-Anger impedes our ability to be happy, because anger and happiness are incompatible. -Anger sends marriages and other family relationships off-course. -Anger means lost business, because it destroys relationships. -Anger also means losing business that you could have won in a more gracious mood. -Anger leads to increased stress (ironic, since stress often increases anger). -We make mistakes when we are angry, because anger makes it harder to process information.

People are beginning to wake up to dangers of anger and need for anger management programs and strategies. Many people find anger easy to control. Yes, they do get angry. Everybody does. But some people find anger easier to manage than others. More people need to develop anger management skills.

For those who have a tough time controlling their anger, an anger management plan might help. Think of this as your emotional control class, and try these self-help anger management tips:

Ask yourself this question: "Will object of my anger matter ten years from now?" Chances are, you will see things from a calmer perspective.

Ask yourself: "What is worst consequence of object of my anger?" If someone cut in front of you at book store check-out, you will probably find that three minutes is not such a big deal.

PROTEST-DESPAIR

Newborns separated from their mothers show us extremes of "protest-despair behavior." When infant is separated, body reacts, pumping out stress hormones that affect nervous system and muscle groups. Cortisol, 'stress' hormone, can increase 10x, and gastrointestinal functions are upset. Then there's withdrawal, heart rate slows, body temperature lowers (presumably attempts to "survive"), and immune system gets out of kilter.

Any separation from a loved one during our lifetime will mimic this reaction because we're humans, because we love, because we bond. The price we pay is that separation is painful.