A recent incident of violence compelled me to ask myself that question. Summer road construction projects are in full swing here in the Pacific Northwest and the accompanying SLOW traffic often makes it difficult to get anywhere on time.
It appears that a man got out of line on I-5 and hit a DOT contractor’s work vehicle and lift with his car. He then got out of his car with a hammer and attacked the workers. The police responded and ultimately shot the man. He died.
What must have led up to this burst of uncontrollable rage? We don’t know the full story and probably never will but maybe if we learn from it, we can reduce these rage-explosions in the future.
· Have you observed in yourself and/or co-workers inappropriate anger over small things?
· Do you/them complain more than usual?
· Do you/they get stressed out more easily than you used to?
If any of the above resonates with you, it may be time to reach out for some coping tools. You have several options: HR, a therapist, medication, yoga, meditation, anger management classes . . . the support is there. It’s up to you to reach out for it.
Please do that before it becomes too much, and you “rage-explode.”
