--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the story is unflattering and the…" description: "\"“If the story is unflattering and the feeling is anger, adrenaline kicks in. Under the influence of adrenaline, blood leaves our brains to help support..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d35/kerry-patterson-29360_anger_if-the-story-is-unflattering-and-the-fee_1594794.jpg" --- # If the story is unflattering and the feeling is anger… ![“If the story is unflattering and the feeling is anger, adrenaline kicks in. Under the influence of adrenaline, blood leaves our brains to help support our genetically engineered response of “fight or flight,” and we end up thinking with the brain of a reptile. We say and do dim-witted things.” quote by Kerry Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d35/kerry-patterson-29360_anger_if-the-story-is-unflattering-and-the-fee_1594794.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d35/kerry-patterson-29360_anger_if-the-story-is-unflattering-and-the-fee_1594794.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d35/kerry-patterson-29360_anger_if-the-story-is-unflattering-and-the-fee_1594794.jpg) > ““If the story is unflattering and the feeling is anger, adrenaline kicks in. Under the influence of adrenaline, blood leaves our brains to help support our genetically engineered response of “fight or flight,” and we end up thinking with the brain of a reptile. We say and do dim-witted things.”” [Kerry Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-patterson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Adrenaline fuels impulsive, primitive reactions, causing poor judgment under anger. **In simple terms:** Adrenaline makes us act irrationally when angry. Key Takeaway Recognize adrenaline spikes to pause before reacting. Themes anger biology decision‑making Mood tense reflective Type psychological advice When to use this quote - conflict resolution - stress management - team meetings - public speaking Key Concepts neuroscience fight‑or‑flight Questions to Reflect On - How do you notice adrenaline in yourself? - What strategies calm you during anger? A Different Perspective Adrenaline can be harnessed positively, not just suppressed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adrenaline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adrenaline/) [Adrenaline Blood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adrenaline-blood-4926548/) [Anger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) [Anger Adrenaline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger-adrenaline-6051456/) [Fight Or Flight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fight-or-flight/) [Influence Adrenaline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence-adrenaline-6051457/) ## Related quotes > [I suppose I have a lot of adrenaline in my blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erling-haaland/i-suppose-i-have-a-lot-of-adrenaline-in-my-blood/) [Erling Haaland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erling-haaland/) > [When there is pain, the animal instinct is 'fight or flight' (i.e., to either strike back or run away) - reflect instead. When you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/when-there-is-pain-the-animal-instinct-is-fight-or-flight-i-e-to/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [“periwinkle flowers. Here and there were gravel turnouts that led up to blank and brooding houses, but neither Rachel nor DeVontay were inclined to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-nicholson/periwinkle-flowers-here-and-there-were-gravel-turnouts-that-led-up-to/) [Scott Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-nicholson/) > [“Fight or flight? If I had wings, there’d be no choice. But since I don’t have wings, I have to rely on my cape,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/fight-or-flight-if-i-had-wings-there-d-be-no-choice-but-since-i-don-t/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“Evolution has geared the human stress response to last about thirty seconds. It's enough time to facilitate fight or flight. Evolution has not adapted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-amerland/evolution-has-geared-the-human-stress-response-to-last-about-thirty/) [David Amerland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-amerland/) > [Are you ready to take a chance and risk it all? It's do or die, fight or flight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiodos/are-you-ready-to-take-a-chance-and-risk-it-all-it-s-do-or-die-fight/) [Chiodos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiodos/) > [“I would disagree with fight or flight. That leaves no room for compromise and understanding.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-marz/i-would-disagree-with-fight-or-flight-that-leaves-no-room-for/) [Ron Marz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-marz/) > [Struggle has a natural place in our life, but the fight or flight syndrome is often false struggle. There are times for that but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-housden/struggle-has-a-natural-place-in-our-life-but-the-fight-or-flight/) [Roger Housden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-housden/) > [“In certain circumstances, basically shit ones, it’s fight or flight. With Tommy it’s always fright and flight.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-murphy/in-certain-circumstances-basically-shit-ones-it-s-fight-or-flight/) [Terry Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-murphy/) > [In odd situation in life, nothing to fear. Believe in power of you inner strength which is guiding spirit.You are himself testimony of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kumar-sinha/in-odd-situation-in-life-nothing-to-fear-believe-in-power-of-you/) [Dr Anil Kumar Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kumar-sinha/) > [“UCLA psychologist Shelley Taylor has discovered a stress response that differs from fight or flight. She calls it tend and befriend. “One of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-m-grant/ucla-psychologist-shelley-taylor-has-discovered-a-stress-response/) [Adam M. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-m-grant/) > [So, apparently there is this basic human reaction to fear. It's called the fight or flight response. When something scares us our first response…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dance-academy/so-apparently-there-is-this-basic-human-reaction-to-fear-it-s-called/) [Dance Academy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dance-academy/) > [“My thoughts, normally bunched together, wrapped in gauze, insistent, urgent, impatient, one moment to the next, living in what I now realize is, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-yu/my-thoughts-normally-bunched-together-wrapped-in-gauze-insistent/) [Charles Yu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-yu/) > [“My commitment is to urge us all toward moderation and good will toward fellow citizens. If we can set aside unworthy emotions that deepen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-rasley/my-commitment-is-to-urge-us-all-toward-moderation-and-good-will/) [Jeff Rasley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-rasley/) > [I cannot do confrontation. You know that fight or flight thing? I'm flight. I just don't want the argument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-saunders/i-cannot-do-confrontation-you-know-that-fight-or-flight-thing-i-m/) [Jennifer Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-saunders/) ## More by Kerry Patterson > [“People who are gifted at dialogue keep a constant vigil on safety. They pay attention to the content—that’s a given—and they watch for signs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-patterson/people-who-are-gifted-at-dialogue-keep-a-constant-vigil-on-safety/) [Kerry Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-patterson/) > [“consequence of the original act and helps unbundle the problem.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-patterson/consequence-of-the-original-act-and-helps-unbundle-the-problem/) [Kerry Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-patterson/) > [“Methods include cutting others off, overstating your facts, speaking in absolutes, changing subjects, or using directive questions to control the conversation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-patterson/methods-include-cutting-others-off-overstating-your-facts-speaking-in/) [Kerry Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-patterson/) > [“The Pool of Shared Meaning is the birthplace of synergy”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-patterson/the-pool-of-shared-meaning-is-the-birthplace-of-synergy/) [Kerry Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-patterson/) > [“Maybe we honor the abusive style of so many coaches and other public figures because their public actions lend credibility to our own private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-patterson/maybe-we-honor-the-abusive-style-of-so-many-coaches-and-other-public/) [Kerry Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-patterson/) > [“Remember, to know and not to do is really not to know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-patterson/remember-to-know-and-not-to-do-is-really-not-to-know/) [Kerry Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-patterson/) > [“For example, obesity costs the average person an extra $1,429 per year in increased health care costs. But since we’re not required to set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-patterson/for-example-obesity-costs-the-average-person-an-extra-1-429-per-year/) [Kerry Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-patterson/) > [“Second, clarify what you really don't want. This is the key to framing the and question. Think of what you are afraid will happen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-patterson/second-clarify-what-you-really-don-t-want-this-is-the-key-to-framing/) [Kerry Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-patterson/) > [“We’re asking you to recode silence and violence as signs that people are feeling unsafe. We’re asking you to fight your natural tendency to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-patterson/we-re-asking-you-to-recode-silence-and-violence-as-signs-that-people/) [Kerry Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-patterson/) > [“Let’s say that your significant other has been paying less and less attention to you. You realize he or she has a busy job,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-patterson/let-s-say-that-your-significant-other-has-been-paying-less-and-less/) [Kerry Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-patterson/) > [“The average human being is actually quite bad at predicting what he or she should do in order to be happier, and this inability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-patterson/the-average-human-being-is-actually-quite-bad-at-predicting-what-he/) [Kerry Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-patterson/) > [“When under attack, our heart can take a similarly sudden and unconscious turn. When faced with pressure and strong opinions, we often stop worrying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-patterson/when-under-attack-our-heart-can-take-a-similarly-sudden-and/) [Kerry Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-patterson/) > [“What do I really want for myself? What do I really want for others? What do I really want for the relationship? Once you’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-patterson/what-do-i-really-want-for-myself-what-do-i-really-want-for-others/) [Kerry Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-patterson/) > [“People who are skilled at dialogue do their best to make it safe for everyone to add their meaning to the shared pool--even ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-patterson/people-who-are-skilled-at-dialogue-do-their-best-to-make-it-safe-for/) [Kerry Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-patterson/) > [“It’s the most talented, not the least talented, who are continually trying to improve their dialogue skills. As is often the case, the rich…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-patterson/it-s-the-most-talented-not-the-least-talented-who-are-continually/) [Kerry Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-patterson/) [Explore all 18 Kerry Patterson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-patterson/) ## More Adrenaline quotes > [It's the adrenaline rush you only get from being in front of an audience. It's addictive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-saadiq/it-s-the-adrenaline-rush-you-only-get-from-being-in-front-of-an/) [Raphael Saadiq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-saadiq/) > [I have a lot of adrenaline. I have a naturally fast system. But I love to eat, and I am not skinny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-bellucci/i-have-a-lot-of-adrenaline-i-have-a-naturally-fast-system-but-i-love/) [Monica Bellucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-bellucci/) > [I think you just have extra adrenaline playing at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-bellinger/i-think-you-just-have-extra-adrenaline-playing-at-home/) [Cody Bellinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-bellinger/) > [When you are in hard labor, remember that the length of labor is usually proportional to the number of people around. Avoid the presence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-odent/when-you-are-in-hard-labor-remember-that-the-length-of-labor-is/) [Michel Odent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-odent/) > [You get that extra pump of adrenaline when you come back to the courts where you remember how well you've done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajla-tomljanovic/you-get-that-extra-pump-of-adrenaline-when-you-come-back-to-the/) [Ajla Tomljanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajla-tomljanovic/) > [I don't get stage fright, I actually love the energy, I love the spontaneity, I love the adrenaline you get in front of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-burke/i-don-t-get-stage-fright-i-actually-love-the-energy-i-love-the/) [Brooke Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-burke/) > [My heart beats so hard it hurts, and I can't scream and I can't breathe, but I also feel everything, every vein and every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/my-heart-beats-so-hard-it-hurts-and-i-can-t-scream-and-i-can-t/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I'm an adrenaline junkie. I love climbing crazy trees or cliffs, which doesn't make my mom very happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colletti/i-m-an-adrenaline-junkie-i-love-climbing-crazy-trees-or-cliffs-which/) [Stephen Colletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colletti/) > [Ever notice how your senses are heightened when you are in challenging situations? You're experiencing an adrenaline rush that gives you extra energy. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/ever-notice-how-your-senses-are-heightened-when-you-are-in/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I get called an adrenaline junkie every other minute, and I'm just fine with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-irwin/i-get-called-an-adrenaline-junkie-every-other-minute-and-i-m-just/) [Steve Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-irwin/) > [There’s something insupportable about being pissed with the one person on this planet that sends your adrenaline flowing to remind you that you’re alive.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-castillo/there-s-something-insupportable-about-being-pissed-with-the-one/) [Ana Castillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-castillo/) > [And of course there is nothing better than wearing the same T-shirt for days and not brushing my hair for weeks,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daria-werbowy/and-of-course-there-is-nothing-better-than-wearing-the-same-t-shirt/) [Daria Werbowy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daria-werbowy/) > [Our training pushes us to develop a new set of instincts: instead of reacting to danger with a fight-or-flight adrenaline rush, we're trained to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/our-training-pushes-us-to-develop-a-new-set-of-instincts-instead-of/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) > [We put out real hip-hop at a time when it was turning into pop or R&B ... We brought the focus back to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/we-put-out-real-hip-hop-at-a-time-when-it-was-turning-into-pop-or-r-b/) [RZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [I get an adrenaline rush from "playing with the big boys." I consider myself a tomboy and was an athlete in high school, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-alexander/i-get-an-adrenaline-rush-from-playing-with-the-big-boys-i-consider/) [Megan Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-alexander/) [Browse all 510 Adrenaline quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adrenaline/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If the story is unflattering and the feeling is anger, adrenaline kicks in. Under the influence of adrenaline, blood leaves our brains to help support our genetically engineered response of “fight or flight,” and we end up thinking with the brain of a reptile. 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