What does anger look like to you? Fists pounding a table? Faces getting red? Veins bulging? Raised Voices? These are some of the common associations to anger in our culture. Such displays of anger are more reflective of rage. Anger can be expressed without any of the over-the-top behaviors described above. The value of anger is that a person …
The emotional hazards of being “too nice”
by Jay Reid This blog post is the first in a series dedicated to having to give up what you really think or feel in order to keep important relationships intact. All references to clients are fictional. Joan walked into my office with an ear-to-ear smile. She explained a painful cycle of anxiety attacks at work and feelings of emptiness …
Interrupt your anxiety with this breathing exercise
Anxiety is the body and mind’s threat-detection system going off. It deserves credit for helping the human species survive. Here’s one way anxiety has been helpful: alerting us when the connection to a parent is in jeopardy. Early baby humans who experienced and listened to this anxiety when their play carried them too far away from a parent, likely scampered …