1. Anger Management 1
Presented by: Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes
Executive Director, AllCEUs
AllCEUs.com Unlimited CEUs and Specialty Certifications $59

2. Objectives
 Explore the function of anger
 Identify the costs and benefits of anger
 Identify anger triggers
 Rejection/Isolation
 Failure
 Loss of control
 The unknown

3. What is Anger
 Half of the fight or flight reaction
 Based on prior learning, the brain interprets a
threat to person, property or self-concept
 Norepinephrine/adrenaline is secreted to prepare to
fight or flee
 Heart rate and respiration increases, focus becomes
singular (tunnel vision), sweating begins
 Urge to lash out verbally and/or physically
 Feelings: More than just anger

4. Costs of Anger
 Social
 Pushes people away / Increases isolation
 Intimidates people (Respect vs. Intimidation)
 Perceived by children which increases their anxiety
 Physical
 Uses a ton of energy for what is often not a major
threat
 Causes injury from others & self (ulcers, self harm,
heart attack, high cholesterol)

5. Costs of Anger cont…
 Emotional
 Reduces the amount of time to be happy (anger + time
nurturing anger + time recovering from anger)
 Can lead to depression
 Environmental
 Broken stuff (hands, windshields, plates)
 Jail time
 Reduces your options (relationships, work, housing)
 Loss of employment
 Anger episodes at work
 Reduced productivity and increased illness due to anger

6. Benefits of Anger
 Power: Pushes away or dominates a threat
 Punishment/revenge to make others feel the
same pain
 Save face/reputation
 Hide emotional pain
 Get attention (alarm people, make a scene)
 Change other people’s behavior

7. Origins of Anger
 Feeling of a Threat
 Society is less
interdependent but we still
need people (Barn Raising
to Capitalism)
 Valuing power and success
above compassion
 Harsh or disengaged
parenting
 Primitive coping skills
 Low self-esteem / External
validation
 Threat Categories
 Rejection/Isolation
 Failure
 The Unknown
 Loss of Control

8. Origins of Anger
 Threat Categories
 Rejection/Isolation
 Failure
 The Unknown
 Loss of Control

9. Anger Triggers
Rejection/
Isolation
Failure Loss of
Control
Disrespected
Disappointed
Misunderstood
Embarrassed
Powerless
Jealousy/Envy
Traffic | Betrayal | Backtalk/Not Listening | Broken Promises | Teenager |
Get Lost | Grief | Condescension | Judgementalism

10. Anger & Irritability Vulnerabilities
 Lack of sleep
 Low blood sugar
 Too many stimulants
 Being sick or in pain
 Being mindless and letting little things build up (think
dirty laundry or weeds)
 Depression
 Too much estrogen or testosterone
 Anxiety/stress (Bridezilla; Being spread too thin)

11. Addressing the Anger
 Develop skills to tolerate distress and self-soothe
 Distract don’t react
 Journaling
 Urge surfing
 Develop mindful self-awareness for
 Vulnerabilities
 Anger warning signs
 Anger triggers
 Goals (make a goals card)
 Eliminate as many anger triggers as possible

12. Emergency Anger Control
 Stop
 Breathe slowly
 Repeat your confidence phrase 3 times
 Take a walk
 Identify your courses of action
 Choose the course of action that is most in
alignment with your goals card
 Better relationship with kids/family/friends
 More energy
 Less desire to use drugs/alcohol

13. Addressing Anger Worksheet
 When x happened I felt
Disrespected | Disappointed | Misunderstood | Embarrassed
Powerless | Jealous/Envious
 Which triggered my fear of:
 Rejection/Isolation because of the following thoughts…
 Failure because of the following thoughts…
 Loss of control because of the following thoughts…
 The unknown because of the following thoughts…

14. Worksheet cont…
 For every negative thought, develop a positive coping
thought
 Rejection/Isolation
 Who do you have
 How are you better off without that person in their current
state (or yours)
 Failure
 What can you do well
 What can you learn
 Loss of control/The unknown
 What is the most probable outcome
 How have you handled situations like this before

15. Summary
 Anger is a protective response to a threat
 Due to a myriad of factors, people can become
hypersensitive to threats
 Extended periods of anger and irritability cause
the stress response system to dial down sensitivity
leading to depression
 Many people with anger management issues have
internalized negative self-talk from childhood
 Directed at them
 Interpreted by them

16. Summary
 Anger is often reinforced by immediate,
temporary relief/victory/vindication
 Addressing anger involves helping the person
 Learn to stop and de-escalate/downregulate
 Identify and remember why change is important
 Identify and develop alternative responses
 Enhance self-esteem/reduce the need for external
validation
 Countercondition unnecessary threats
 Become mindfully self-aware
 Eliminate vulnerabilities