How do you stop yourself from yelling at a parent if they're yelling in your face?
25 Answers
Moderated by Smita Joshi, BA Psychology / MA / Advanced EFT Practitioner
Updated: Sep 1, 2020
IntuitiveDrops
on
Jun 17, 2015
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Keeping up good boundaries is crucial. You deserve respect. Your parents have to learn better ways to deal with conflict. It´s healthy and natural for you to want to fight back. However, if you both of you start doing this, you´ll never learn another, healthy way to manage differences at home. If you feel yourself getting angry, try telling them calmly that they should talk calmly to you or you will leave. If they don´t stop, leave , and come back later when they have calmed down. This way, you both can probably learn new ways and de-escalate when anger rises up.
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Anonymous
on
Jul 17, 2017
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You must remember that they are your parents. You must respect them because they are at a higher authority level than you. I know how hard it is!! You want to scream right back, and "give them a piece of their own medicine" but you will show an extreme level of maturity if you choose to stay calm, and diffuse the situation. When they look back at the situation, if you are calm, cool and collected, they will most likely regret screaming at you. If you give anger right back, the situation will escalate very quickly, and probably blossom into something larger than you want to handle. Remember, if you ever upset and need to vent and calm down, us Listeners on 7cups would love to chat!!!
Anonymous
on
May 24, 2015
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Look at yourself while you yell in mirror. And ask yourself, whether you will really like to be like this to the parent. Also you should ask your parents to calm down and talk with you peacefully.
Kate
on
Sep 12, 2017
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That's a tough situation and can be really upsetting. Breathing and staying calm is important. Concentrate on your breath and if you need to respond, try to do so in a calm and even tone. I'm sorry that you're going through a difficult time with your parents. Nobody deserves to be yelled at.
PlushPetTony11
on
Jul 15, 2019
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You need to be the bigger person. Remove yourself from the situation. Yelling back at someone will only escalate the situation. The parent should be the mature one but in cases like this it’s up to the child to take the mature choice and simply walk away. Yelling in your face is considered aggressive and abusive. They cannot be reasoned with at that point of anger so yelling back will get you nowhere except into more trouble. Always keep that in mind. It won’t do anyone any good. Take a few steps back, leave the room, but do not engage them. If they pursue you then that’s on them, if they keep getting back in your face, that’s a fault with their parenting technique. Just continue to move away and do not yell back.
Spade
on
Jan 12, 2015
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This can be hard, because whenever anyone yells at me, I 100% want to yell right back at them. I tip I used to not yell back at my mother (this works with anyone, really) is to inhale, count to four, exhale, count to four, and repeat. Simply by focusing on your own breathing, you can stay cool, calm, and collected.
Anonymous
on
Apr 28, 2015
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Yelling begets more yelling. A calm response to them will help to relieve the tension of the situation.
braveIris99
on
Apr 30, 2015
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Be entirely aware of the anger rising within you.be in the moment and feel every sensation.realize diplomacy is a must and without it we only serve to feed the toxic negativity between us and our loved one.try to speak calmly and follow your breath going in and out.breathe in deeply.attempt(whilst focusing on your breath)to put yourself in their shoes.also if they are being cruel and insulting you it helps to realise that everything they are saying is something they believe about themselves wether subconsciously or consciously. :)
Rachel5672
on
Jul 27, 2015
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Deep breathing always works for me as far as self control goes. And I keep in mind yelling back will escalate the situation and make it worse.
sensiblesummer85
on
Oct 1, 2015
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I know how hard it can be because my first instinct is to yell back. I found that by setting boundaries and sticking to them helps. Let them know that you won't be speaking to them when they are yelling at you. When they do start to yell let them know you will not have the conversation at that time ever and walk away. When you both have calmed down broach the subject again . The important thing is to try and keep a cool head, which is hard to do .
Anonymous
on
Dec 8, 2015
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The way I would stop myself from yelling at my parents if they were yelling at me, is to try and view the situation from their point of view. If it is not a situation that involves myself or them being abused in any way, then I try to understand why they might be yelling at me and figure out a solution to the problem so that way they see I am listening and trying to understand them, and maybe if another conversation starts getting a little out of hand in the future, they will remember how I tried to listen and decide not to yell at me.
Baileybug
on
Aug 29, 2016
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Take a minute, clam your self. Tell them that you need a minute. And sit down and talk about what ever it is in a calm manner
madisonhopex
on
Jun 30, 2020
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It can be scary to have a parent or guardian yelling or getting in your face. Regardless of if this reaction is due to a disagreement or some other issue, it is never okay for a parent or guardian to violate your personal space or make you feel afraid. Our first reaction may be to yell back but there are other ways to attempt diffuse the situation or keep our cool. Firstly, ground yourself before you say anything. Sometimes we can be reactionary and say things we don't mean or react out of turn. If your parent or guardian is being verbally hurtful we don't want to throw hurtful things back at them. Instead, try your best to focus on your own breathing and thought process. You don't ever have to agree with the other persons reaction but you can still find a way to respectfully state your side. If all you can do is explain that you are scared, upset, or feel uncomfortable - that is okay! Express your feelings instead of reacting on your feelings. This may actually help them better understand how you are feeling and calm things down. If it does not, never hesitate to evacuate a scary situation and reach out for help if possible.
fantasticJoy10
on
Sep 28, 2015
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One thing you could do would be to take a step back. Counting backwards from ten usually helps calm a person down. Or focussing on breathing also works.
MohsinSalim786
on
Oct 6, 2015
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i had that bad habit too before... but then.. i thought about and got an excellent solution... after they yell at you, say sorry, walk into ur room quietly, lock the doors.. plug in your headphones and turn on your favourite music.. everything feel feel amazng then.. :)
felixthecat
on
Nov 23, 2015
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Take a few deep breaths. Try to picture yourself in a happier place to calm your nerves and not yell back
OnlineFriend123
on
Dec 8, 2015
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Try talking quietly to deescalate the conversation, and sit down or back up to get space. Try to think about the reasons they may be upset and reflect back to them that you understand their emotion (i.e. "I understand you are angry with me because I _______"). By demonstrating calm and empathizing with them, you allow them to also calm and discuss things with you clearly.
Anonymous
on
Jan 18, 2016
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I take deep breath and count to ten in my head and be the bigger person and calm one and try and take a different approach
Anonymous
on
Jan 19, 2016
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You could try counting to 10 in your head. Or take a walk after telling them politely that you would likely to complete this conversation later on . Clear your head and try and understand the meaning in what they are saying instead of letting it incense you.
Anonymous
on
Jun 21, 2016
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I will keep quiet and let them continue. Leave them alone and let them cool. Once the mood is alright, I will approach them and apologise.