Never do these 10 things when you're angry, no matter how tempted you are

10 things you should never do when you’re angry

A person with long dark hair, wearing a dark textured sweater, is expressing intense emotion. They have their hands on their head and their mouth open, conveying a sense of frustration or anger. The background is dark.

There are a few things that might seem like a good idea in the heat of the moment that are never going to be helpful in the long run.

Yes, they might help you feel better or suppress the anger in the moment, but they often turn out to be counterproductive and can have consequences that can’t be reversed.

In no particular order, here are 10 things you should never do when you’re angry.

1. Put A Lid On It

A woman with long blonde hair and a serious expression stands outdoors. She is wearing a purple turtleneck and a beige jacket. The background is blurred, with hints of buildings and trees.

The absolute worst thing you can do when you’re experiencing anger is nothing at all.

Some of us like to try to appear as serene as swans 24/7, even when our legs our paddling away like crazy beneath the surface of the water.

The thing is, that will eventually come to a head.

When you’re feeling angry, you need to give yourself a chance to address it and work through it.

You need to make yourself feel better about the situation rather than just burying it.

2. Take A Drive

A man with a beard sits in a car, gripping the steering wheel, and looking at the camera with an open mouth and wide eyes, appearing agitated or frustrated. He wears a black jacket and has a short haircut.

No matter how calming you might think you find driving, it’s not a good thing to be doing when you’re angry.

Stick to your own two feet if you need a change of scenery.

Anger reduces your concentration levels, meaning you can be a danger to yourself and others.

You’re also likely to react badly to any situations you are confronted with, like other people driving poorly. Road rage isn’t pretty.

3. Send That Angry Email

An older adult with short gray hair and glasses looks thoughtfully at a laptop screen. They are wearing a blue shirt and resting their head on one hand, seated in a cozy kitchen setting.

When you’re fuming, firing off a scathing email might feel satisfying in the moment, but it’s rarely a good idea.

Once you hit send, you can’t take it back, and your words are there in black and white for the recipient to read over and over.

Professional relationships and personal ones alike can be irreparably damaged by a hasty, anger-fueled message.

If you must write it out, save it as a draft and review it when you’re calmer. Chances are, you’ll be glad you didn’t send it.

4. Sleep On It

An elderly man with gray hair is lying in bed, propped on a pillow, and looking past the camera with a thoughtful expression. An alarm clock showing 4:15 is on a nearby table, dimly lit by a soft light.

People often say that if you have a good night’s sleep, you’ll feel better in the morning.

But in my experience, if you don’t do something to address your anger before your head hits the pillow, you won’t exactly sleep well.

What’s more, you’ll ruin the following day as well as the current one because your feelings of irritation will be compounded when you’re sleep-deprived.

5. Carry On The Argument

Four men in a bar are engaged in a heated argument. Two men, one in a plaid shirt and the other in a light blue shirt, are being held back by their friends. Glasses of beer are on the table in the foreground, and the scene is tense, with dramatic lighting.

If you’re arguing with someone and it’s got you worked up, the worst thing you can do is keep going down that road.

It’s absolutely fine to take a break until you’re both calm, and then resume your discussion in a more civilized and level-headed manner.

6. Have A Drink

A man with short dark hair and a beard, dressed in a green shirt over a gray t-shirt, is drinking from a brown glass bottle. He is indoors, and the background is blurry.

A large glass of water will definitely make you feel better, but a large glass of wine might not be all that helpful.

You shouldn’t be turning to alcohol or drugs as a prop to calm you down, as lowering your inhibitions may mean you end up doing things you’ll later regret.

7. Tweet About It

A young woman with a ponytail is outdoors in a park, holding a smartphone in her hand and looking at it with a slightly puzzled expression. She is wearing a white t-shirt, and blurred trees are visible in the background.

Whatever you do, stay off social media when you’re angry.

Whilst hitting post might make you feel better for a few seconds, that feeling won’t last long.

You’ll probably regret it, and make a lot of other people angry in the process.

Keep it to yourself or share your feelings with people you trust, not with the wider world.

8. Lash Out Physically

A man in a suit is angrily lifting a keyboard over his head, seated at a desk with a coffee cup and computer monitor. A woman in the background appears shocked, with her mouth open and hand raised. Large windows with greenery outside are visible.

It might feel like punching a wall or throwing something will help release your anger, but it’s never a good idea.

Not only can you hurt yourself or damage property, but it can also escalate the situation and make things worse.

Instead, try channeling that energy into a controlled physical activity like going for a run or doing some push-ups.

This way, you’ll release tension without causing harm or regret.

9. Make Rash Promises Or Threats

woman wagging finger to threaten someone

When you’re seeing red, it’s tempting to make grand declarations or issue ultimatums to get your point across.

But promising things you can’t deliver or threatening consequences you won’t follow through on only damages your credibility.

These heat-of-the-moment statements can haunt you long after the anger has subsided.

Instead, take a breath and express your feelings without committing to actions you might regret later.

10. Make Any Major Decisions

A silhouette of a person standing by large windows in an airport terminal at sunset, watching a plane take off in the distance. The scene is illuminated by the warm, golden light of the setting sun.