In recent weeks, many of us are experiencing strong emotions related to the growing concerns over COVID-19. Every day seems to bring more reports of confirmed cases and that number continues to rise according to the California Department of Public Health. We are advised to practice social distancing, wear Personal Protective Equipment when we are…
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Anger is a secondary emotion. It’s a protective emotion covering more vulnerable ones such as shame, and hurt.
Imagine yourself hiking along a meandering dirt path with a friend on a breezy day, enjoying casual conversation as well as the warmth of the sun and the coolness of the wind upon your skin. In the midst of your serenity, your eyes briefly dart upward and ahead, and (gulp) that’s when you see it:…
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Written By: Michael Hecht, MFT A few hints which may make it easier for someone to manage their anger because it is often not about anger so much as simply being assertive in one’s relationships. I recently had a client who complained that she had difficulty controlling herself from getting into altercations or heated arguments…
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Many people wonder how a situation escalates so quickly. Questions such as, “What happened?” or “How did he end up leaving?” are asked, yet there is not much success with finding a fulfilling answer.
When we react, we are emotionally charged. Responding rather than reacting requires for you to wait until you have cooled off, and worked through the issue, prior to replying to the situation. For example, if my supervisor criticizes me at work, I will feel angry and resentful, and I will act withdrawn (reacting). How I can respond is to recognize that my work does not have to be perfect, and that my supervisor was probably only trying to help me (responding).
If you are interested in learning more about reacting versus responding, you can contact one of our clinicians to work with you.
Feelings are a normal part of the human experience. All human beings are born with the capability of feeling and thinking. Healthy individuals are able to use their reasoning (their thinking) to understand their feelings and decide how to respond to them. Individuals that grew up in a dysfunctional family, where emotions were not expressed…
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