Overcoming Destructive Anger: Strategies That Work

by Bernard Golden

Tools for breaking free from mindless anger and the suffering it brings. Uncontrolled anger can be devastating, yet many people with serious anger issues don’t know how to change their behavior. In Overcoming Destructive Anger , psychologist Bernard Golden, an anger management specialist, offers concrete tools for turning destructive anger into healthy anger. Dr. Golden draws on both compassion-focused therapy―a model for change that encompasses and expands on cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and practices in compassion and self-compassion―and theories of emotional intelligence. He teaches readers to recognize, sit with, and move beyond the triggers that cause destructive anger. Anger logs and other exercises, together with stories of people who were challenged by anger and able to overcome their outbursts, allow readers to explore the source of their anger and recognize its destructive potential. Emphasizing anger’s link to habits of thinking, feeling, and physical reactions, Dr. Golden offers multiple strategies for coping with current hurts as well as past wounds. And he directs readers to helpful websites, books, and films. Dr. Golden explains why destructive anger happens and how it can contribute to divorce, estranged families, job loss, addictions, and even imprisonment. Emphasizing the importance of making calm, constructive choices and cultivating self-empathy, this guide will free people with destructive anger―and those around them―to live more fulfilling lives.

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology, Self Help

224 pages, Paperback

Published June 15, 2016

Reviews

[Ladiibbug · Rating 5 out of 5]

Non-Fiction - Psychology

This gem of a book explores so many psychological and emotional issues, as well as focusing on mindfulness meditation. I intend to purchase a copy of this book, and use it as a daily or weekly workbook. This book from my library has been on my nightstand for 3 weeks, and I dip into it almost daily.

Mindfulness meditation is a simple concept and is so very popular, but not easy for a person with a mind that hops all over the place and just can't slow down. The health benefits are widely known in decreasing stress and bringing about relaxation.

All types of anger are explored in a non-judgmental fashion, from episodes of rage (new or from old life events), to anger we experience without knowing why, to minor irritation. I was drawn to this book because it deals with people with a low frustration tolerance (me :-/).

Our county's library system invested in approximately 40 new books per branch recently in its "Mind Matters" program. The books cover everything from drug and alcohol addiction, to specific books on many psychological disorders, to guides on finding professional help, community resources, etc. This Mind Matters project came into being as our county's libraries are now all seeing an increase in the homeless population and other people with mental disorders coming into the libraries. The books are meant to help the public and library staff understand these issues and people, and the public and readers who need such books for reference.

Here is an excerpt from the wonderful book:

Forgiveness as an Act of Self-Compassion

Our capacity to make peace with another person and with the world depends very much on our capacity to make peace with ourselves. -- Thich Nhat Hanh

Specific Practices for Forgiveness

A variety of strategies and insights can help you expand your capacity for forgivingness.

*Identify your baseline regarding forgiveness. It will be helpful for you to determine your baseline for forgiveness: the degree to which you're forgiving in general. (both page 146)

[JaneAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would certainly recommend to anyone who wants to reevaluate their relationship with their anger.