That's such a great story!  I'm definately taking that idea for my field placement next year. 

VestalGrrl:  Good luck next year!  I'm finishing my first year for my MSW now, it's really great.  I also switched from psych.  I like it better but it's also different.

~Lauren

Not only is knitting great anger management (yeah, my stitches get really tight, too) but it is good for all sorts of high stress relief. When my dh had a heart attack 4 years ago (he is fine now) the only thing I found to help relieve my stress was my knitting. I didn't have it with me at the hospital, an hour's drive from home (I had an embroidery project- too much thinking). Sitting and waiting, sitting and keeping him company, I was really needing something- my knitting- in  my hands and not quite realizing it. When we returned to the hospital later that week for follow-up tests, I saw someone in the elevator with a knitting bag (it was a guy!) and it was all I could do not to jump on him and snatch it away! When we got home, I grabbed my needles, and ever since, I have a knitting bag with project with me wherever we go- not that I'm borrowing trouble, but no matter where I am stuck or what is going on, I have my knitting. It soothes me like no other activity.

The only way anyone can tell if I'm angry or upset is when I swear proffusely if I drop a stitch.
(Normally my mouth is as clean as if it was washed three times a day with disinfectant)

So If I'm KIPing and a drop one, I start saying all sorts of horrendous things about that rather irritating stitch, and everyone looks at me and is all like
"..."

I still have a bit of a potty mouth, but usually not when I'm knitting- it probably is that calming effect. When I knit and drop a stitch, usually the worst I can come up with is "Oh bother!" Besides, who wants to angry and tense when you have sharp pointy things in your hands- it's too easy to poke yourself!

knitting is also good for anxiety and depression (the post partum kind) it helped me with 2 post partum depressions and i am now weaned off of anxiety meds. my doctor thinks it great and has recommended it to others.

I was diagnosed with depresion three months ago-and knitting is really starting to help me with my depression.