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

Why You Say Crazy Things During Arguments (The 90-Second Brain Hijack)

9 Aug 2025 · 1 min

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Doug Noll explains why you say things you regret during arguments: strong emotions flood your brain with neurochemicals for about 90 seconds, shutting down logic. Pause for that period and your thinking clears.

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You say crazy things during arguments that you regret later because anytime you experience a strong emotional reaction, your brain gets flooded with neurochemicals for about 90 seconds. In that period, you can't think clearly and all your logic goes out of the window. But you don't know this, and so you try to think or talk your way out of the situation while your brain has already been hijacked. It's like trying to have a conversation during a violent storm. No one will hear you. But if you can pause just for 90 seconds, you give the chemicals time to clear and your thinking brain will come back online. Save this post so you never forget.