Are You Out of Control When You Drive- How to Manage Road Rage
Just as water flows down easier than up, so do we often find it easier to have a reaction of anger instead of patience or understanding. When things come up with a family member that are tough or at work do you tend to blame them or look at the person with compassion?
We have knee-jerk reactions when we are angry and on edge. This makes it easy for us to fall into an unconscious reaction with others. We end up saying what we regret later and feeling mad at ourselves for being out of control.
When driving, uncontrolled anger can be deadly. It can result in both obnoxious and unsafe behavior including cutting off a person, excessive honking and obscene gestures. Other drivers then react to this and they can end up being also impatient, angry and wreckless.
When you see someone else that is going through road rage or a mini tantrum it is good to stay away and not feed them. Don’t try to teach people a “lesson” or try to punish someone. Realize that they are stuck in their own unresolved issues and are just acting them out. Rudeness, aggression and violence are the result of hidden issues that often are not faced.
When someone is driving dangerously don’t make eye contact. If you do they will probably take it the wrong way and feel challenged or belittled. When you are near them don’t try to get back at them . Keep your own center and that is the best way to act in these circumstances. You can also call 911 if someone is really acting erratic or irrational.
Anger management tools enable someone to stay centered in the midst of tought situations. Through breathing and relaxation techniques you are able to keep things in perspective, not get bent out of shape and practice realizing that things will pass and your feelings can’t rule you.
By learning anger control tools you not only master the current situation but many other ones. If you can be calm on a long grocery store line then you also will deal better with tension at work or a problem with a credit card etc. You will practice various exercises that you can apply and they’ll be noticed by your friends as you change.
Set your eye on the goal of self-control and you will be half the way there. By remembering this is your highest priority it won’t make the immediate reactions as important. You won’t even see those people again that are on the highway. Is it worth it to lose your cool?
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