© Mind 2018

Anger
Explains anger, giving practical suggestions for what you can do and where you can go
for support. Also includes advice for friends and family.

If you require this information in Word document format for compatibility with screen
readers, please email: publications@mind.org.uk

Contents
What is anger? ........................................................................................................................................ 2
What does anger feel like? ..................................................................................................................... 3
Why do I get angry? ................................................................................................................................ 4
What can I do to manage my anger? ...................................................................................................... 6
How can I control my anger long term? ................................................................................................. 8
What help is available? ......................................................................................................................... 10
What can friends and family do? .......................................................................................................... 14
Useful contacts...................................................................................................................................... 16

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What is anger?
We all feel angry at times – it's part of being human. Anger is a normal, healthy emotion,
which we might experience if we feel:

 attacked
 deceived
 frustrated
 invalidated or unfairly treated

It isn't necessarily a 'bad' emotion; in fact it can sometimes be useful. For example, feeling
angry about something can:

 help us identify problems or things that are hurting us

 motivate us to create change, achieve our goals and move on
 help us stay safe and defend ourselves in dangerous situations by giving us a
burst of energy as part of our fight or flight system

Most people will experience episodes of anger which feel manageable and don't have a
big impact on their lives. Learning healthy ways to recognise, express and deal with
anger is important for our mental and physical health. (Our pages on managing outbursts
and long-term coping have some tips on how to deal with anger.)

When is anger a problem?

Anger only becomes a problem when it gets out of control and harms you or people
around you. This can happen when:

 you regularly express your anger through unhelpful or destructive behaviour

 your anger is having a negative impact on your overall mental and physical health
 anger becomes your go-to emotion, blocking out your ability to feel other emotions
 you haven't developed healthy ways to express your anger

“It feels like there's a ball of fire in the middle of my chest that blurts its way straight out
of my mouth and burns the people around me.”

What is unhelpful angry behaviour?

How you behave when you're angry depends on how well you're able to identify and
cope with your feelings, and how you've learned to express them (see our page on
causes of anger for more information).

Not everyone expresses anger in the same way. For example, some unhelpful ways you
may have learned to express anger include:

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 Outward aggression and violence - such as shouting, swearing, slamming doors,

hitting or throwing things and being physically violent or verbally abusive and
threatening towards others.
 Inward aggression - such as telling yourself that you hate yourself, denying
yourself your basic needs (like food, or things that might make you happy), cutting
yourself off from the world and self-harming.
 Non-violent or passive aggression - such as ignoring people or refusing to speak to
them, refusing to do tasks, or deliberately doing things poorly, late or at the last
possible minute, and being sarcastic or sulky while not saying anything explicitly
aggressive or angry.

“My brain goes blank and I absent-mindedly release my anger through physical violence
towards myself or objects around me. I don't realise how destructive I've been until
immediately afterwards.”

If you find you express your anger through outward aggression and violence, this can be
extremely frightening and damaging for people around you - especially children. And it
can have serious consequences: it could mean you lose your family, job and get into
trouble with the law. In this case it's very important to seek treatment and support.

But even if you're never outwardly violent or aggressive towards others, and never even
raise your voice, you might still recognise some of these angry behaviours and feel that
they're a problem for you. For example, you turn your anger inwards and self-harm or
deny yourself food.

“I internalise anger and punish myself by self-harm.”

What does anger feel like?

Anger feels different for everyone. You might experience some of the things listed below,
and you might also have other experiences or difficulties that aren't listed here.

Effects on your body

 a churning feeling in your stomach
 tightness in your chest
 an increased and rapid heartbeat
 legs go weak
 tense muscles
 you feel hot
 you have an urge to go to the toilet
 sweating, especially your palms
 a pounding head
 shaking or trembling
 dizziness

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Effects on your mind

 feeling tense, nervous or unable to relax
 feeling guilty
 feeling resentful towards other people or situations
 you are easily irritated
 'red mist' comes down on you
 feeling humiliated

Recognising these signs gives you the chance to think about how you want to react to a
situation before doing anything. This can be difficult in the heat of the moment, but the
earlier you notice how you're feeling, the easier it can be to choose how to express and
manage your anger.

“The best advice I was given was to stop briefly once I am angry to ask myself what
painful emotion I am feeling in the situation where I became angry. A bit of compassion
for my own pain often stops me from taking that pain out on others.”

Why do I get angry?

Feelings of anger arise due to how we interpret and react to certain situations. Everyone
has their own triggers for what makes them angry, but some common ones include
situations in which we feel:

 threatened or attacked
 frustrated or powerless
 like we're being invalidated or treated unfairly
 like people are not respecting our feelings or possessions

People can interpret situations differently, so a situation that makes you feel very angry
may not make someone else feel angry at all (for example, other reactions could include
annoyance, hurt or amusement). But just because we can interpret things differently, it
doesn't mean that you're interpreting things 'wrong' if you get angry.

How you interpret and react to a situation can depend on lots of factors in your life,
including:

 your childhood and upbringing

 past experiences
 current circumstances.

Whether your anger is about something that happened in the past or something that's
going on right now, thinking about how and why we interpret and react to situations can
help us learn how to cope with our emotions better. It can also help us find productive
strategies to handle our anger.

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(See our page on managing outbursts for more information.)

Your childhood and upbringing

How we learn to cope with angry feelings is often influenced by our upbringing. Many
people are given messages about anger as children that may make it harder to manage it
as an adult. For example:

 You may have grown up thinking that it's always okay to act out your anger
aggressively or violently, and so you didn't learn how to understand and manage
your angry feelings. This could mean you have angry outbursts whenever you
don’t like the way someone is behaving, or whenever you are in a situation you
don’t like.
 You may have been brought up to believe that you shouldn’t complain, and may
have been punished for expressing anger as a child. This could mean that you
tend to suppress your anger and it becomes a long-term problem, where you
react inappropriately to new situations you’re not comfortable with. If you don't feel
you can release your anger in a healthy way, you might also turn this inwards on
yourself.
 You may have witnessed your parents' or other adults' anger when it was out of
control, and learned to think of anger as something that is destructive and
terrifying. This could mean that you now feel afraid of your own anger and don't
feel safe expressing your feelings when something makes you angry. Those
feelings might then surface at another unconnected time, which may feel hard to
explain.

Past experiences
If you've experienced particular situations in the past that made you feel angry, such as
abuse, trauma or bullying (either as a child or more recently as an adult), and you
weren't able to safely express your anger at the time, you might still be coping with those
angry feelings now.

This might mean that you now find certain situations particularly challenging, and more
likely to make you angry.

Sometimes your present feeling of anger may not only be about the current situation but
may also be related to a past experience, which can mean that the anger you are feeling
in the present is at a level that reflects your past situation.

Becoming aware of this can help us to find ways of responding to situations in the
present in a safer and less distressed way.

Current circumstances

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If you're dealing with a lot of other problems in your life right now, you might find yourself
feeling angry more easily than usual, or getting angry at unrelated things.

If there's a particular situation that's making you feel angry, but you don't feel able to
express your anger directly or resolve it, then you might find you express that anger at
other times.

Anger can also be a part of grief. If you've lost someone important to you, it can be
hugely difficult to cope with all the conflicting things you might be feeling. Cruse
Bereavement Care can offer support and information in this situation.

(For more information on organisations that can help with your anger see our page on
useful contacts.)

“Breathing techniques have helped me to control my anger. I know that if I take a moment
to concentrate on my breathing and not my anger, I'll have something else to focus on.”

What can I do to manage my anger?

It can be frightening when your anger overwhelms you. But there are ways you can learn
to manage your anger when you find yourself in difficult situations. You can:

 look out for warning signs

 buy yourself time to think
 try some calming techniques

Remember: if your outbursts can be violent or abusive this can cause serious
problems in your life and relationships, and can be very damaging to the people
around you. In this case, it's essential to seek professional treatment and support for
your anger.

Look out for warning signs

Anger can cause a rush of adrenaline through your body, so before you recognise the
emotion you're feeling you might notice:

 your heart is beating faster

 your breathing is quicker
 your body is becoming tense
 your feet are tapping
 you're clenching your jaw or fists

Recognising these signs gives you the chance to think about how you want to react to a
situation before doing anything. This can be difficult in the heat of the moment, but the

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earlier you notice how you're feeling, the easier it can be to choose how to manage your
anger.

“Breathing techniques have helped me to control my anger. I know that if I take a moment
to concentrate on my breathing and not my anger, I'll have something else to focus on.”

Buy yourself time to think

Sometimes when we're feeling angry, we just need to walk away from the situation for a
while. This can give you time to work out what you're thinking about the situation, decide
how you want to react to it and feel more in control. Some ways you can buy yourself
time to think are:

 Counting to 10 before you react.

 Taking yourself out of the situation by going for a short walk – even if it's just
around your block or local area.
 Talking to a trusted person who's not connected to the situation, such as a friend,
family member, counsellor or peer support group. Expressing your thoughts out
loud can help you understand why you're angry and help calm you down. If you
don't feel comfortable talking to someone you know, you can confidentially call the
Samaritans 24 hours a day to talk about anything that's upsetting you. (For other
organisations that can help please see our useful contacts page.)

“What helps me is getting away from the situation to cool down.”

Try some techniques to manage your feelings

There are many ways to calm down and let go of angry feelings, depending on what suits
you and what’s convenient at the time you are angry.

 Breathe slowly – try to breathe out for longer than you breathe in and focus on
each breath as you take it.
 Relax your body – if you can feel your body getting tense, try focusing on each
part of your body in turn to tense and then relax your muscles. (See our pages on
relaxation for more tips on how to relax.)
 Try mindfulness techniques – mindfulness can help you to be aware of when
you're getting angry and can help calm your body and mind down. Be Mindful has
more information on mindfulness and guidance on how to practice it. (See our
information on mindfulness to learn more.)
 Exercise – try to work off your anger through exercise. Sports like running or
boxing can be really helpful for releasing pent up energy.
 Use up your energy safely in other ways – this can help relieve some of your
angry feelings in a way that doesn't hurt yourself or others. For example, you
could try tearing up a newspaper, hitting a pillow or smashing ice cubes in a sink.
 Do something to distract yourself mentally or physically – anything that completely
changes your situation, thoughts or patterns can help stop your anger escalating.
For example, you could try:
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o putting on upbeat music and dancing

o doing something with your hands, like fixing something or making
something
o doing something creative like colouring or drawing
o writing in a journal
o taking a cold shower

Remember: Learning new techniques to help manage your feelings can take time and
practice - so try to be patient and gentle with yourself as you learn these new skills.

How can I control my anger long term?

If you think about how to manage your anger when you're feeling calmer, you can avoid
feeling overwhelmed by it in the heat of the moment. In particular, you can:

 learn your triggers

 examine your thought patterns
 develop your communication skills
 look at your lifestyle

Learn your triggers

Understanding what sort of situations trigger your anger means you can develop
strategies to cope and think about how to react before the situation happens. You might
find it helpful to keep a diary or make notes about the times you have felt angry. You
could record:

 What were the circumstances?

 Did someone say or do something to trigger your anger?
 How did you feel?
 How did you behave?
 How did you feel afterwards?

If you do this for a while, you might start to see patterns emerging. You could do this
yourself using a mood diary (many are available online for free, see our useful contacts
page for suggestions), or you could find a professional therapist to help you – see our
page on treatment and support.

“Over time I have been able to spot certain triggers, which then enables me to look at
myself and choose a healthier path.”

Examine your thought patterns

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If you're feeling upset or angry, you might find yourself automatically thinking or saying
things like:

 "This is all their fault."

 "They never listen."
 "This always happens to me."
 "Other people should behave better."

But often there are lots of different ways we could interpret a situation. It can make you
feel worse if you think in terms of 'always', 'never' and 'should', because in reality things
are rarely so black and white. Making an effort to replace these words with softer terms
like 'sometimes' or 'could' when thinking about your situation might help you to break up
negative thought patterns, reflect more calmly on your situation and find new ways
through conflicts.

“The best advice I was given was to stop briefly once I am angry to ask myself what
painful emotion I am feeling in the situation where I became angry. A bit of compassion
for my own pain often stops me from taking that pain out on others.”

Develop your communication skills

Being excessively angry and aggressive can get in the way of communicating your
feelings and thoughts effectively. People may focus on your anger, and find it hard to
listen to what you're saying. On the other hand, if you are able to express your anger by
talking in an assertive, respectful way about what has made you angry, then you're more
likely to be understood by others.

Being assertive means standing up for yourself while still respecting other people and
their opinions. It can:

 make communication easier

 stop tense situations getting out of control
 benefit your relationships and self-esteem

Learning to be assertive might not feel easy to start with, but here are some things to try:

 Think about the outcome you want to achieve. What's making you angry, and what
do you want to change? Is it enough just to explain what you are angry about?
 Be specific. For example, you could open your statement with, “I feel angry with
you because...” Using the phrase ‘I feel’ avoids blaming anyone and the other
person is less likely to feel attacked.
 Really listen to the other person's response and try to understand their point of
view.
 Be prepared for the conversation to go wrong and try to spot when this is
happening. If you feel yourself getting angry, you might want to come back to the
conversation another time.

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The organisation MindTools provides tips on respectful assertiveness on their website.

“What helps me is acknowledging how I'm feeling and why, then taking time to address it
productively.”

Look at your lifestyle

Looking after your wellbeing more generally could help you feel calmer and more in
control when things happen that make you feel angry. You might want to:

 Avoid drugs and alcohol. Although you might feel this could help you cope in the
short term, alcohol and drugs can both affect your ability to control your emotions
and actions, and can be a factor in violence. For information and support to stop
using drugs or alcohol you can contact Turning Point or Alcoholics Anonymous.
See our pages on the mental health effects of alcohol and street drugs for more
information.
 Be more active. Being active can help let out any tension you're feeling, as well as
having benefits to your self-esteem. Even gentle exercise like going for a walk can
make a difference. See our pages on exercise for more information.
 Get good sleep. Not sleeping well can have a huge impact on how we're feeling,
and how well we cope with things that happen to us. See our pages on sleep
problems for more information.
 Look at what you're eating and drinking. See our pages on food and mood for
more information.
 Learn to deal with pressure. We can feel pressured or stressed for lots of different
reasons, but taking some time to learn how to deal with pressure can help us feel
more in control of difficult situations. See our page on dealing with pressure for
more information.
 Develop your emotional resilience. Emotional resilience helps us feel more able to
handle difficult emotions. See our page on developing resilience for more
information.

“Exercise is the best thing to manage my anger. It transforms my mood!”

What help is available?

There are various treatments available that can help you with your anger problems. If
your difficulties with anger are related to a mental health problem and/or traumatic
experiences then you might find that treatment and support for this also addresses your
anger. (See our A-Z of mental health for information on treatments and support for
different diagnoses and experiences).

Talking therapy and counselling

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Talking therapy and counselling involves talking about your problems with a trained
professional (such as a counsellor or psychotherapist) who can help you explore the
causes of your anger and ways to manage it. This can help you work through your
feelings and improve your responses to situations that make you angry.

There are different types of talking therapies, and some are specifically tailored to anger
issues.

 Counselling is usually a short-term treatment where you might talk through a

specific issue – such as outbursts of anger with your partner or in the workplace –
and try to understand how you could manage those situations differently. Some
workplaces, higher education institutions, local charities and GP surgeries offer
free or low-cost counselling services to their employees, students or local
residents.
 Psychotherapy often lasts longer than counselling and tends to go deeper into past
experiences. Your focus here may be on learning more about yourself to help you
understand why you express your anger the way you do, or why certain
situations make you angry.
 Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is highly structured short-term talking therapy
that examines how your thoughts, feelings and behaviours affect each other, and
aims to teach you practical skills to change this. CBT is the most commonly offered
talking treatment on the NHS. You could also try to learn CBT techniques by
yourself through accessing self-help books from your local library, or online
through free apps.

For more information about different kinds of talking treatments and how they can help,
see our pages on talking therapies.

Talking, talking, talking over many years has helped immensely. Now I don't bottle it all up
inside.

How do I access these treatments?

To access most treatments, the first step is usually to talk to your GP.

In some areas, you can also self-refer for counselling through the NHS Improving Access
to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme.

(See our pages on seeking help for a mental health problem for tips on how to talk to
your doctor about your mental health.)

Anger can be a barrier to getting help

Accessing professional help isn't always straightforward; it can be challenging and
sometimes you might experience setbacks or delays. It's understandable that you

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might sometimes feel frustrated and angry about your situation – especially if you
don't feel you're getting the help you want.

But if you express your anger aggressively towards your healthcare professionals,
this can cause more problems and delays in getting the help you want. Healthcare
professionals have a right to feel safe at work; so if your behaviour becomes
aggressive or threatening, they may not feel able to help you.

(See our pages on managing outbursts and long-term coping for some techniques
you can use to manage angry feelings. If you feel you've been unfairly refused
treatment, see our pages on complaining about health and social care for more
information on what you can do.)

I get angry when I don't get the help I need. That worsens my mental health so I feel more
anxious and frustrated.

Anger management programmes

These are a specific kind of talking treatment for people who struggle with anger issues.
They often involve working in a group, but may involve one-to-one sessions. They may
use a mixture of counselling and CBT techniques. You can try:

 NHS anger management courses. Many NHS Trusts run free local anger
management services – you can ask your GP what's available near you.
 Local Mind anger management courses. Some local Minds also provide free
counselling or anger management services. Contact your Local Mind directly and
ask them what services they provide.
 Online self-help. Some organisations have produced online self-help guides for
managing anger (see our page on useful contacts for more information).
 A private course or therapist specialising in anger. You can use the British
Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy's (BACP) website to search for
accredited therapists near you. See our pages on talking therapies for more
information about private therapy.

Help for abusive and violent behaviour

If your anger means you're acting in an abusive or violent way it's important to get help.
You might feel worried that asking for help will get you in trouble, but it is often the most
important first step towards changing your behaviour. You can contact:

 Your GP. They can talk through your options with you, and refer you on to any
local services. In many areas, the NHS, social services or your local council will
run programmes to help perpetrators of domestic abuse change their
behaviour.

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 Respect runs a phoneline offering advice, information and support on 0808 802
4040. You can also email them on info@respectphoneline.org.uk or use their live
chat on their website. Live chat is available Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 am-4 pm.
They run programmes across the country to help you understand and change
your behaviour.
 The Freedom Programme runs online and in-person courses for anyone who
wants to change their abusive behaviour.
 The Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) runs courses to help people learn new
ways to tackle situations where violence could arise.

Local support
 ADAPT is a course run across Hampshire and the Channel Islands to support
men over 18 to change abusive or violent behaviour.
 The Everyman Project has information, self-help strategies and programmes
based in London to help perpetrators of domestic abuse. They also run an
advice line on 020 7263 8884.
 The Domestic Violence Intervention Project offers support to stop domestic
abuse across London and the south east.
 Atal y Fro runs a free programme for male perpetrators of domestic abuse in
the Vale of Glamorgan. It is also available to people outside this area for a
fee.
 The Phoenix Respect Programme For Men is run by Gwent Domestic Abuse
Services for men who have been or are at risk of being abusive to their
partners.
 Bridging to Change is a Manchester-based service for perpetrators of
domestic abuse.
 The South Tyneside Domestic Abuse Perpetrators Programme helps men
living in South Tyneside to change abusive behaviour.
 The BRAVE project is a not-for-profit organisation based in Bradford which
offers a confidential service comprising group work, one-to-one counselling
and telephone support for men to help change abusive
behaviour.
 The Pennine Domestic Violence Group provides information and runs a
programme of support for perpetrators of domestic abuse in the Pennine
area.

Please note:

 Mind does not endorse any particular support service, including those listed on
this page. We have no knowledge of their services or
performance.
 This is not an exhaustive list. You may be able to find other services near
you.

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 It is your responsibility to decide whether the service you are considering

using is appropriate for you.

What can friends and family do?

This section is for friends and family of someone who is experiencing problems with
anger.

It can be very difficult when someone you care about is experiencing problems with anger
– especially if they sometimes direct their anger towards you, others close to them, or
themselves.

We are all responsible for our own actions, so ultimately it will be up to them to learn how
to manage and express their anger appropriately. But there are still lots of things you can
do to help support them:

 Stay calm. Although you probably have a lot of difficult feelings of your own, if you
can stay calm it can help to stop anger escalating.
 Try to listen to them. If you can, allow them time to communicate their feelings
without judging them. Often when someone feels that they are being listened to,
they are more able to hear other people's points of view as well. And sometimes
just being given permission to communicate angry feelings can be enough to help
someone calm down.
 Give them space. If you notice that continuing the conversation is making it worse,
give them space to calm down and think. This could be something like going into
another room for a while, or spending a few days apart. It's important to give
yourself space as well, so you don't find yourself getting too angry.
 Set boundaries. While there are lots of reasons why this can be difficult, it's
important to set limits and boundaries. Be clear in advance about what sort of
behaviour is and isn't acceptable to you, and think about what action you can take
if someone crosses the line. You don't have to put up with any behaviour that
makes you feel unsafe or seriously affects your own wellbeing.
 Help them identify their triggers. This is something you can try when you're both
feeling calm, away from any heated situation. Identifying someone's triggers for
anger can help you both think about ways you can avoid triggering situations, and
plan how to handle them and how to communicate when they do arise. But try not
to be judgemental, or accusatory. While it can be useful to give specific examples
of when you remember them getting angry, be aware that this is probably
upsetting for them to think about.
 Support them to seek professional help. For example, you could help them arrange
to see their GP, or help research anger management courses. See our pages on
treatments for anger and supporting someone to seek help for their mental health
for more information.

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 Look after your own wellbeing. It can be difficult at times to support someone else,
so make sure you're looking after your own wellbeing too. (See our information on
How to cope when supporting someone else for more on this.)

“The worst thing is for people to tell me to calm down or say that whatever caused my
anger doesn't matter. People listening and accepting my feelings (even if my anger seems
unprecedented) helps the most.”

What if their behaviour is abusive or violent?

Just because someone seems very angry, it doesn't necessarily mean that they will
become violent or abusive. But if this does happen, the most important thing is to make
sure that you are safe.

 Don't confront someone who is behaving aggressively. If you want to talk to them,
wait until the situation has calmed down.
 You may want to make a safety plan. This might include:
o Making a list of phone numbers of people, organisations and services that
you can call if you are scared.
o Arranging to stay at a friend’s or neighbour’s house until things are calm.
Make sure you take any children or other people at risk with you.
o Having a bag prepared to leave in an emergency.
 Refuge runs safe houses for women and children escaping domestic abuse. You
can contact them to find a place in a refuge.
 The National Domestic Abuse Helpline is available 24 hours day on 0808 2000 247
for women experiencing domestic violence who need advice and support.
 Women's Aid offers information, an online forum, support and information for
children and young people, and a directory of local services for women and
children experiencing domestic abuse.
 Men's Advice Line offers support to male victims of domestic abuse on 0808 801
0327, or you can email them at info@mensadviceline.org.uk.
 Galop offers support to lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer people who've
experienced domestic abuse on 0800 999 5428.
 You can call the police. If your safety is in danger – or the safety of others in your
home, such as children – dial 999. You might feel worried about getting your loved
one in trouble, but it's important to always put your own safety first.

“I need my family to speak to me honestly but remain understanding. We have code

words that we all can use when I'm either being unreasonable or when I feel like I might
lash out.”

What if they don't recognise they have a problem?

You might find that the person you are supporting doesn't recognise they have a problem
and/or refuses to seek help.

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It's understandable to feel frustrated, distressed and powerless as a result of this. But it’s
important to accept that they are an individual, and that there are always limits to what
you can do to support another person.

(Our pages on helping someone seek help have more information on what you can and
can't do in this situation.)

Useful contacts
Mind's services
 Helplines – all our helplines provide information and support by phone and email.
Our Blue Light Infoline is just for emergency service staff, volunteers and their
families.
o Mind’s Infoline – 0300 123 3393, info@mind
o Mind’s Legal Line – 0300 466 6463, legal@mind
o Blue Light Infoline – 0300 303 5999, bluelightinfo@mind
 Local Minds – there are over 140 local Minds across England and Wales which
provide services such as talking treatments, peer support, and advocacy. Find
your local Mind here, and contact them directly to see how they can help.
 Elefriends is a supportive online community for anyone experiencing a mental
health problem. See our Elefriends page for details.

Who else could help?

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
0800 9177 650
alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
Peer-lead support programme following 12 steps to support you to stop drinking.

Beat
adult helpline: 0808 801 0677
youthline: 0808 801 0711
b-eat.co.uk
Offers information on eating disorders and runs a supportive online community.
Also provides a directory of support services at helpfinder.b-eat.co.uk

British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)

01455 883300
bacp.co.uk/search/Therapists

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Information and details of accredited counsellors and psychotherapists

practitioners.

Be Mindful
bemindful.co.uk
Information about mindfulness and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR).
Guidance on how to learn mindfulness, including course listings.

Cruse Bereavement Care

0808 808 1677
cruse.org.uk
Charity providing support after someone you know has died.

Galop
London LGBT+ advice line: 0207 704 2040
National LGBT+ domestic abuse helpline: 0800 999 5428
galop.org.uk
Support lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer people who've experienced hate crime,
sexual violence or domestic abuse.

Men's Advice Line

0808 801 0327
mensadviceline.org.uk
Confidential helpline for all men (whether in heterosexual or same-sex
relationships) experiencing domestic violence by a current or ex-partner.

Mind Tools
mindtools.com
Information on how to communicate in a respectfully assertive way.

Moodjuice
moodjuice.scot.nhs.uk
Free online self-help guide from the NHS.

National Domestic Abuse Helpline

0808 2000 247
nationaldomesticviolencehelpline.org.uk
24-hour phone-line for women experiencing domestic abuse.
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National Self Harm Network (NSHN)

nshn.co.uk
Survivor-led closely monitored forum for people who self-harm, and their friends
and families.

Refuge
0808 2000 247
refuge.org.uk
A national charity that runs safe houses for women and children escaping
domestic abuse, and works with families to effect change.

Respect
0808 802 40 40
Men's advice line: 0808 801 0327
respect.uk.net
Information and support for people who are worried about their violent or
aggressive behaviour towards loved ones.

Samaritans
116 123 (freephone)
jo@samaritans.org
samaritans.org
Freepost RSRB-KKBY-CYJK PO Box 90 90 Stirling FK8 2SA
24-hour emotional support for anyone struggling to cope.

Turning Point
turning-point.co.uk
Provides services for people with drug, alcohol and mental health problems.

Women's Aid
womensaid.org.uk
Offers information, an online forum, support and info for children and young
people, and a directory of local services for women and children experiencing
domestic abuse.

© Mind July 2018.

To be revised in 2021.
References are available on request.
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