Anger... Anger can poke its head up at the strangest times in the hospital, and for reasons that may not in other circumstances produce such a reaction: petty annoyances, poorly prepared food, inattention, mechanistic care, you name it, anger seems ready to emerge at the slightest provocation. So what's it all about?

Anger and its roots are much like an iceberg, 10% above the water and 90% below it. The anger component of this mammoth structure is the tip that's visible. That's all. What's below is a formidable complex of emotions that camouflage as anger. And this giant icecube is the root of great deal of stress. It's made up of fear, uncertainty, anxiety, insecurity, frustration, guilt, depression, and that's just the beginning. These emotions find their expression in anger, and anger, so released, creates more guilt, and a vicious cycle of negative feelings follows.

Here's what you can do about anger in the hospital:

Recognize that your angry feelings are normal...you are not a bad person for having them.

Spend some time analyzing the part of the iceberg under the water. If you increase your awareness of its source, you gain more control over it.

Work on developing mechanisms to relieve your feelings of anger, and to express them in a productive manner.

Engage in a variety of activities

Get regular exercise

Take breaks from your child regularly

Practice focused breathing and relaxation 

Express your feelings

Learn assertive communication strategies