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Therapy in a Nutshell

When it feels like Anxiety, but it's actually ANGER w/ Dr. Sarah Michaud

Therapy in a Nutshell

Therapy in a Nutshell -Emma McAdam

Mental Health, Education, Health & Fitness:mental Health, Self-improvement, Health & Fitness

4.8658 Ratings

🗓️ 15 August 2025

⏱️ 51 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Anger can be a hidden root cause of Anxiety. sometimes suppressed anger comes out as anxiety especially when you've been conditioned to believe that anger is unacceptable. Learn the skills to Regulate your Emotions, join the membership: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/membership Anger and anxiety are often interconnected, with unprocessed anger manifesting as anxiety. In this conversation, Emma McAdam and Dr. Sarah Michaud explore the intricate relationship between anger and anxiety, sharing personal experiences and insights from their professional backgrounds. They discuss how unprocessed anger can manifest as anxiety and depression, the importance of recognizing hidden anger, and the body's response to these emotions. The conversation also delves into practical tools for processing anger, including writing exercises and the significance of compassion in managing feelings of resentment. Ultimately, they emphasize the need for emotional awareness and the benefits of confronting and understanding one's feelings. Looking for affordable online counseling? My sponsor, BetterHelp, connects you to a licensed professional from the comfort of your own home. Try it now for 10% off your first month: https://betterhelp.com/therapyinanutshell Learn more in one of my in-depth mental health courses: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com Support my mission on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/therapyinanutshell Sign up for my newsletter: https://www.therapyinanutshell.com Check out my favorite self-help books: https://kit.co/TherapyinaNutshell/best-self-help-books  Therapy in a Nutshell and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health. In therapy I use a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, positive psychology, and a bio-psycho-social approach to treating mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas from my videos are frequently adapted from multiple sources. Many of them come from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, especially the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection derive from the work of Stephen Porges (the Polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger Institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose our life's direction. And deeper than all of that, the Gospel of Jesus Christ orients my personal worldview and sense of security, peace, hope, and love https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/believe If you are in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or your local emergency services. Copyright Therapy in a Nutshell, LLC

Transcript

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0:00.0

Welcome back to another episode of the Therapy in a Nutshell podcast. I'm Emma McAdam and I'm a licensed marriage and family therapist.

0:07.0

And this podcast is all about taking the life-changing, but usually kind of complicated topics of therapy and boiling them down into simple, easy to understand concepts that you can use in your daily life.

0:19.0

If you find today's episode as helpful to you, please pass it on to someone else who could benefit from it as well.

0:23.6

Each podcast episode comes from a corresponding video you can find

0:26.6

on the Therapy in a Nutshell YouTube channel.

0:28.6

Also, these podcasts are educational and don't replace the advice

0:32.6

or direction you may be receiving from a therapist or other health professionals.

0:36.6

Now please, enjoy the episode.

0:37.9

Hey guys, today I've got another amazing video about a hidden root cause of anxiety. Sometimes

0:45.5

what looks like anxiety is actually anger. And as I've explored this topic, I found that

0:51.8

it's like really relevant to me because I'm not an angry person, of course. And then I look at myself and I find explored this topic, I found that it's like really relevant to me, because I'm not an angry person, of course.

0:56.0

And then I look at myself and I find out, hmm, maybe you should think about this, Emma.

1:01.6

So today I invited the amazing one and only Sarah Michelle to talk about anger as a root cause of anxiety.

1:09.4

And she's a psychologist, substance abuse counselor, tons of experience, really wonderful.

1:16.0

Can't wait to jump in to this topic with you today.

1:19.4

Okay, let's go.

1:24.6

I think a lot of people don't think anger and anxiety are that connected, but are they?

1:34.7

Yes.

1:35.4

There's a zillion reasons why people get anxious and depressed, but to me, anger is so significant.

1:41.5

And I'm going to give you to start a few examples.

1:44.5

Let's hear it. Okay. Of how I discovered this. Okay. So I'm in AA, right, in Alcoholics Anonymous.

1:52.0

I've been sober for 40 years. And one of the things you do when you first get sober is you do what's

...

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