| Recently it was reported that a 41 year old | | | | personally or think someone is out to get |
| driver was shot because he pulled into the | | | | you. |
| exact change lane and a driver was angry with | | | | |
| him for his slowness? Yikes it is terrible to | | | | Gaining perspective is very important and I |
| read about this and so sad the desperation | | | | also remember that I won't be thinking about |
| and daily blow ups that occur. This can | | | | this situation an hour from now and it is |
| happen alot when someone drives slowly in | | | | going to pass. It is not permanent, you won't |
| left lane, sees a tailgater or watches | | | | see these people again and it is temporary. |
| someone else steal a parking space. | | | | You may ride this road daily to work but you |
| | | | don't even see the same people. |
| Why else do we have road rage reactions? | | | | |
| Seeing someone ignore a traffic sign, | | | | I'll breathe in slowly and exhale twice as |
| excessive honking, watching someone on their | | | | slowly. This helps to calm the mind and is a |
| cell phone who is oblivious to traffic | | | | good tool for stress control and staying |
| patterns and excessive speeding are other | | | | centered. Relaxing music is calming and also |
| reasons. We even feel anger growing inside of | | | | using audio tapes on books or self-help |
| us as we see others being aggressive on the | | | | lessons are great ways to use the driving |
| highway. What does that ell us? | | | | time for self-growth. |
| | | | |
| The truth is that when people are doing these | | | | There is no point in getting into a state |
| activities they are already themselves in | | | | while driving where you are sweating, have |
| need of an anger management strategy, but | | | | stomach cramps, look glaringly at others or |
| it's a chain reaction then where observers | | | | have your heart racing. Just bring yourself |
| around them get enraged as well by having to | | | | back to your own breathing and how this |
| be subject to these behaviors. Is there a way | | | | situation isn't worth stressing over. |
| to gain more control over our reactions that | | | | |
| are the common cause of road rage? Can we | | | | Road rage can be helped with anger management |
| stay calm if someone is making an obscene | | | | skills , techniques and tips so that your day |
| gesture on the highway? Why do we take things | | | | is not carrying these dark feelings but you |
| so personally when they are from a stranger? | | | | instead learn skills that keep you balanced |
| | | | and can make you a more harmonious person in |
| As a therapist, I find that seeing the | | | | all situations. |
| highway as a time to view one's mind with | | | | |
| humor and to practice compassion and patience | | | | It is so worthwhile to cultivate because if |
| is a very good habit to get into. I'll try to | | | | you master this, you also master other |
| think about the fact that people are | | | | situations such as a friend being late, a |
| struggling with fears of being late, family | | | | child picking on his younger brother or a |
| tensions or job issues and this contributes | | | | significant other raising his or her voice. |
| to poor and inattentive driving. I try to | | | | This is a true skill you can carry with you |
| give someone a break. Don't take it | | | | everywhere. |