"Don't talk yourself into doing something you'll regret later. Take a time out." Excerpt from Canada's Private Broadcasters' 1996 anti-Violence Radio and Television Campaign   Anger is an emotion —child abuse is a behavior. They don't need to be connected. If you sometimes feel so angry that you are afraid you'll hurt your child, physically or emotionally, then ... Learn how to manage your anger Some Do's 1.     Recognize your anger. Admit it to yourself. Remember that anger is a healthy human emotion. It's okay to get angry. It's not okay to hit someone or be emotionally abusive. Pay attention to the signs of hidden anger - tensed muscles, accident-proneness, feelings of frustration or disappointment and a tendency to use sarcasm.

2.     Identify the cause of your anger. Sometimes it may be obvious. At other times, the cause of your anger may not be what it seemed at first. You may be stressed out from a bad day at work, frustrated by a traffic jam which is making you late, worried about paying your bills so you come home and start pushing or yelling at your child. 3.     Take a time out and calm down. Walk away from the situation if you can. Try some deep breathing to help you relax. Think about what you are trying to do. Are you trying to defeat the person or are you trying to solve the problem? If your motive is negative, the results will be too. 4.     Decide what to do. Decide what choices and options you have to solve the problem that caused your anger. Listen to other people's point of view. Pick constructive solutions and try them. If they aren't working, look at more options and try again. 5.     Ask for help. If you are having trouble managing your anger in a way that doesn't hurt others, or if you are getting angry too often, then get help. Phone your local crisis fine, distress centre, child welfare agency or community family services for numbers and places. Look in the front pages of the phone book for emergency numbers.             Photocopy freely

Learn how to manage your anger Some Don'ts Don't get personal. insults and name calling create more anger.   Don't avoid the issue. Be direct and straightforward.   Don't make accusations that you will regret later.   Don't jump to conclusions. Listen carefully to your child.   Don't get physical or violent. Avoid hitting or pushing the child with whom you are angry. Don't throw or break objects. Don't use your anger to put others down. Material prepared by Denham Gillespie Associates, Social Work Consultants.               Également disponible en français

"Talk about it to someone who can help." Excerpt from Canada's Private Broadcasters' 1996 anti-Violence Radio and Television Campaign   Helplines and Crisis Lines Telephone counselling, information on other sources of help and referrals. Family and Social Service Agencies Counselling, referrals, "drop-in" programs and parent support groups. Transition and Safe Homes Emergency shelter and protection for abused women and their children. Child Welfare Services Protection of children at risk and support services for troubled families. Police Departments Intervention and protection. Many departments have special units that deal with violence in families. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Al-Anon and Alateen Support for when drug and alcohol abuse is a factor accompanying violence. Legal Aid Centres Legal help for victims who cannot afford a lawyer. Look in the front pages of your telephone book to find out bow to locate the emergency support services in your community. The cost of services should not get in the way of your getting help. Many services are free or have sliding fee scales based on your ability to pay.     In partnership with: Canadian Heritage Health Canada Department of Justice Canada Status of Women Canada Human Resources Development Canada National Defence Royal Canadian Mounted Police