You know the red flags are flying, you feel the adrenaline flowing, you need to do something but you haven't finished your anger program, what do you do?  Self-honesty is the best policy.  You need to be honest with yourself about your own anger, and you need to want to do something about it.

No matter what you may think or know for a fact, you don't know yourself as well as you think you do when you end up in anger situations.  If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed with anger, you need to admit that you can't do it alone.  You need help and you need to admit it.  Once you get past the point that you admit you need help with your anger, you have a chance at getting your anger under control, transcending anger toward enlightenment and inner peace.  Between the times you need to have an emergency prep kit in your emotional toolbox ready at your side.

 There are a few steps you may take to immediately begin to calm down.

1.  Breathe.  Let your breathing take your attention.  Breathe in, hold it, let it out, hold it, repeat that step.  I always recommend blowing bubbles because when you blow bubbles you have to measure your breathing.  If you blow into a wandful of bubble with a harsh breath instead of a bubble you will get a drop of soapy water.  If you blow gently you will create beautiful nice bubbles. 

Once you are blowing bubbles, you have done the first most important behavior toward calming down the emergency.  You can imagine that you see your troubles floating away in the bubbles, or you may pop the bubble once you imagine you see your trouble in the bubble getting rid of the trouble by popping it.  You may laugh because you always thought blowing bubbles was for young people, and seeing yourself use bubbles for therapy seems humorous to you.

2.  Stop driving or walking!  STOP.  Pull over.  I don't care if it is the side of the freeway and you can't stay there for long, or you must pull out of a long line of traffic that you will only have to get back into again after your stop, just stop.  Turn the engine off and breathe.  Get out and walk around the car.  Take a break.  Do not use your phone or text anyone or read your text messages, forget your phone.  Five minutes.

3.  Count your blessings.  If you are really feeling that anger is brewing you can change your train of thought and realize you have many blessings.  Begin to count your blessings from your health (even if you have ill health you have more health than some so count it as a blessing), your home (no matter where you live), your feet and shoes, your food or meal (you ate something), your ability to see (you have some senses count those), and the fact that you are not suffering.  Count and count and count those blessings and it becomes less possible to stay angry.

4.  Meditate.  You don't need to assume a pose to meditate.  You may meditate from a chair or seat, or sitting on the floor.  Taking time to meditate helps you change your focus until all that anger starts going away.

5.  Take a hot bath or jacuzzi.  Purchase an indoor, inflatable jacuzzi if you must and if you really stress out with anger very often.  Your healthy mind is worth the price tag.  Let yourself go and let that anger bubble away in the nice hot water of a jacuzzi or hot tub, or in your bathtub.

6.   Go get a self-improvement manicure.  It is only about ten bucks or so to get a plain, regular manicure.  You don't need polish, you need to have some nice positive attention and do something nice for yourself.  By the way a really cool date with your partner can also begin with a double manicure at an inexpensive walk in salon.

7.   Read the bible.  Read the scriptures and let the Lord guide you toward letting go of that anger.  Read the psalms or proverbs, or find comfort in the new testament in the words of Jesus.

8.  Pray.  Take time to pray and ask God why you feel angry, tell him you don't want to feel angry, and tell him that you don't understand but you want His help.

9.  Indulge in something that won't harm you.  This is not an invitation to drink alcohol or eat sugar if you are a diabetic.  Select something that won't harm you and indulge a little.  A big sunday with all the toppings you can dream up, a big box of chocolates, buttery popcorn, pickles, a fat pastrami sandwich, anything you like.

10.  Talk about it.  Call or visit someone you feel comfortable around and talk to them about your feelings.  Talking always helps.