Why is it that the very thing that could ease your anger, repair your relationship, and give you the peace you have been craving for years is often the thing you avoid the most?
Speaker AYou know the arguments are getting worse.
Speaker AYou know the tension is building.
Speaker AYou know the people you love are hurting, even if they don't say it out loud.
Speaker AAnd still, something inside you hesitates.
Speaker AMaybe it's fear.
Speaker AFear of failing.
Speaker AFear of facing yourself.
Speaker AFear of being judged.
Speaker AMaybe it's pride, the belief you should be able to fix this on your own.
Speaker AMaybe it's the quiet voice that whispers, what if I'm the one person who can't change?
Speaker AIf that sounds familiar, take a breath.
Speaker AThe fact that you're here listening right now already says something powerful.
Speaker AYou're not running anymore.
Speaker AYou're willing to look at this resistance instead of letting it run you.
Speaker AIn today's episode, I'll unpack the five hidden objections that keep people stuck in the same painful patterns even when they desperately want to change.
Speaker AThese are the stories that feel true in the moment, but quietly block the breakthroughs that could transform your life.
Speaker ABy the end of this conversation, you'll see that the walls holding you back aren't immovable.
Speaker AThey're just familiar.
Speaker AAnd once you understand them, you can finally step past them.
Speaker AWelcome to episode 61 of the Anger management podcast.
Speaker AI'm your host, Alastair Dues, and For the last 30 years, I've helped over 15,000 men and women control their anger, master their emotions, and create calmer, happier, and more respectful relationships.
Speaker AIn this podcast, together with my AI assistants, Jake and Sarah, I combine my 30 years of anger management experience with.
Speaker AWith the power of artificial intelligence to share with you some of the most powerful tips and tools I know to help you control your anger once and for all.
Speaker AIn today's episode, I've asked Jake and Sarah to take a deep dive into the five biggest reasons people delay getting help with their anger and the simple truths that can dissolve each one.
Speaker ALet's get started.
Speaker BHave you ever been in that spot where you.
Speaker BYou just know deep down you need to make a change?
Speaker BMaybe with, you know, frustration or anger, but you find yourself making all these excuses to sort of avoid taking that first step.
Speaker CIt's a classic paradox, isn't it?
Speaker CThe solution is right there.
Speaker CThe benefits could literally change your life.
Speaker CBut that.
Speaker CThat internal resistance is just so powerful.
Speaker BYeah, that inertia.
Speaker CIt's almost easier to live with the pain, you know, than to face the unknown of trying to fix it.
Speaker BAnd today, that's exactly what we're diving deep into that resistance.
Speaker CWe are.
Speaker BWe've got insights from an expert who's spent over 30 years helping, I think more than 15,000 people with this.
Speaker CAnd he's boiled it all down to the five most common objections, the main excuses people use to avoid starting an anger management program.
Speaker BSo our mission today is pretty simple.
Speaker BWe're going to unpack those five reasons, see what's really behind them, and.
Speaker BAnd maybe get a new perspective.
Speaker CBecause a lot of those reasons are built on, frankly, false assumptions.
Speaker BBut before we even get to the excuses, we have to talk about the stakes.
Speaker BI mean, the cost of doing nothing is.
Speaker BIt's just devastating.
Speaker COh, it's real.
Speaker CSome of the stories we came across are just heartbreaking.
Speaker BLike the story of Colin, a 38 year old guy, just too proud.
Speaker BHis wife, Tania, she begged him to get help for his anger, but he.
Speaker CJust dug his heels in.
Speaker CAnd the price he paid was, well, it was permanent.
Speaker BHe lost his marriage, his whole family.
Speaker CAnd he realized, you know, way too late that if he had just done the work when she first asked, he might still have them.
Speaker BWe saw the same thing with Leon.
Speaker BYeah, stubborn, proud.
Speaker BAnd his wife and kids left.
Speaker BNow he's in a messy divorce, barely sees his children.
Speaker CAnd that's what happens.
Speaker CThat's the real cost of letting pride get in the way.
Speaker BIt just shows you how serious this is.
Speaker BBut on the other side of that, you have someone like Jane, right?
Speaker CThe mother of two in Australia.
Speaker BHer marriage was on the brink because of her temper, but she decided to commit.
Speaker CAnd it paid off.
Speaker CI mean, it paid off fast.
Speaker CIn just four weeks, her life completely changed.
Speaker CHer marriage improved dramatically and she felt like she was a better role model for her kids.
Speaker CShe had better communication skills, more self awareness.
Speaker CIt wasn't just about not shouting.
Speaker CIt changed everything.
Speaker BSo if the upside is a happy life and the downside is losing your family.
Speaker AYeah.
Speaker BWhy the resistance?
Speaker BOkay, let's unpack this.
Speaker BLet's start with reason number one, the big one, the most fundamental one.
Speaker BIt won't work.
Speaker CAnd that fear is usually coming from a real place.
Speaker CYou know, they've tried something before, maybe traditional counseling or some local group thing, and it just didn't help.
Speaker BOr they think they're just broken.
Speaker CExactly.
Speaker CThey think they're hardwired for anger, maybe because of trauma or seeing violence growing up.
Speaker CThey feel like it's a permanent part of who they are.
Speaker BThat makes perfect sense.
Speaker BI mean, if you've already tried and failed, why would you risk it again?
Speaker BBut then how do you explain the 15,000 people who succeeded?
Speaker BHow do you tell a good program from a bad one?
Speaker CWhat's so interesting is that the expert completely gets that skepticism.
Speaker CHe agrees that, yeah, a lot of counselors and programs are ineffective because they.
Speaker BLack the specific tools.
Speaker CThey lack the specific practical tools for right now, in the moment.
Speaker CAnger control.
Speaker CBut just because bad programs exist doesn't mean effective ones don't.
Speaker CRight.
Speaker BSo you need to look for something that's focused on rapid practical skills, not just talking.
Speaker CExactly.
Speaker CAnd it doesn't take years of therapy.
Speaker CThat's the other misconception.
Speaker CEffective methods are about simple practical concepts you can learn and use immediately to break that anger cycle.
Speaker BOkay, that makes sense.
Speaker BAnd that leads us right into reason number two, which feels like a part of the first one.
Speaker BIt's not personal enough for me.
Speaker CThe ego objection.
Speaker BRight.
Speaker BThe idea that my anger is unique, my problems are special.
Speaker BSo I need one on one custom tailored therapy.
Speaker CAnd this is such an important point.
Speaker CWhile everyone's life circumstances and triggers are unique, the underlying psychological principles for controlling anger are actually universal.
Speaker CAnger follows a very predictable pattern in the brain and body.
Speaker BWhether you're angry about traffic or because your spies forgot something at the store, it doesn't matter.
Speaker CThe reaction follows the same sequence.
Speaker BBut hang on, what if the trigger is really complex?
Speaker BLike deep resentment from a betrayal or something from your childhood?
Speaker BCan a universal program really get to that personal root cause?
Speaker CIt can, because the universal principles teach you how to do that.
Speaker CThey teach you awareness of the physical signs, de escalation techniques, and crucially, how to analyze the root cause yourself.
Speaker BAh, so it gives you the tools to do your own personal work.
Speaker CExactly.
Speaker CAnd the best programs combine those universal principles with personalized support things like weekly coaching calls, private communities, or even unlimited tech support to help you apply the rules to your unique situation.
Speaker BOkay, so we've covered belief in ego.
Speaker BNow let's get into the practical stuff, the logistics.
Speaker BReason number three is one I think everyone can relate to.
Speaker BIt will take too long, the busy schedule.
Speaker CExcuse.
Speaker CWe're all short on time.
Speaker BPeople worry they're signing up for some endless open ended therapy that they just can't fit into their lives.
Speaker CTotally understandable.
Speaker CBut effective programs are built for busy people.
Speaker CThey're designed for rapid, tangible results.
Speaker CThe expert is clear on this.
Speaker CYou can see visible changes in 21 days or less.
Speaker B21 days?
Speaker BI mean, that sounds almost too good to be true for a problem that feels so deep.
Speaker CIt's about consistency, not duration.
Speaker BSo what's the mechanism if it's only, say, 10 minutes a day, how does that create such a big change?
Speaker CIt's all about implementation and repetition.
Speaker CYou're learning a practical skill like a breathing technique or a communication script, and you practice it.
Speaker BIt becomes automatic.
Speaker CIt quickly becomes second nature.
Speaker CSo instead of that old explosive pattern, you have a new automatic response.
Speaker CAnd that 10 minute commitment is nothing compared to a lifetime of calm.
Speaker BThat's a really powerful way to look at it.
Speaker BOkay, that brings us to reason number four, which is maybe the biggest wall for most people.
Speaker BIt's too expensive, right?
Speaker CThe cost.
Speaker CEspecially if you're already skeptical about whether it will even work.
Speaker BSo how do you get past that?
Speaker CYou have to shift your perspective.
Speaker CIt's not about the cost of the program.
Speaker CIt's about the cost of inaction.
Speaker CAnd that cost is always, always higher.
Speaker BOkay, let's be specific.
Speaker BWhen you say cost of inaction, what are we talking about?
Speaker BIs it just the emotional toll?
Speaker COh, it's so much more than that.
Speaker CIt's astronomical.
Speaker CThink about lost job opportunities because of outbursts at work, legal fees.
Speaker CLegal fees, fines from incidents.
Speaker CBut even beyond that, what's the cost of your children walking on eggshells around you or your partner?
Speaker BYou can't put a price on that.
Speaker CYou really can't.
Speaker CSo investing in your emotional well being is really crisis prevention.
Speaker CIt saves you an incredible amount of money, time and heartache down the road.
Speaker BWhen you put it like that, yeah.
Speaker BThe investment in a program seems tiny compared to the disaster scenario we saw with Colin and Leon.
Speaker CPrecisely.
Speaker CIt's an investment in a calmer, happier life.
Speaker BOkay, we've hit efficacy, personalization, time and money.
Speaker BThat leaves the last big objection.
Speaker BReason number five, I'm not good with technology.
Speaker CThis is a classic barrier, right?
Speaker CPeople get intimidated by online programs or anything digital.
Speaker BThey're worried they won't be able to navigate it.
Speaker CAnd the reassurance here is so simple.
Speaker CThe tech skills you need are extremely low.
Speaker CI mean, if you can check your.
Speaker BEmail or enter a password on a.
Speaker CWebsite, or click a button to watch a video, you have all the skills you need.
Speaker CYou're already qualified.
Speaker BSo you don't need to be some kind of tech expert.
Speaker CNot at all.
Speaker CAnd any good program is designed for this.
Speaker CThey have super clear, step by step instructions and usually unlimited support to help anyone who gets stuck.
Speaker CThe technology is there to make it easier, not harder.
Speaker BYou know, hearing all five of those laid out, it's striking.
Speaker BThey all seem to boil down to a fear of risk, don't they?
Speaker CThat's exactly it.
Speaker CThe risk of failure, of wasted time, of wasted money.
Speaker BBut as we've seen, the risk of not acting is so much greater, Far, far greater.
Speaker CAnd the core message that really stands out from all this is, well, it's incredibly empowering.
Speaker BWhat's that?
Speaker CYou can't control other people, you can't control your circumstances, but you can absolutely 100% control yourself and your own reactions.
Speaker BAnd that's a learnable skill.
Speaker BIt's not some magic personality trait.
Speaker CIt's a skill anyone can master.
Speaker CNo matter how bad the problem feels or how many times you've tried and failed before, you just have to decide that you're done letting anger run your life.
Speaker BAbsolutely.
Speaker CSo if this deep dive was helpful, if you recognized yourself in any of those five excuses, we'd really encourage you to take that next step.
Speaker BDon't let pride or fear get in the way.
Speaker CYou can get access to free training on how to control anger and master your emotions.
Speaker CYou can even book a free 30 minute anger assessment call to just talk it through.
Speaker BAll the resources you need are@AngerSecrets.com that's a N G E R S E C R e t s angersecrets.com we'll see you next time for the next deep dive.
Speaker AOkay, thanks so much for tuning in to today's episode of the anger management podcast.
Speaker ABefore we wrap up, let's take a moment to go over a few of the most important ideas Jake and Sarah shared today.
Speaker AFirstly, avoidance doesn't mean you don't want to change.
Speaker AIt means you're scared to try.
Speaker ASo many people delay starting an anger management program not because they don't care, but because the idea of facing themselves feels overwhelming.
Speaker AFear of failure, fear of being judged, fear of seeing the truth.
Speaker AUnderstanding this is powerful because once you name the fear, it stops controlling you from the shadows.
Speaker ASecond, I should be able to fix this on my own is one of anger's biggest traps.
Speaker AJake and Sarah talked about how common it is to believe that getting help means weakness or inadequacy.
Speaker ABut the reality is the opposite.
Speaker AAsking for help is a sign of responsibility, strength, and commitment.
Speaker ANo one learns to manage anger alone, not even the strongest people.
Speaker AThe moment you drop this belief, you open the door to real change.
Speaker AThird, the belief that I'm different keeps people stuck for years.
Speaker AA lot of listeners convince themselves their anger is uniquely unsolvable.
Speaker ABut as you heard today, the patterns behind anger are incredibly common, predictable, understandable, and absolutely changeable.
Speaker AYou don't have to be the exception.
Speaker AYou're human and humans can learn new skills.
Speaker AAnd finally, change doesn't happen when life gets worse.
Speaker AIt happens when you finally decide you're worth more.
Speaker AThis was a big theme today.
Speaker AMost people wait until something breaks.
Speaker AA relationship, a job, a moment they can't take back.
Speaker ABut you don't have to wait for rock bottom.
Speaker AYou can choose to change simply because you care about your future, your family, and your peace of mind.
Speaker ANow remember, real change doesn't happen by just listening.
Speaker AIt happens when you start practicing even one or two of these ideas in your everyday life.
Speaker ASo if something today stood out to you, take it, run with it.
Speaker ASee what shifts.
Speaker AAnd if you'd like help putting any of these ideas into practice, just Visit my website, angasecrets.com on this site you can access my free training Breaking the Anger Cycle or book a free 30 minute anger assessment call to talk personally with me about your situation.
Speaker AAnd if you're ready to go deeper, explore the complete Anger management system, the proven program thousands have used to control their anger, master their emotions, and create calmer, happier and more loving relationships.
Speaker AI'd be honoured to help you on your anger management journey.
Speaker AOkay, that's it for today's episode.
Speaker AIf you enjoyed this deep dive, please follow the podcast and leave a short rating and review.
Speaker AIt helps others discover these tools and start their own anger management journey.
Speaker AAnd remember, you can't control what others say or do, but you can always control what you say and do.
Speaker AAnd that's where your real power lies.
Speaker AI'll see you in the next episode.
Speaker ATake care.
Speaker BThe Anger Management Podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of counseling, psychotherapy or any other professional health service.
Speaker BNo therapeutic relationship is implied or created by this podcast.
Speaker BIf you have mental health concerns of any type, please seek out the help of a local mental health professional.