ARE THEY ANGRY?
Different perspectives. Different meanings.
A short reply, a change in tone or a different facial expression can quickly lead the brain to one conclusion: “They’re angry with me.” But what have we actually observed, and what meaning has our brain added?
This resource explores why we can become highly alert to possible anger or rejection and how previous experiences, anxiety, rejection sensitivity, trauma and neurodivergent communication can influence interpretation. It looks at the difference between observable behaviour and the story we build around it, while recognising that our emotional and physical reactions can feel very real even before we know what another person actually means.
Inside the PDF are practical ways to slow the interpretation down, separate observation from assumption, ask for clarification rather than mind-reading, respond when somebody genuinely is upset, and complete a personal check-in around a recent interaction.
Space to Breathe Therapy
