Expanding on Great Lakes mom’s idea. If you vent in writing about a specific person, burn it. Would not want something like that to accidentally become known. (Something I heard about in job groups).
Fendrock,
I had a job where I needed to vent. Finally I quit. Everyone has been asking why I look so happy or rested. Have you lost weight? What vacation have you been on? Are you in another exercise class? Found a new hobby? What is your secret?
Why the big smiles?
These are folks in my family, neighbors, and friends who I had not told I left my job. I had been there for 15 years. My spouse was a little stressed the first weekend when I stated I was never going back.
Providence provided. I have a great new career, and had a couple weeks of vacation to boot.
I loved my job, everyone was shocked, because I had made a commercial about how great this place was to work. I had to come to the realization I “needed” a place to work without all the stuff that caused me to seek activities to relieve me from having to have to vent. Why was I going there everyday to subject myself to more.
There are places without conflict, that appreciate you for you. do it for yourself.
If it’s a heat of the moment type vent, I talk to myself. Yeah, sounds crazy. Somehow just saying my frustrations aloud (in a private place) releases some steam. For more complicated emotions, I write a letter to the object of my frustration and then delete it.
If I’m feeling overwhelmed, I clean or organize something to gain a feeling of control.
And if I need to put my life in perspective, or reflect, I walk on the beach early in the morning or at night. The power and vastness of the ocean always soothes my soul.
I think taking a boxing or taiko drumming class would be a good alternative to venting! 
I throw things away. Sometimes I scare myself that I will end up with an empty house. 8-| I do not act nice while I am tossing and going through drawers–I let the steam out.
Otherwise, I cook. H likes that.
Exercise is good but not always timely.
Shopping therapy
author, congrats on having moved on!
I have only been at this job a short time. I’m fortunate to have it, as it puts me “back in the game” after 12 years as a SAHM.
But, if I can’t learn to tolerate this situation, I will start looking once my resume has taken a boost from sufficient time here.
Like others have said, I think it is very important to be able to vent to another person. I tend to minimize/rationalize behavior when I just process it myself. But saying it out loud to another, makes me feel better. I found this out later in life and could have processed many things better if I’d talked things through. I have friends who I can do this with. They know me well enough that they would understand why I was staying in the job and know I wasn’t a complainer. Find that friend and buy him/her lunch! or better yet, talk while walking - my best therapy.
Some great ideas here. i think in the long run, the best alternative is finding a way to no longer be in the situation which is creating the need to vent frequently. Foisting anger onto others who didn’t cause the problem might make a person who vents feel relief, but it can maim people who don’t deserve having that done to them and create a toxic environment. I think this looking for alternatives is a fantastic idea!
Writing one hell of a confrontation letter to the person who is ticking you off is great imo.
Just DON’T SEND IT!!!