Doug NollI'm called in when human dynamics are getting in the way of strategic leadership execution.

Anger Only Lasts 90 Seconds, After That You’re Choosing It

12 Jun 2026 · 0 min

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Most emotions last about 90 seconds before the neurochemicals fade. If you're still angry after that, you're choosing it. Your thoughts are re-activating your amygdala, not the original threat.

It's a brain event, and it happens to every single human brain on the planet. So the thing to understand is that most emotions have about a 90-second half-life. That means that the neurochemicals pouring into the brain to set up an affect turned into an emotion only lasts about 90 seconds. After that, if you're still angry, it's because your thoughts are retriggering the amygdala over and over again, not because the original threat event is still happening.

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