What are THEY trippin’ off of?!

Ever had someone just come at you with a nasty attitude for no good reason at all? They get on your nerves so much that you start envisioning choking them or at least throwing something at them to knock some sense into their head.

The most effective way to deal with someone like that is to first TRY to understand that apparently something has happened in their life to make them go off the handle like that. More than likely something pretty dramatic occurred recently to put them in that mode. Should they take it out on you? No, of course not! But something dramatic has occurred (at least in their own mind) and they don’t even know why they are acting the way they are.

People in that state are looking for an answer to whatever the problem is. They are mentally trying to workout some level of understanding to the situation and anything you do to interrupt that process becomes extremely annoying. So they respond to you as though YOU ARE THE ONE TRYING TO KEEP THEM IN A STAT OF FRUSTRATION. You are acting, again in their mind, to prolong the drama they are dealing with.

With some people, you may remind them of the actual drama that they are dealing with through the clothes you are wearing, the music you’re listening to or some other activity that you are engaged in. You might be humming a song that reminds them of a person that just broke off a relationship with them. It could be your outwardly expression of happiness you are feeling in general. Whatever the case, at that moment, you in some way shape or form remind them of the cause of their stress.

So what do you do to deal with this slightly psychotic person, especially if they are in authority over you in some way?

Avoid them if at all possible. If not, whatever they ask you to do, do it as quickly and as efficiently as possible, as long as it doesn’t bring you harm.

Don’t try to be extra friendly nor question them as to why they are the way they are.

Do not to give them any reason or energy that might agitate or increase the frustration they are already feeling. They will only release that agitation on you even more. Give them nothing in the way emotion. Instead give them intellectual support only by responding to any questions they may have with straight answers.

Also, keep in mind you may have been that same type of person to someone else. This article could have just as well been called, “What are YOU trippin’ off of?” So try and feel for them while they’re in that situation and be patient. Like all storms, their emotional instability will pass as well.



Tony Stewart
Author
"Stop Think and Be Without Doubt"
www.stopthinkandbe.com