Anger can really eat at you if you let it. Of course, being a level headed person in control of their rage is often easier said than done. Who hasn't blown their top on occasion?

Here are three areas you can focus on in controlling your anger:

1) Calming (breathe)

Anger can affect you emotionally and physically. One of the first effects of anger is a quickening of your breathing. What is key here is to concentrate on slowing that breathing down. Take deep breaths (2 seconds in, 2 seconds out) and try and calm yourself physically. This will lead to you being calm emotionally as well.

2) Pause and Review

Anger is often caused by changes in regular routine or unforeseen events. When things get disrupted, getting angry is often a very easy reaction to have. The key to remember in these situations is that things change. Life does not always follow a straight and even path. When you get one of the proverbial curve balls and you feel like losing your cool, stop and take stock of the situation. Once you give things some thought, the situation is usually not as bad or serious as you originally anticipated.

Taking time to think the situation through can also help you consider other alternatives you would probably never have considered in your rage. Realize that anger has a way of shutting your mind off from rationalizing, which is hardly ever a good thing.

3) Channel your Anger with Exercise

Make your anger work FOR you, instead of working against you by creating physical ailments like elevated blood pressure. Exercise is an excellent example of how to channel the physical and mental aggression you have towards a healthy activity. The options you have for exercise are plentiful, and you don't need a gym membership to get started. A simple walk around your neighborhood or at your local park each day or every other day is a good start.

Remember to make your exercise a regular event; you'll need to keep it up as it will help you release your feelings of anger in a positive way. You will typically not make your best decisions in a state of anger. Feelings like this will often keep you from determining alternatives to the situation that caused your anger in the first place.

You have options - use the tips mentioned in this article as a starting point. Seek further help if you still have trouble. You can control your anger if you work at it. It is up to you to get started.