Anger can be taken out on anything...

When we are stressed, depressed, or mad, we don't always know what to do. Here's how to cope with strong emotions and calm yourself down.

[edit] Steps

Gently and quietly, breathe through your nose and back out through your mouth for as long as you're angry or disturbed. If you feel light headed, slowly stop. However, if you are very emotional and breathing too fast, use a paper lunch bag to breathe into to slow your system down.
Shake your shoulders to release tension.
Lay down in a safe place. Close your eyes and listen to slow music to take your mind off of emotional pressure. Let all tension in your forehead, neck and hands fade away slowly. Imagine every part of your body relaxing. Start with your head and move downward.
Take a piece of paper to write logically about what has happened and list steps of action to sort it out properly. After you write it down, shred it and throw it away. It's symbolic of throwing away those feelings you just want to get out.
Take time to privately relax, meditate, or pray. Great peace comes through purposely focusing on quieting one's being without worrying about distractions of the world.
Squeeze a stress ball, sponge, or other pliable object at least 50 times.
Take a walk outside alone. Go to a store or the park or even your backyard! A good breath of fresh air always feels good.
Hit something, not someone! Kick your sofa or punch a pillow, but never a person or an animal.
Realize that you can not control what will happen today. Know that you can control how you react to the problems that will happen every day. When you find yourself getting anxious, worried or stressed because life seems to be out of control, pause, take a few deep breaths and then tell yourself a positive affirmation such as: "Life is crazy but I am calm." Repeat this ten times and you will sense calm.
Carry a picture with you of an image that makes you feel calm in a crazy world. It should have scenes of nature, not people. Some people find images of water very calming. Carry this in your purse, wallet or briefcase, and keep it with you. Whe you sense you are getting anxious, you have the calm image available to look at while using your positive affirmation. Place a calm photo image at your office desk and look at it several times in the day while saying a positive affirmation like "Life is crazy but I am calm."
Make it a goal to live more and stress less. Remember, you manage your feelings. Don't let your feelings and worry manage you!
Consider events in your childhood: How has your upbringing contributed to how you react and feel about the world? Think of traumatic, crazy events that occurred between age 5-10 and isolate them. Write them down on a piece of paper, crumple it and throw it out.
Identify the people in your life who are making you feel like the world is out of control and consider what TV shows, websites and media you view or listen to that make you feel like the world is crazy. Surround yourself with other people who are calm!
Think about the situation from a different perspective that doesn't result in you being so stressed. Consider the points of view of others around you.

[edit] Tips

Try pausing before reacting and breathing before speaking.
If you can not control your emotions at all, seek professional help through a psychologist.
If you work in a stressful environment, ask your employer to offer anger management courses.
When a chaotic event or person confronts you, do not immediately react. Instead, visualize the word "calm" and repeat it internally 3 times before reacting calmly.
Try spending time with a pet or someone who can make you feel better easily, but don't take your anger out on them.

[edit] Warnings

Be steady and think twice before you do anything in haste. Calm is steadiness.
Be careful not to take out your anger on others. You'll regret it once you are back to feeling good.