How to Deal with Emotionally Explosive People

Sooner or later, most of us will find ourselves in the Blast Zone--face to face with an emotionally explosive person, someone who bursts into rages, erupts into panic, or is swept away by torrents of anger, anxiety, depression, or unreasonable fear. Once involved, you may feel defensive, trapped, and confused, not knowing what you can do to help yourself or the person in distress. Drawing from thirty years as a clinician working with intense emotions, psychologist Albert Bernstein has designed this practical guide to teach you how to stay calm, think clearly amidst the sound and fury, and understand the complex psychology of emotional explosions, from panic attacks to claustrophobia and many others. Here are real-life success stories as well as strategies for dealing effectively with overly emotional people, including how to: Keep your head in the face of tears, panic, anger, or cold shoulders Assess danger to yourself or other people Offer support without getting enmeshed in someone else's problems Set limits without seeming uncaring or aggressive Understand the physiological and psychological causes of emotional outbursts and the medications and therapies used to treat them Identify when help may be needed--whether from a family doctor, mental health professional, police, or EMT

...and much more to help you understand and communicate with people who are having a difficult time controlling themselves.