(Epictetus 20)”The above quote from the teachings of Epictetus leads an individual to the understanding of using Rational-Emotive-Behavior-Therapy to control unhealthy emotional outbursts. Notice the quote advises its reader not to view a person as insulting; however, it reminds the person to examine the judgment of insulting. Once again, this ancient philosopher exemplifies the basics of REBT. The excerpt informs the reader that a person cannot directly irritate another without the irrational belief that irritation is the fault of another and not the participant’s perception of irritation. To further explain REBT and the steps involved in controlling unhealthy emotions, one can use the debilitating emotion of anger. In a book written by Albert Ellis entitled How to Live with and without Anger. Ellis uses a poignant example in order to explain and combat the dangerous unstable emotion of anger towards another. The premise of the example is two friends agree to share an apartment, person X goes to a considerable amount of trouble to fix the apartment and pay his share of the rent. While the other person, person Y, decides not to move in with person X and refuses to give person X any money for the expense he has caused (Ellis 125). Person X becomes very angry at his friend and demands payment. One can refer to the ABC model mentioned perviously in order to chart this occurrence: (A) being the preceding event of Mr. Y backing out on his end of the deal with Mr. X, (B) is Mr. X’s belief that Mr. Y should treat him fairly and move in or pay him, and (C) is the anger Mr. X feels towards Mr. Y because of his perception of the event. This is now the time where person X must dispute his irrational behavior and replace it with a rational mental thought process (Ellis 127). This mode of disputing irrational thought is done with a series of questions. One can use the above-mentioned conflict as reference. Replace Person X wit...
