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Do you find that you’ve been feeling more angry or frustrated in the last several months? Do you feel like the stress of life under quarantine is pushing you to the edge?

If you do, it’s understandable. After all, anger is a normal response when we experience considerable changes in our lives that are entirely out of our control. It takes time to adapt to significant changes in your routine and daily life. And some things naturally create more anger-inducing stress.

Massive amounts of time cooped up with your family — as much as you love them — can easily cause irritation and anger. Job loss, the loss of friends and family due to distance or death, and your regular life interruption are very frustrating. All of these changes may also lead to anxiety, which can manifest as anger.

But it’s essential to find a safe way to manage and discharge your anger to slow its effects or consequences. Fortunately, this is possible.

An infinite number of topics exist for people to disagree on.

There are the smaller ones, of course—where to have dinner, what show to watch, or which sports team is the best. Even these can cause hard feelings. And then there are significant issues, like politics, climate change, race relations, and how the pandemic is being managed.

Often, we hold our views very dearly. We’re passionate about our opinions, perspectives, and understanding. So how do we handle it when we encounter people who have opposing views?

Depending on your personality, you may thrive on debate and not experience any sense of embarrassment or anger when interacting with someone who sees differently than you do.

Many people, however, feel anxious just thinking about this situation. You may sense your pulse quickening, breath rate increasing, and muscles tensing when you imagine it.

There are things you can do, though, to help keep such conversations and interactions calm and maybe even productive.

Does it seem like the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic have forced you into a standstill?

Like so many Americans right now, you may be feeling like your life has been put on a forced life pause, through no choice of your own. You’ve likely been at home, unable to participate in your long-familiar activities and routines.

You could be laid off or trying to work at home with distractions and cabin fever. Travel plans have been canceled, and kids’ camps and family reunions are postponed. Time with friends is a thing of the past. Along with millions of others, you’re waiting and wondering when you can get on with your life again.

Despite the frustration, there are some things you can do during this time of limbo.

Unfortunately, it can seem challenging to sleep well during a crisis. That said, experiencing nightmares during a crisis is not uncommon, either. Any crisis can cause them, whether it be the ramifications of the current pandemic or other personal circumstances.

For most Americans, the coronavirus pandemic is something entirely new. While the elderly among us might remember other epidemics, the United States has largely been immune to the types of outbreaks other parts of the world have experienced.