How To Control Emotional Reactions, with Dr. Kelly Flanagan

I sit down with Dr. Kelly to unpack what really happens when we get triggered and why it feels so hard to stay in control. We dive into how our nervous system hijacks us, how past experiences shape our reactions, and why awareness alone isn’t enough to change behavior. I also explore what it actually means to “keep your heart open” in conflict and how to take ownership without taking blame. This conversation is a practical look at how to respond instead of react, especially in relationships that matter most. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 What Is A Trigger 03:15 The Three Step Trigger Cycle 06:20 Why You Get Hijacked 11:50 Regulating The Nervous System 18:15 Fight Flight And Control Modes 27:30 Control And Letting Go 36:20 What Keeping Your Heart Open Means 43:30 Sensing Conflict Before It Happens 54:20 Taking Ownership In Conflict 01:04:00 What To Do During Conflict *** Tired of feeling like you're never enough? Build your self-worth with help from this free guide: Pick up my book, Men's Work: A Practical Guide To Face Your Darkness, End Self-Sabotage, And Find Freedom: Heard about attachment but don’t know where to start? Try the FREE Ultimate Guide To Attachment Check out some other free resources: How To Quit Porn | Anger Meditation | How To Lead In Your Relationship Build brotherhood with a powerful group of like-minded men from around the world. Check out The Alliance . Enjoy the podcast? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts , Stitcher , or Podchaser . It helps us get into the ears of new listeners, expand the ManTalks Community , and help others find the tools and training they’re looking for. And don't forget to

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How To Control Emotional Reactions, with Dr. Kelly Flanagan is an episode from ManTalks Podcast by Connor Beaton.

This episode is 01:15:07 long.

This episode was published on Apr 13, 2026.

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