Synopses & Reviews
What happens to a person’s brain when they become angry? Anger is an instinctive yet complex emotional reaction that affects everyone differently. People whose brains are wired for anger may become angry at a moment’s notice, act impulsively on their anger, regret their behavior afterwards, and fly into dangerous rages that leave them feeling out of control. Healing the Angry Brain examines how the limbic system affects the way people process anger and why some people are predisposed to anger, while others are able to remain calm in aggravating situations. Readers learn how to change their patterns of thinking so that they become less likely to experience extreme levels of anger and more in control of their behavior when they do become angry. By understanding the six natural stages of emotionality: system activation, modulation, planning, taking emotion-influenced action, evaluation, and system deactivation, readers can come to terms with possible problems at each stage of processing. The book then offers guidance for taking charge of anger and learning new ways to rewire the brain so that anger is measured and manageable, not destructive.
Review
“A powerful application of recent brain science to the field of anger management. Get this book and pay attention to what it says.”
—Rich Pfeiffer, MDiv, PhD, director of Growth Central
Review
“Healing the Angry Brain is as thorough a work on the neurobiology of anger as you will find anywhere. In addition to a comprehensive description of the biological and psychological functions of anger, it gives lots of practical advice on regulating anger in the context of a full and healthy emotional life.”
—Steven Stosny, PhD, author of Love without Hurt, How Improve Your Marriage without Talking about It, and Treating Attachment Abuse
Review
“Psychotherapists are always asking neuroscientists, “How does understanding the brain help me to help my clients?” In Healing the Angry Brain, Ronald Potter-Efron provides an answer. Through a combination of clinical expertise and clear scientific information, he guides the reader to a better understanding of anger while providing a roadmap to relational and inner peace.”
—Lou Cozolino, professor of psychology at Pepperdine University
Synopsis
In Healing the Angry Brain, bestselling author Ronald Potter-Efron explains how the brain is wired for anger and how readers with anger management problems can short-circuit angry reactions to reduce outbursts and communicate more effectively with others.
Synopsis
Do you find yourself:
• Becoming so angry you have trouble thinking?
• Acting impulsively during angry outbursts?
• Getting so mad that you feel out of control of your actions?
If these strong, sudden bursts of anger sound all too familiar, you know the impact they have over your life. Over time, these responses can actually hard-wire our brains to respond angrily in situations that normally wouldn’t cause us to lose our cool. These anger pathways in the brain can eventually disrupt your work, strain your relationships, and even damage your health.
Written by anger management expert Ronald Potter-Efron, Healing the Angry Brain can help you short-circuit the anger cycle and learn to calmly handle even the most stressful interactions. You will learn which areas of your brain are causing your reactions and discover how to take control of your emotions by rewiring your brain for greater patience and perspective. This fascinating, scientific approach to anger management will yield long-term results, helping you develop greater empathy and put effective conflict resolution skills into practice for years to come.
About the Author
Ronald T. Potter-Efron, MSW, PhD, is a psychotherapist in private practice in Eau Claire, WI, who specializes in anger management, mental health counseling, and the treatment of addictions. He is the author of Angry All the Time and Stop the Anger Now and coauthor of The Secret Message of Shame and Anger, Alcoholism, and Addiction.