Sometimes I Get So Angry I Could…

No, not so angry I could drink. That would be a huge mistake and would not solve anything. But I had a couple of moments today when I was angry enough to be irrational.  After getting frustrated with my expensive color laser printer not printing again, I suggested the best way to fix it might be with a hammer.

A few minutes later I though – OMG, a hammer? In the moment I said it I meant it, but of course that was a completely irrational response.

One thing I’ve noticed about myself – and I know a lot of other alcoholics feel this too – is that I have what I called LFL: low frustration level.  LFL means when something doesn’t work right or someone drops the ball or I make a mistake, I overreact.  My frustration level crescendos really, really quickly and I lash out at myself or the unfortunate object that has earned my ire.

Sometimes the only way to handle LFL is to take a deep breath and walk away – usually it only takes a few minutes to gather my wits to come up with a more rational approach than a hammer.