| Worksheet 5 - Anger and Pain |
| Anger is a natural emotion that a lot of people don't want to accept as being natural. It is a human emotion. It is very important to deal with your anger and express your anger in constructive ways. First, write out how you deal with your anger. How I deal with my anger: ____________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ If the way you deal with your anger is abusive towards others, or destructive, here are some suggestions for dealing with your anger more constructively. Changes take time, and are learned. Try to be patient with yourself, and give yourself time to change the pattern you currently use of dealing with your anger. a. punch on pillows b. punch on a punching ball c. scream d. cry e. pound on the bed f. if you feel you need to cut something, cut up an old pillow or something similar g. take a quiet time by yourself for 15 to 30 minutes, or longer if needed h. write why you are angry i. write an imaginary letter to your abuser (keep a folder or something to save the letters in) j. draw pictures showing your anger k. visualize your abuser sitting in front of you and yell at him/her, tell him what they did to you and express how angry you are at them. Let them know how it has affected your life. l. clean out cabinets, drawers, etc. to release some of your energy Write out how you can deal with your anger more constructively: ____________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Most times, the anger doesn't go away after dealing with it one time. The process will need to be repeated as the anger arises. Being abused causes a lot of symptoms in the life of the survivor. Below are some of the common symtpoms of survivors of sexual abuse: a. fear/paranoia b. shame c. guilt d. promiscuity e. feeling that you don't exist f. inability to trust g. re-occuring nightmares h. insomnia i. physical problems (stomach problems, headaches etc) j. panic/anxiety attacks k. flashbacks l. self-destructive habits, behaviors m. mood swings n. obsessive/compulsive behavior o. borderline personality disorder p. multiple personality disorder (DID) Write out the symptoms you have as a result of being abused: _________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ It is very hard to own the pain we have from being abused. Yes, the abuser is responsible for causing the pain, but the pain is ours. It was not fair that we were abused and it is not fair that we have the pain at all. However, fighting the pain only intensifies our pain. So, if you are fighting against the pain you have, write below why you are fighting the pain and what is stopping you from wanting to deal with the pain: ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ |