Wednesday, July 12, 2017

What to Do When Your Partner is Ordered to Take Anger Management Courses, Pt. 1

couple hugging in a field
When your partner has anger management issues, it can affect your relationship in a million different ways. You may feel like you have to walk on eggshells around them to prevent provoking their anger. There are times when you may even feel that their angry outbursts are your fault, even if they were triggered by another stressor in their lives.
Anger problems within a relationship can cause serious strain. It may even end up ruining the relationship. If your partner is ordered by a judge to take anger management courses, it may be the one thing you needed to save the relationship.  But you may be wondering, “How can I support them while they take online anger management courses?”
Stay Calm
When your partner becomes angry, the most important thing for you to do is remain calm. Answering their anger with more anger will only exacerbate the situation. As your partner goes through their classes, they will be learning ways to manage their anger. If you remain calm, the anger will subside much more quickly. If you unknowingly create additional turbulence at home, it could throw them off-track.
Practice Constructive Communication
Sometimes your partner may react angrily if they think you aren’t listening to them, or appreciating them. That’s where effective communication comes in. Listen carefully to what they are saying, and then respond in a way that shows you listened and understood. Sometimes simply validating their emotions is enough to calm them down. Try to understand what they need and communicate it back to them so that they know you heard. This encourages them to tell you how they feel in a calmer manner the next time there is an issue.

These are just a few tips you can use to help your partner as they go through court ordered anger management courses. 

No comments:

Post a Comment