This article will give more information on how to get advice and support for dealing with difficulties with anger.
There are many situations where it is appropriate to feel anger, and anger can help fuel constructive action to address problematic situations. If you are angry because of a specific incident or situation that needs addressing by others then it may be appropriate to get mediation or advocacy support from the Students’ Union Advice Centre.
Difficulties arise when anger is inappropriately expressed or when this emotion becomes a dominant or persistent mindset. For some students, persistent anger could be a symptom of unhealthy stress, low mood or depression.
If you are having persistent difficulties with anger then it is a good idea to seek help. It is always advisable to consult your GP if you are feeling persistently low, especially if your daily functioning is significantly affected. It is also advisable to let your personal tutor or course leader know if you are having difficulties affecting your studies - they are there to help, and can offer useful advice and support.
Student Wellbeing Service
The Student Wellbeing Service offers confidential help with a wide range of personal and emotional concerns and is available to every student at the University, free of charge. All kinds of students find their way to us from all over the University and for all sorts of reasons. We are experienced in helping students overcome difficulties with anger.
The service has three strands: wellbeing advice, counselling, and mental health advice. They are all linked together so when you apply you only have to approach us once – we will sort out which one is most likely to meet your needs.
To contact us or register for support see our article on accessing support from the Student Wellbeing Service. You can also use this registration process to request a place on most of our courses and workshops (subject to availability).
Courses and workshops
The Student Wellbeing Service hosts a range of workshops and courses for learning skills to tackle common issues like stress, anxiety and low mood. Many of these skills may be helpful in overcoming difficulties with anger. For example, learning how to communicate assertively is a skill which can help prevent ‘bottling up’ angry feelings.
Our popular'From Stress to Success' course teaches skills for stress management, including relaxation techniques and assertive communication. Some of the relevant one off workshops might include the 'Introduction to compassionate mind', 'Facingfeelings' and 'Mood boost'. You may also benefit from attending our course on mindfulness. Consult our events courses and workshop programme to find out more.
All students also have free access to a set of online courses, called SilverCloud, to learn evidence-based strategies for tackling common issues. The Space from Stress course offers useful techniques for managing stress and taking better care of yourself. These courses can be accessed confidentially and completed independently, in your own time and at your own pace. Find out more and register directly from the online resources article.
Other resources
If you would like to research more around the topic of anger, the Student Wellbeing Service can recommend the following self help resources:
- NHS Booklets on Anger and other common difficulties This page links to a series of excellent booklets providing information and self-help activities to learn skills for common issues, including anger, alcohol, stress, low mood, and depression. These are also available as an mp3 download.
- MIND leaflet Brief MIND leaflet exploring how you can deal with your anger in a constructive and healthy way.
- Mental Health Foundation Wellbeing Podcasts Free downloadable audio podcasts to help you relax, sleep and improve your general sense of wellbeing. They're designed to fit around your lifestyle and provide an introduction to the skills and techniques that can help you live a mentally healthier life.
- Students Against Depression This comprehensive self-help site offers information about how depression works and why it arises, along with step by step advice for self-help strategies. It also hosts stories and blogs by students who tell their own stories of low mood and depression and provide tips and advice for dealing with it. The pages on the link focus on tips for managing anger.
University of Portsmouth Student Wellbeing Service Contact Details:
Phone: +44 (0)23 9284 3466
Email: wellbeing-admin@port.ac.uk.
Location: The Bateson Centre, The Mary Rose St, Portsmouth, PO1 2BL
UoP Student Wellbeing Service
@UoPWellbeing