Session #_____
Session
#A5b October 12, 2013
Friday, October 11, 2013
or Saturday,
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Fire and Gun Fire:
A Naturopathic and Academic Approach
to Anger in Young Men
Dr. Steve Rissman, Metro State University of Denver
Collaborative Family Healthcare Association 15th Annual Conference
October 10-12, 2013
Broomfield, Colorado U.S.A.
Fire and Gunfire:
A Naturopathic and Academic
Approach to
Anger in Young Men, Briefly
Dr. Steve Rissman
• Naturopathic Doctor- Private Practice
Specializing in Men/Boys Anger and
Anxiety issues (NaturalHealthMen.com)
• Associate Professor- MSU Denver, Health
Professions
Goal of Presentation
• Present social theories of young men’s
anger in attempt to prevent troubled lives.
• Provide a naturopathic approach to working
with anger in young men.
Angry Young Men
• Dzhokhar
• Klebold, Harris
• Lanza, McVeigh,
Loughner
• James Eagan Holmes,
Seung-Hui Cho
• Tip of the iceberg?
“How much more grievous are the
consequences of anger than the causes of
it.”
- Marcus Aurelius
Why Are Young Men So Angry?
“No Anger? Know Anger!”
- STUDENT IN MY “ANGER IN MEN” CLASS
James Hollis
“Under Saturn’s Shadow”
“MEN’S LIVES ARE VIOLENT
BECAUSE THEIR SOULS HAVE
BEEN VIOLATED”
Imagine how you might feel if:
• You witnessed massive changes in the world and
were extremely unclear about your role
• You were ridiculed for asking for help
• You were told to act like a boy but lived isolated
from your father and other men
• You could never measure up to what society tells
you a man is
• You were desperately trying to hold tight to your
honor or some righteous belief
• You were punished for expressing your perspective,
especially if you were angry
The End of Men?
• Hanna Rosins, Atlantic Monthly article, subsequent book.
• What if the modern, postindustrial economy is simply more congenial
to women than to men?
• The postindustrial economy is indifferent to men’s size and strength.
The attributes that are most valuable today—social intelligence, open
communication, the ability to sit still and focus—are, at a minimum,
not predominantly male.
• As thinking and communicating have come to eclipse physical strength
and stamina as the keys to economic success, those societies that take
advantage of the talents of all their adults, not just half of them, have
pulled away from the rest.
“Guns and the Decline of the Young Man”
By Christy Wampole
• From the civil rights and feminist movements of the 1960s and
onward, young men – and young white men in particular – have
increasingly been asked to yield what they’d believed was securely
theirs. This underlying fact, compounded by the backdrop of violent
entertainment and easy access to weapons, creates the conditions for
thousands of young men to consider their future prospects and decide
they would rather destroy than create.
• Can you imagine being in the shoes of the one who feels his power
slipping away? Who can find nothing stable to believe in? Who feels
himself becoming unnecessary? That powerlessness and fear ties a
dark knot in his stomach. As this knot thickens, a centripetal hatred
moves inward toward the self as a centrifugal hatred is cast outward at
others: his parents, his girlfriend, his boss, his classmates, society, life.
Why Don’t Men Ask for Directions?
• Socialized message that men must conceal their
vulnerabilities.
• “Young men and boys receive many contradictory
messages about health while growing up. A health
professional might encourage a young man to seek
help when he needs it; yet research repeatedly
shows that parents, other adults, and peers all
discourage boys from seeking help-and ridicule and
punish them when they do.”
–
Courtenay WH. Constructions of masculinity and their influence on men's well-being: A theory
of gender and health. Presented in partial fulfillment of the doctoral degree, University of
California; June 26, 1996; Berkeley, CA.
Real Boys: Rescuing our sons from
the myths of boyhood
• In 1998, William Pollack, prof of Harvard
Medical School, wrote Real Boys, based on 20
years of work with boys. This book was one
of the first to discuss some of the issues facing
boys.
– Boys are confused about what is expected of them;
they say they are fine, but are suffering silently;
they are lonely
– Boys aren’t performing well in school, have fragile
self-esteem, and many of them are depressed.
Fathering time
• Fathers have nearly tripled their time with
children from 2.5 hours in 1965 to 7.3 hours
per week in 2011, they're still more likely to
feel they don't spend as much time as they
want with the kids, compared to moms
(46% vs. 23% for moms).
Social Dosage Effect
• The more time boys spend with other boys,
the more stereotypical their behavior.
• Encouraged to control feelings
• Discouraged from controlling behavior
Can you relate?
“In the modern technoindustrial culture, it is possible
to proceed from infancy into senility without ever
knowing manhood.”
EDWARD ABBEY
Manhood: Hard Won , Easily lost
• Manhood is elusive, must be earned.
• Manhood status is tenuous and
impermanent.
• Manhood is confirmed by others, requiring
public demonstrations
•
Hard won and easily lost: A review and synthesis of theory and research on precarious manhood. Vandello, Joseph A.;
Bosson, Jennifer K. Psychology of Men & Masculinity, Vol 14(2), Apr 2013, 101-113.
Pema Chödron, Buddhist Nun
• Anger is an emotional response
to a threat that creates an overwhelming feeling that
compels one to resolution.
• If we examine the split second between the stimulating
event and the anger, there is usually a feeling that is too
painful to experience, so one can’t stay there. Need to
create a response of anger instead.
– The reaction of anger causes further damage to the situation.
– Her teaching on “learning to stay” teaches tolerance of pain
long enough to investigate.
• It creates dilemma, often resulting in defensive posture
of righteousness. Being right strengthens our position
and “justifies” our anger.
Waller Newell,“The Righteous Anger of Young Men”,
The Globe and Mail, May 20, 2013
• “What if terrorism had little, if anything, to
do with economic deprivation or lack of
individual opportunity? What if it were
rooted in the capacity of young men for
righteous anger, harnessed in the service of
what they fervently believe to be a divine
mission to bring justice to the world?”
“Any thinking… that involves the
word should is violence provoking.”
Marshall Rosenberg, The Surprising Purpose of Anger
• “Anger is the price we pay for being
attached to a narrow view of being right,
while the collective pain we cause others
and ourselves bleeds our souls.”
– Jon Kabat-Zinn
How Might Young Men Feel?
Anger is …
• Fiery/hot
• Intense
• Inflammatory
– Productive
– Destructive
• Like all disease, a great teacher
How Angry is Your City?!
• http://www.menshealth.com/men/health/metrograde
s/how-angry-is-yourcity/article/9ca8a9f3340dc010VgnVCM1000001328
1eac
• Number 1- Orlando, Florida
• Number 26/100- Denver, Colorado
–
–
–
–
–
–
95. Burlington, VT
96. Portland, OR
97. Corpus Christi, TX
98. Fargo, ND
99. Bangor, ME
100. Manchester, NH
What to do?
• Homeopathic approach- “like to cure like”
• Feel what young men might feel
• Find men who are willing to confront their own
issues and create opportunities for young men to talk
with and listen to other men.
See Me
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9CmEZ
EPYbI
Chinese Medicine, Liver and Anger
• According to Chinese medicine, the liver is
responsible for the flow of qi. The classic
diagnosis of an angry liver is “liver qi
stagnation”; anger is a sign that the qi is not
flowing smoothly.
– Characterized by anger, moodiness, depression,
hard/bitterness, stiffness
– Treated with: Acupuncture to specific points to
move the liver qi, herbs such as bupleurum
which move the liver.
Bupleurum for Liver Qi Stagnation
• Title: Effects of Chai Hu (Radix Burpleuri) containing formulation on
plasma β-endorphin, epinephrine and dopamine in patients.
Chen JiaXu, Ji Bo, Lu ZhaoLin, Hu LiSheng
American Journal of Chinese Medicine
• Chai Hu (Radix Burpleuri), a major ingredient in many traditional
Chinese medicine formulas, such as Xiao Yan Wan, is used in the
treatment of liver stagnation The objectives of this study were to
examine the effects of Xiao Yao Wan containing Chai Hu on the
changes of plasma indices in patients with LSSDS.
• This is the first evidence showing that the effect of Xiao Yao Wan on
the treatment of patients with LSSDS may be through decreasing
epinephrine and dopamine release, regulating nervous and endocrine
systems and contributing to the improvement of the clinical status of
patients with liver qi stagnation.
•
•
•
•
A prospective study of 1055 men followed up for 32 to 48 years to examine
the risk of premature and total cardiovascular disease (CVD) associated with
anger responses to stress during early adult life.
Highest level of anger was defined as a self-report of all 3 possible anger
reactions to stress (expressed or concealed anger, gripe sessions, and
irritability) on a checklist questionnaire administered in medical school.
Premature disease was defined as events before age 55 years.
High level of anger in response to stress in young men is associated with an
increased risk of subsequent premature CVD, particularly myocardial
infarction.
Chang PP, Ford DE, Meoni LA, Wang N, Klag MJ. Anger in Young Men and Subsequent Premature
Cardiovascular Disease: The Precursors Study. Arch Intern Med. 2002;162(8):901-906
The Role of Neurochemicals in
Impulsive Anger
Substance
Role
Further Info
Acetylcholine
Cholinergic/excitatory
mechan.
Muscaric receptors
Norepinephrine
Variable results
Subtypes mediate
different effects
Dopamine
Facilitates aggression
D2 receptors in the
ant. med. hypothal
Serotonin
Suppresses rage
Difference in 5HT 1A
and 2 receptors
Opioids
Mostly suppress
Various subtypes
Neurochemicals and Anger (cont.)
Substance
Role
Further Info
Substance P
Facilitate
aggression
Acts on neurokinin
(NK) receptors
Cholecystokinin
CCK-B receptors
potentiate rage
Found in PAG, few
studies
Glutamate
Excitatory
NMDA receptor
GABA
Inhibitory
Mediates hypothal
Alcohol
Excites Defensive
Rage
Inhibits Predatory
Herbs that affect GABA
Awad, R., Levac, D., Cybulska, P.,
Merali, Z., Trudeau, V., & Arnason, J. (2007). Effects of traditionally used anxiolytic botanicals on enzymes of the
γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system. Canadian Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology, 85(9), 933-942
Botanical
Increases GAD
Centella
Yes- asiaticoside, low
doses; high decreases
Melissa
Decreases GABA-T
Yes- strongly
Valerian
Yes- low doses
Piper meth
Yes
Yes
Scutellaria
Yes
Hypericum
Yes
Passiflora
Yes
Matricaria
No- inhibits
Humulus
No- inhibits (beer?)
Nervines
• Herbs that act to soothe the nervous system, thereby
decreasing anxiety and stress
– Oatstraw
– Lemon balm- 2009 study of luteolin not anxiolytic d/t
any effect on GABA receptors, may affect NMDA
receptors; “Investigation of the Anxiolytic Effects of Luteolin, a Lemon Balm Flavonoid in the
Male Sprague-Dawley Ra”,Rain, T, et.al, AANA Journal • February 2009 • Vol. 77, No. 1
– Lavender- some studies on the monoterpenoid linalool,
showing anticonvulsant properties in glutamate-related
seizure models and effects on NMDA receptor binding.
K. Yamada, Y. Mimaki and Y. Sashida, Anticonvulsive effects of inhaling lavender oil vapour, Biol Pharm
Bull 17 (2) (1994), pp. 359–360; E. Elisabetsky, L.F. Brum and D.O. Souza, Anticonvulsant properties of
linalool in glutamate-related seizure models, Phytomedicine 6 (2) (1999), pp. 107–113
Nootropic Herbs
• Nootropics- first coined by Romanian Dr. Corneliu Giurgea, meaning
“to bend the mind”
• Pharmacokinetics– Increase supply of neurochemicals
– Improve brain’s oxygen supply
– Stimulate nerve growth in the brain
• Ginkgo, grape seed extract.
• In a 2005 article in Phytomedicine by Russo and Borelli, the nootropic
effects of Bacopa were discussed. Likely increases 5HT in
hippocampus and hypothalamus. Increases GABA. Anxiolytic.
Cardiotonic
• Ashwaganda,Tulsi,Rhodiola (Japanese study shows neuroprotective
effects of rhodiola extracts; also known to decrease the breakdown of
serotonin); Vinpocetine
In Summary:
How to Help an Angry Young Man
Manage the fire:
1.
Know when to fuel it- allow the feelings, identify the frustration, and intensify by
talking with other young men
2.
Know when to cool it-say nothing, meditation to encourage parasympathetic
pathway; teach the practice of being uncomfortable
Cardio Protection:
Cool the liver:
1.
Herbs
2.
acupuncture
Get out of Orlando, move to Portland?
Look at neurochemistry:
1.
Herbs
2.
Supplements