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How Anger Affects Your Brain and Body [Infographic – Part 2]

78 Comments

In the heat of anger, we often don’t use our best judgment.

We may say and do things we later regret, or lose track of what we’re arguing about.

Why is that?

Well, it has to do with cortisol. You see, anger can spark an overload of cortisol in the brain.

So where does the cortisol come from in the first place? That’s something we got into here.

And to help you visualize what’s happening when there’s too much cortisol in the brain, we put this together for you (and please feel free to make a copy to share).

Click the image to enlarge

How Anger Affects Your Brain and Body Infographic

If you’d like to print a copy to share, just click here: Color or Print-friendly

(When you make copies to share, please be sure to include the copyright information. We put a lot of work into creating these resources for you. Thanks!)

If you’d like to learn more about how to help clients manage anger, take a look at this short course featuring Stephen Porges, PhD; Marsha Linehan, PhD; Peter Levine, PhD; Ron Siegel, PsyD; Pat Ogden, PhD; and other top experts.

Next: How Anger Affects Your Brain and Body, Part 3 – How Stress Hormones Change Your Body

Now that you’ve seen how anger can impact the brain, how will you use these ideas in your life or work? Please leave a comment.

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Related Posts: Body-Oriented Therapy, Brain, Infographics, PTSD

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78 Comments

  1. gregory mee, Coach, GB says

    I am a male CSA survivor. I am of the belief that a lot of behavioral patterns developed by way of creating safety, anger being one, can be used positively and cannot be extinguished completely and should be nurtured and used to advantage. Being angry for me was a reaction I had developed, not consciously in the past, due to the abuse. And later, anger at the realization of what the abuse had done to me. But getting ‘over and beyond the anger’ is not done by by purely rational processing ‘I am angry because…’ and recognising that I was addicted to becoming angry because it is empowering, or even just expulsing the anger in a safe way (throttling a cushion). I now embrace the anger. It is normal. I am entitled to it. I am now aware of it. It is a tool. I can use it rather than it using me. I now use it more consciously to defy in a positive way. That is to defy the aging process, for one and to combat CSA i.e. spread the word regarding it’s chronically debilitating effects and to help others speak out….in summary, one can weaken anger’s (and others) negative effects but it won’t go away. It will be like trying to hold a balloon under water. Embracing it is the way. All this sitting about in a perfect calm state of Zen forever more is a load of unachievable nonsense!

    Reply
    • Dolores U., Student, GB says

      Your story reminded me of my trauma that I got bullied by my teacher. It’s not sexual abused, just abused. She seemed nice at the surface but so passive aggressive in her style. She gaslighted me everyday. She wronged everything I do and say. She made fun of me with her assistant and other students. I asked her what wrong I had ever done to her. She said nothing, but she never stop bullying me. I think she is a narcissistic psychopath. I have to quit and study elsewhere better. Unqualified teachers do exist. It’s not worth having this Cortisol running in my system. I believe that what goes round comes round. By the way, meditation helps. A person who does not look down other religions is a person who has wisdom.

      Reply
    • Zen Believer, Counseling, GB says

      Why was a coach from Britain who claimed to embrace her anger attacked people with different religious beliefs? Isn’t it stemmed from anger?

      Reply
  2. Bernadette Wood, Nursing, GB says

    I knew cortisol kills off brain cells but didn’t know why.
    This is part of the information we promote to health and children’s centre staff as part of breastfeedng and relationship building training, supporting parent/ baby attachment from conception through to 5 years

    Reply
  3. Anonymous says

    In effect- the key to mental stability is being calm in all situations. Of course! Thank you for this wise and vital information.

    Reply
  4. konstantinos bousoulas, Psychology, GR says

    thank you exeland method to learn
    than you again

    Reply
  5. Anonymous, CA says

    Very timely. Will be reading both parts. Been struggling with some anger of late and even prayer cannot seem to resolve it. Perhaps this article is the answer to my prayers?..Thank you.

    Reply
  6. Fi Sig, Teacher, GB says

    I’m feeling quite angry about the Renaissance and witch hunts this week and I think this is making me more intelligent as I think about the repercussions and different ways of viewing history and society. If I was not angry I would not bother to ponder the subject

    Reply
  7. Nona Eastwood, Other, GB says

    This helps me and my 76 husband . He has suffered with excess Cortisol from childhood. Hyperadonism. From birth. Mother age 40. Lifelong health issues. Stroke at 30, uncontrolled high blood pressure. Triple bypass age 65. Now short term memory. It will help me and Gp to support him as well as family who could never understand incidents A BIG thank you .

    Reply
  8. Julie Wakefield, GB says

    This is brilliant, it makes it easy to understand. I will share with link workers (Health and We’ll Being/Social Prescriber) staff who support clients with a range of issues, many who are angry. They will share with people they support helping them to work on reducing anger.

    Reply
  9. janwe bouttell, Teacher, GB says

    Is this why the seven deadly sins are so called: anger, envy, lust, luxury, greed, sloth, jealousy?

    Reply
    • jane bouttell, Teacher, GB says

      For jealousy, read envy. They’re not the same.

      Reply
    • Doris Ayla Dumont, NASHVILLE, TN, USA says

      I watch my beloved pet when he has this devastating chemical shoot into his body.his doc says its just like what you found.you can see his body,revving up rapid breathing.the he walks in circles and co ally collapses on the floor with a loud thud.

      Reply
  10. Anonymous says

    Interesting, thank you.

    Reply
  11. Pauline Grist says

    Simple easily understood explanation. Very informative in a quick and entertaining format. ???

    Reply
  12. Anonymous, Another Field, IE says

    I know someone who is very angry and then vindictive as a result. Is toxic. Good to be aware of this.

    Reply
  13. Anonymous, Another Field, CA says

    I have the opposite problem – adrenal insufficiency where my body can’t produce enough cortisol. What happens then? Does it interfere with your ability to be angry? Are neurons preserved more? Does serotonin production increase? I’d love to find out.

    Reply
  14. Kathleen says

    I want to know more on this subject as I have struggled with stress for most of my life

    Reply
  15. Eileen Macey, Another Field, GB says

    Where can I find Part 1 please

    Reply
    • Anonymous says

      Exactly. Where is part one ?

      Reply
  16. Ph, Other, AU says

    Very informative article on how we tick and why. Look forward to reading the next one in the series.

    Reply
  17. M M, Psychology, WA, USA says

    This is very interesting, but I don’t understand why the creator seems to be conflating the terms ‘anger’ & ‘stress’ – of course anger is a form of stress, but the terms are not synonymous.

    Reply
  18. Anonymous says

    Was just standing in my kitchen talking to my son about cortisol and it’s effects. Pulled up my Instagram page and this is the first advert to come up. I’m not normally paranoid about my phone listening to what I’m saying but maybe I should be!

    Reply
    • Iprefer Privacy, Other, USA says

      Turn off microphone permission for all social media and anything goggle-related. It helps.

      Reply
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