Hot Reactors: The Price of Zero Patience

We have all met a "hot reactor" at some point in our lives. You might even be one yourself. What exactly am I talking about? People that anger easily over small slights in life and experience physical symptoms such as increased heart rate, frequent urination, and facial flushing are considered to be "hot reactors," or what I consider to be a type A personality.

Some examples of this type of behavior and personality include people that experience road rage every-time they drive, have an inability to show any sign of maturity while waiting in line, always have to have the last word, and have zero patience for even the smallest everyday tasks that inconvenience us all from time to time. Now, some of you might be thinking that these explanations explain someone with much more of a clinical problem than simply having an "off" personality. This may be and there are many mental disorders to choose from, but these general reactions to life indicate that this type of person is high strung and needs to relax!

If you are like me, you know many people that suffer from these traits. The husband or wife that end up honking and giving most drivers the finger, all in front of their kids. The brother that insists that the family is discluding him from family gatherings and secrets. The friend who leaves ten messages on your machine and wanders why you are not answering the phone right when they call. The grandmother in law that can't seem to grasp why nobody can stand to be in a room with her for more than small intervals of time because all she talks about is how the world owes her and everyone has slighted her in some way.

Not only do these traits take a toll on the people who do not suffer from this personality, but they also take a toll on the "hot reactor's" health. Studies show that high strung, type A personality individuals suffer from many physiological health problems, such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke, ulcers, migraine headaches, tension headaches, cancer, allergies, arthritis, backache, and TMJ syndrome.

How do you know if you are type A or a "hot reactor?" Some of the symptoms are:

• A sense of time urgency
• Overly competitive
• Aggressiveness
• Hostile much of the time
• Deep seated insecurity
• Impatience
• Perfectionism

What are some tips to help diminish this behavior or tone down the personality?

• Realize that life is always unfinished.
• Practice listening to others without speaking.
• Ask yourself how important the matter is that you are upset about.
• Ask yourself if what you have to say is really that important.
• Practice the skill of patience while waiting by visiting places you will have to wait.
• Meditate.
• Try to adopt an open mind to all other ideas besides your own.
• Smile, even when you don't feel like it.
• Throw out multitasking for a while and concentrate on one thing at a time.

While we all have to accept one another the way we were born and compromise with each other, nobody has to put up with someone else that expects perfection at all times. Perfectionists can do everyone a favor by looking inward and fixing their stuff and leave the rest of us alone!