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Beautifully Complex

272: What Does Anger Tell Us?, with Dr. Lori Desautels

Jul 11, 2024
In this insightful conversation, Dr. Lori Desautels, an expert in applied educational neuroscience, unpacks the complexities of anger in neurodivergent children. She explains how anger often stems from a dysregulated nervous system and underlying emotions like fear and anxiety. Discover practical strategies for adult emotional regulation and the importance of grounding techniques. Dr. Desautels highlights the benefits of predictable routines and calming practices, empowering parents and educators to nurture deeper connections and equip children with self-regulation skills.
27:41

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Anger often masks deeper emotions like fear and anxiety, indicating an overwhelmed nervous system that needs understanding and support.
  • Effective behavior management involves adults' self-awareness and responses, promoting connection rather than escalating conflicts in emotional situations.

Deep dives

Understanding Anger as a Signal

Anger often originates from a nervous system that is overwhelmed and struggling to cope with stressors, leading to misunderstandings about the root causes of this emotion. Beneath anger, one can find deeper sensations and feelings such as anxiety and fear, which reflect a state of dysregulation in the body. Recognizing that anger may serve as a protective mechanism can help adults respond more effectively to children expressing this emotion. By acknowledging anger as a signal rather than a stand-alone issue, caregivers can approach the situation with curiosity and a desire to understand the underlying factors at play.

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