Hello and hope you are doing well.
I must congratulate you first for opting for a change in your attitude. This is the first step to therapy. Don’t blame your medical condition for anger, it is never so. It could be vice-versa, like losing your temper often can shoot up your pressure. I can offer a few suggestions and hope you pick up from there.
Aggressiveness from infancy to adulthood is slowly brought under control by self-discipline, support and guidance from parents. So, aggressive behavior, which has not been mellowed down, needs voluntary control. You can channel this anger into some form of sport like athletics. Alternatively, you can try relaxation techniques like going for long walks or yoga and meditation. They help to calm your mind and help you to list your priorities.
In many instances, we show our anger or aggressiveness towards people who cannot retaliate back, like children or a submissive wife or a worker under us, which is shameful conduct. Just sympathizing or putting yourself in his/her place will change this. Remember, nothing much can be achieved with aggression. On the contrary, a calm and peaceful mind is more focused and can achieve a lot.
I can only write all this, but the actual therapy has to start from you. The first step is the thought to change, which you have already taken. The next may probably be counting to 10 once you are angry. If you still want further help, you can consult a psychiatrist, who could help you.
Hope this helped and do keep us posted.
hi st142 , I assume DVR stands for "Double Valve Replacement"; the fact that you are on Warfarin and monitoring your PT/INR indicates that you are on therapy to prevent embolism from a mechanical/bio-prosthetic valve in the heart.
While you are on Warfarin - and this would be life-long for you - you are at risk from both under-dosing, which would lead to embolism, and over-dosing, when you could have bleeding from some part of your body, including the brain. Warfarin reduces the serum levels of Vitamin K-dependent clotting factors synthesized in the liver - this is its primary and desired effect. Alcohol also has effects on the liver, and smoking increases the chances of thrombosis and embolism.
As you are on these medications, smoking and drinking alcohol are not at all safe for you, even in moderate quantities. You could find yourself suddenly in a life-threatening situation, hence the first and foremost advice is to stop smoking and drinking alcohol. Lead a more disciplined life, avoid any kind of cut or injury, keep a close watch on your PT/INR and be in constant touch with your Primary Physician. Avoid over use of salads and green-leafy vegetables, since they counteract the effects of Warfarin.
Seek the company of positive people and always see the lighter side to things; learn the capacity of laughing at yourself, not taking yourself too seriously. Religion and Spirituality help us to cope with such serious problems, and to develop a philosophy of life, which will definitely help you to overcome the negativity which leads you to anger or violence.