Metro Manila, Philippines – A viral video of an altercation over a basketball game resulting in attempted murder complaints has raised the issue of anger management among netizen reactions.

Rea Celine Villa, a clinical psychologist, said anger can become alarming if it gets out of hand.

“If nakaka-damage na siya ng relationships, if hindi na okay ‘yung routine mo, then it’s already indicator na hindi na ma-manage,” she told NewsWatch Plus.

[Translation: If it damages relationships, if your routine is not okay, then it’s already an indicator that you cannot manage it.]

Villa said addressing anger and severe anger is a combination of self-awareness, practical strategies, and professional guidance.

Self-awareness

An individual should identify the triggers to anger to determine the patterns, Villa said.

The reasons, she noted, may be a sign of chronic stress, unresolved trauma, or a mood disorder, among other deeper issues.

Villa said it is necessary to determine the cause of anger to allow the person to process responses and prevent outbursts.

“The reasons why you are angry could be valid but you always need to see how we are reacting or responding to it,” Villa said.

The relaxation techniques that could help a person to calm down are breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and physical activities.

Villa said these strategies could help avoid outbursts.

Professional guidance

If anger is persistent, it is crucial to seek professional help from a psychologist or therapist to manage anger.

One of the approaches is cognitive behavioral therapy that helps refrain negative thought patterns and encourages calm responses to stressful situations.

Villa said anger can sometimes be linked to underlying issues such as depression, anxiety, or trauma.

“Addressing itong mga [these] root cause na ‘to through therapy can lead to long-term improvement. Basically, nagsisimula ‘yan sa [it starts with] thought patterns and titignan natin sa’n nanggagaling ‘yung anger niya [where his anger comes from],” the psychologist said.

Villa said prioritizing mental and emotional health could help avoid outbursts.

She added that addressing anger could help avoid a breaking point when a person is pushed to commit irrational and unlawful acts.