The Anger Chain

The anger chain is shown in the chart below:

Anger Chain - medium

 

First, something happens that makes us feel uncomfortable, irritable, frustrated or even angry.

If there is anger, there is blame.  You can check that out for yourself and you will find that if you’re anger, you’re blaming something.  A person, an object, a situation or something.

If there is blame, then the one blaming is being a victim.  Blame bascially means, “Something was done to me which means I am a victim.”

If there is a victim then there is a negative belief about the self.  For example, “I am a victim,” “I am out-of-control,” “I am helpless,” etc.

If there is a  negative belief about  the self then there is an uncomfortable feeling in the body.

Notice that you can work up the chain, as well.  You can go from having an uncomfortable emotion, to a negative self-belief, to feeling like a victim, to blame to anger.  And, from that, you can actually create a bad situation that looks like something is being done to you.

In fact, the negative or uncomfortable emotion that first show up as a body sensation is where it starts.  That is the “felt-perception” and that is what needs to be dealt with first.  The way you deal with it, is to “feel” or “notice” it.  That is notice the felt-perception in the body and feel it.  After that come integration and resolution.

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Dr. Amber Quaranta-Leech, LPC-S

Amber holds a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from Regent University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in both Texas and Oklahoma and holds Supervisor credential for Texas. Amber is an EMDRIA consultant and trainer. She has over a decade of experience in the trauma field in work with uniformed services, domestic violence, childhood trauma and abuse, and recent mass trauma events. Amber provides consultation for EMDRIA certification, for consultants-in-training, and supervision for LPC-Associates. Amber continues to research the benefits of EMDR therapy with a variety of populations. Her goal is to help build strong clinicians who are well versed in trauma interventions to better support their clients. Amber sees a limited number of clients with a focus on trauma work, she is also a Certified Career Counselor and Certified through EAGALA to provide equine-assisted therapy. 

Dr. Jose Carbajal, LCSW

Dr. Jose Carbajal, a U.S. Army veteran, earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work and a master’s in theological studies from Baylor University, and a Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington. With over 15 years of clinical experience and extensive teaching experience, Jose specializes in trauma, sexual abuse recovery, domestic violence, and substance abuse. His research focuses on trauma interventions, neuroscience, and faith. He is EMDR Certified, an Approved Consultant, and an EMDRIA Approved Trainer, with numerous publications and professional presentations to his name.

Dr. Amanda Martin, LMFT-S, LPC, BCN

Amanda Martin holds a PhD in Family Therapy and is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Supervisor, and EMDRIA Approved Consultant. With over 14 years of experience, she specializes in trauma therapy for individuals and families in residential and outpatient settings. Amanda also provides supervision for EMDR certification, EMDR consultants-in-training, and LMFT-Associates. Her mission is to help people find a healthy, joyful, and fulfilling path in life. Her warm, supportive, and interactive counseling style incorporates Symbolic Experiential Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, EMDR, HeartMath, Animal-Assisted Therapy, Neurofeedback, and Collaborative Problem Solving.

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