Among my regular travels is a stretch of freeway that at 8 am takes about 30 minutes to drive 3 miles. There’s no construction involved nor are there any apparent reasons for traffic to back up quite that bad. At the end of the congestion the cars simply start driving faster. Specialists in traffic flow have logical explanations for the why of this, but that doesn’t matter. For us mere mortals the fact that we are powerless and the problem appears so arbitrary can be profoundly frustrating.
Sometimes that frustration can boil to the top so quickly that people experience road rage, an overwhelming anger accompanied by a loss of rational thinking. Otherwise nice ordinary people will pound their steering wheel while swearing in ways that would make a sailor cringe. Others honk their horns or provide hand gestures. In extreme cases the anger results in violence.
If left unchecked, over time this type of rage can become the norm for coping with difficult situations. Standing in line at the grocery, slow internet speeds, demands of an employer or even the neighborhood kids that play in the street. The person loses perspective and treats each situation as a major insult, leading to life in a state of constant rage. In mental health this is called low frustration tolerance.
As has often been observed with other issues, change is a process not an event. For those struggling with low frustration tolerance it takes not only time and but also a safe environment to process through these feelings. Change requires the tools necessary to challenge the faulty thinking the anger is built on and to regain perspective. And change needs objective support and feedback to guide the process.
Unfortunately, our society doesn’t teach us how to deal with the difficulties in our lives. Blaming others for our circumstances, suspecting people of the worst of motives in their actions and looking for the vast conspiracy behind every problem are often encouraged by everyone from our friends to the media.
Developing frustration tolerance is an essential part of establishing and maintaining long term recovery. For some, these abilities come easily, but for many others mastering these skills presents a major challenge. If you have struggled with this issue and have been looking for a way to change, please call. Your peace of mind is only a step away.
John
Sometimes that frustration can boil to the top so quickly that people experience road rage, an overwhelming anger accompanied by a loss of rational thinking. Otherwise nice ordinary people will pound their steering wheel while swearing in ways that would make a sailor cringe. Others honk their horns or provide hand gestures. In extreme cases the anger results in violence.
If left unchecked, over time this type of rage can become the norm for coping with difficult situations. Standing in line at the grocery, slow internet speeds, demands of an employer or even the neighborhood kids that play in the street. The person loses perspective and treats each situation as a major insult, leading to life in a state of constant rage. In mental health this is called low frustration tolerance.
As has often been observed with other issues, change is a process not an event. For those struggling with low frustration tolerance it takes not only time and but also a safe environment to process through these feelings. Change requires the tools necessary to challenge the faulty thinking the anger is built on and to regain perspective. And change needs objective support and feedback to guide the process.
Unfortunately, our society doesn’t teach us how to deal with the difficulties in our lives. Blaming others for our circumstances, suspecting people of the worst of motives in their actions and looking for the vast conspiracy behind every problem are often encouraged by everyone from our friends to the media.
Developing frustration tolerance is an essential part of establishing and maintaining long term recovery. For some, these abilities come easily, but for many others mastering these skills presents a major challenge. If you have struggled with this issue and have been looking for a way to change, please call. Your peace of mind is only a step away.
John
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