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How Anger Affects Your Brain and Body [Infographic – Part 1]

70 Comments

Anger can be a challenging emotion to work through.

Sometimes our anger can be frightening. Or, maybe we consider it inappropriate to even feel this way at all.

Not only that, when anger is misdirected, it often leads to poor choices, damaged relationships, and even violence.

So what’s really going on in the brain and body when anger is triggered?

We thought it would be helpful for you to have a way to visualize this. (And please feel free to make a copy of this to share.)

Click the image to enlarge

Click here for the text-only version of the infographic
How Anger Affects Your Brain and Body: Part 1 How Anger Moves Through Your Brain and Into Your Body

  1. The first spark of anger activates the amygdala before you’re even aware of it.
    Sources of anger
    – Disappointment
    – Frustration
    – Judgement
    – Rejection
    – FearNow the amygdala is ready to turn on the stress response system ibn your brain and body.
    Scientists named this stress response system the “HPA axis” because it consists of the Hypothalamus, the Pituitary gland, and the Adrenal glands.
    In this system, a chain reaction of hormones prepares your body to respond to stressors like anger.

    Here is how it works:

  2. The amygdala signals the hypothalamus
  3. The hypothalamus signals the pituitary gland by discharging CRH (corticotrophin-releasing hormone).
  4. The pituitary gland signals the adrenal glands by releasing ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone
  5. The adrenal glands secrete stress hormones like cortisol, adrenaline, and noradrenaline.

When these hormones are produced, they quickly impact your neurons and cells. This is important because that impact usually isn’t a helpful one.

 

 

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

(We put a lot of work into creating these resources, so please include the copyright information and attribute to NICABM if sharing. Thanks!)

For more practical tools and strategies to help clients manage anger, have 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.

Now we’d like to hear from you. What have you found helpful in working with anger? Please leave a comment below.

 

Next: How Anger Affects Your Brain and Body, Part 2 – How Stress Hormones Can Change Your Brain.

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

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70 Comments

  1. George Savatsky, Counseling, DE says

    Does anger kill brain cells?

    Reply
  2. Isaac Kamugisa, Student, UG says

    It’s very interesting understanding how these stress hormones interfere with our response to anger, the scientific explanations of how it come about help therapist handle anger properly. when clients get to learn how their brain respond to stress and anger, they are aware about the biological changes in how they feel when going through hard times.

    Reply
  3. Thopacho Innocent, Teacher, UG says

    lt guides and gives a clear picture on how to effectively navigate through stress moments and primary causes of anger.
    it’s a powerful tool
    Thank you

    Reply
  4. Lymaris Gomez, Psychotherapy, Saint Augustine , FL, USA says

    Love these infographics!!! they’ll be an awesome tool in working with teens.

    Reply
  5. Shelley Hanson, Marriage/Family Therapy, GOODYEAR, AZ, USA says

    I have been walking patients through these steps for years with my own graphic and I so appreciate this colorful graphic to use via telehealth! Thank you! With appreciation, Shelley Hanson, LMFT

    Reply
  6. Evangelos Raptis, Psychotherapy, GB says

    Fantastic infographics – thank you for your generosity and thoughtfulness!

    Reply
  7. Kathryn Dobrowolski, Chiropractor, Dallas, TX, USA says

    Love this !!!

    Reply
  8. Annette Gary, Nursing, TX, USA says

    I love these 3 articles on anger, brain and body….practical and easy to understand! I especially like the graphics! I see that you allow us to download and print them. May I have permission to use these articles (with credit to the source, of course) for an upcoming presentation I will be giving?
    Thank you!!

    Reply
  9. Linda Duffy, Teacher, AU says

    fantastic infographic

    Reply
  10. Mary Beth Alban OFS, Teacher, Orinda, CA, USA says

    This is excellent way to explain to many of us
    How our brain and glands explode when we get ANGRY!!
    Also, I would suggest that seeing an “ANGER MANAGEMENT THERAPIST” would be an “EASY” fix to this problem,
    also realizing that this “fix” will NOT BE EASY to accomplish IF we are ASHAMED of it, or Do Not want to face WHY we are getting angry, for instance Because of someone else who got angry easily and modeled that behavior for us early on in our lives.
    Just my suggestion, recommendation, and possible help if we can use this ANGER itself to ACT ON FIXING the PRoblem of Anger Response.

    Reply
  11. Brenda Naegle, Clergy, Winnemucca, NV, USA says

    This puts a picture in my mind of what is happening when the emotion anger is triggered. I have a daughter with anger problems and is with a boyfriend with anger problems and it is affecting the children.

    Reply
  12. Wendy Sant, Counseling, IE says

    It’s because people have repressed their anger in their childhood, and until they haven’t resolved the underlying issues of their anger, they will continue to suffer.

    Reply
  13. Sonja Cain, Social Work, GB says

    Magnesium, for whatever reason, taking it appears to assist those with anger issues.

    Reply
  14. Edward Sibley, Counseling, WORCESTER, MA, USA says

    PS: I’d be interested in seeing a chart that depicts the positive process and its implications/impact on the toxic function of anger. Thanks for all your insights. Ed

    Reply
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