Road Rage or Unresolved Issues?

On more than one occasion, my better half has accused me of being an absolute tyrant behind the wheel. I'm not an irresponsible driver, in fact, I've been driving for more almost fifteen years, and only managed to snag one speeding ticket (and it wasn't even in my country!). But it's not my driving that makes my boyfriend's hair stand on end, it's my fits of rage when I feel slighted on the road.

I'm not an angry person by nature, in fact, I'm fairly laid back. I rarely raise my voice, and I don't seek out confrontation, but for some reason when I get behind the wheel, self-righteousness rears its ugly head. Whether its drivers yacking or texting on their cell phones, weaving in and out of traffic dangerously, or refusing to use their turn signals, I have moments when I'm stuck in the midst of gridlock and fantasize about what it would be like to be a traffic police officer. What I wouldn't give for the opportunity to pull over every idiot I possibly could, just so I could hand them an absurdly expensive ticket (or two!). This of course isn't going to solve my rage issues, so let's discuss.

Why would an otherwise perfectly sane individual absolutely lose their marbles in a brief moment? Let me be clear, I've never chased someone down in my car, nor have I ever had the urge to do anything violent. But my face goes flush, I get hot under the collar, and my heart begins to race. Words fly out of my mouth that I wouldn't dare speak in front of civil company. So who gets road rage? Well, anyone actually. Young, old, wealthy, not so wealthy; It includes any and all demographics.

Historically, men used to be the worst offenders, but women are rapidly catching up. Women may not be pulling handguns out of their glove compartments to handle business, but they're certainly running their mouths off like sailors that have been at sea for a year and a day. So how do we combat this sudden rage? I listen to classical music. It's dramatic, but soothing, and it allows me to focus on the road with out becoming fixated on stupid drivers. I also meditate. My mission is to get from point A to point B in one piece, and losing the plot accomplishes nothing except aggravate my ulcer and give me wrinkles.

If you find yourself raging out on the road, it might be worth doing a little self reflection. There could be something bothering you that you're subconsciously repressing. Take a deep breath, and just drive.