Out-of-control anger can destroy relationships, reputations, careers--even your health. But Dr. Robert Nay knows from extensive clinical experience that nearly anyone can learn to manage anger constructively--with enough practice. That's where this skillfully crafted workbook comes in. Using step-by-step learning exercises based on state-of-the-art knowledge about how the brain works, you can break old habits and replace them with more productive new ones. Dr. Nay's breakthrough STOP Method (Stop, Think, Objectify, and Plan) helps you: *Understand how anger flares up in your brain and body--and how you can lower the heat. *Identify the fleeting yet powerful thoughts that fuel destructive anger. *Replace aggression with appropriate assertiveness. *Effectively communicate your thoughts, feelings, and needs. *Defuse conflicts and find ""win-win"" solutions. *See how the strategies are applied in a wealth of realistic scenarios. While working through the book's simple checklists and fill-in-the-blank forms (you can download and print additional copies as needed), you'll be building real skills to apply in everyday life. When anger gets in the way of your personal goals, this book provides a blueprint for change. See also Dr. Nay's Taking Charge of Anger, Second Edition, which helps you understand and manage destructive anger in all its forms, and Overcoming Anger in Your Relationship: How to Break the Cycle of Arguments, Put-Downs, and Stony Silences.
Introduction I. Understanding Anger 1. The Biological and Physiological Roots of Anger 2. Cognition: The Role of Thoughts in Instigating and Sustaining Anger 3. Expressing Anger: The Face of Anger You See in the Mirror 4. How Is Anger a Problem for You? 5. Assessing Motivation and Sustaining Changes II. Managing Your Anger and Resolving Conflict 6. What Triggers Your Anger? 7. Derailing Anger before It Derails You 8. Getting Control of Anger Arousal 9. Using CBT to Identify and Change the Beliefs That Inflame Your Anger 10. Using CBT to Identify Ongoing Anger Thinking 11. Challenging Cognitive Distortions with Objective Thinking and Planning 12. The Nuts and Bolts of Communicating: What You Think, How You Feel, and What You Want 13. Collaborative Problem Solving: A No-Fail Guide for Reaching Consensus without Conflict 14. Pulling It All Together: Becoming Aware of When and How to Use the STOP Method III. Resolving Conflict While Staying Calm 15. When Someone Gets in Your Face: Setting Boundaries for Hostility and Aggression 16. Coping with Anger That Is Passive, Yet Toxic--Overcoming Passive Aggression and Cold Anger 17. Setbacks: Coping Successfully with the Inevitable Suggested Resources
