Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson

Managing The “Fight” Response: Anger, Repression, and Self-Regulation

May 13, 2024

01:08:58

Snipd AI

Dr. Rick and Forrest delve into the complexity of anger, resentment, and self-regulation. They discuss managing expectations, empowering yourself, and challenging authority. The episode explores transitioning from complaint to request, navigating unhealthy anger, and handling resentment. It offers strategies for claiming anger without succumbing to its seductive nature.

AI Summary

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Validating and managing anger effectively is crucial for harnessing its adaptive functions.

Repressed anger is complex, linked to self-expression challenges, and requires understanding its seductive nature.

Shifting from oppositional fighting to proactive pursuit fosters constructive interactions and channels energy positively.

Deep dives

Understanding the Fight Response

The podcast episode delves into the fight response as a stress reaction, where anger and rage are identified as protective signals when feeling threatened. Anger is described as useful for highlighting problems, energizing actions, and promoting psychological organization. The episode emphasizes the adaptiveness of anger while cautioning against its potential negative impacts and societal stigmas. Acknowledging and managing anger effectively is highlighted as a key aspect of harnessing its useful functions.

The Power of Anger

01:25

Navigating Anger and Communication in Relationships

01:44

Exploring Constructive Anger Management and Relationship Dynamics

03:22

Navigating the Evolution of Dealing with Anger and Repression in Relationships

03:55

Introduction

3min

Exploring the Biological and Psychological Dynamics of Anger

2min

Navigating Anger and Relationships

25min

Exploring Communication Dynamics, Long-term Health Impact, and Sponsors

5min

Embracing Anger and Shifting Towards Positive Expression

21min

Navigating Self-Criticism and Anger

10min

Navigating Anger and Self-Regulation

4min

Dr. Rick and Forrest continue their series on the stress responses with the “fight” response to stress. They explore anger, repression, and the balance of self-expression and self-regulation before talking about how we can claim the adaptive aspects of the fight response without falling prey to its more problematic aspects. A major focus of the episode is resentment and repression, alongside related topics like empowering yourself, managing expectations, and “experiencing out.”

You can watch this episode on YouTube.

Key Topics:

0:00: Introduction

1:15: The useful aspects of anger

5:40: Specific behaviors associated with the fight response

8:35: Giving yourself permission to express anger

13:40: Navigating resentment

21:40: Thwarted expectations as a source of unhealthy anger

32:05: Claiming your anger, and being wary of its seductive nature

35:45: Developing an authentic sense of empowerment

39:45: Going from complaint to request

43:30: Antidotes to unhealthy anger

52:40: Challenging authority without feeling intimidated or shamed

54:20: When we’re angry at ourselves

59:00: Recap

I am now writing on Substack, check out my work there.

Support the Podcast: We're now on Patreon! If you'd like to support the podcast, follow this link.

Sponsors

Join over a million people using BetterHelp, the world’s largest online counseling platform. Visit betterhelp.com/beingwell for 10% off your first month!

If you’re navigating something messy, call The Dr. John Delony Show. Dr. John shares practical advice on how to connect with people, face depression, overcome anxiety, and learn what it means to be well. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Transform your health with the ZOE Science & Nutrition podcast. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts.

OneSkin focuses on delivering more than superficial results for your skin. Get started today with 15% off using code BEINGWELL at oneskin.co.

Connect with the show:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export