep habits become disrupted when they're using screens on a regular basis. If long gaming sessions are being played, unhealthy foods may be chosen to enhance the concerns that are experienced here.

3. It isolates people from their families.
Parents who find themselves playing hours upon hours of video games may find themselves losing touch with the relationships they've built with their children. Kids and teens who play video games over long periods may find themselves at odds with their parents over their behavior. Although families can and do play video games together, it can also create arguments over who gets to use what console or system and for how long.

4. There are financial considerations to think about.
A 1 TB PS4 Pro console retails for $399.99. The Xbox One X costs another $100 on top of that. For a good gaming computer, the Alienware Aurora R6 with an Intel i7 core retails for over $1,200. Then there is the cost of each video game, with AAA games retailing for $60 and deluxe or platinum editions often retailing around $100. Subscription services, expansion packs, and micro-purchases all add to the final tally too.

5. It can limit academic process.
Video games can improve the decision-making process, but they can also deteriorate them. Kids and college/university students who use their free time to play video games can struggle to keep their grades up. Gamers might procrastinate on their studying, rush through their homework, or simply ignore a deadline in favor of playing their favorite game.

6. It may limit social connections.
Talking to a person while playing a game in the comforts of home is a very different skill than talking to a stranger face-to-face. Gamers often play by themselves and that can lead to feelings of social isolation. It can even lead to having a gamer disconnect from the real world so they can focus on the gaming world.

The pros and cons of video games show us that there can be great benefits and devastating consequences. As with everything we do, moderation with gaming is the key. If you know someone who is struggling with video game addiction, encourage them to join a group like Computer Gaming Addicts Anonymous so they can begin to reclaim what they may have lost.

Blog Post Author Credentials
Louise Gaille is the author of this post. She received her B.A. in Economics from the University of Washington. In addition to being a seasoned writer, Louise has almost a decade of experience in Banking and Finance. If you have any suggestions on how to make this post better, then go here to contact our team.

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Kids who grew up in the 1970s and 1980s were the first to really have the chance to embrace video games. That love has never really gone away for them, but other generations have come to embrace video games too.