Relaxation techniques can curb road rage Published July 15, 2010 By Capt Donna Burrow and Senior Airman Fabian Consbruck 81st Medical Operations Squadron KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- With increased summer traffic on and off base, many people find themselves feeling enraged by the simple activity of driving. Unfortunately for most people, commuting to and from work takes place during the hours of heaviest traffic congestion. As drivers face obstacles such as bottlenecks, gridlock and construction, feelings of hostility often arise. Common emotions include anger, anxiety, stress, fear and aggravation. Triggering these feelings may be tailgating to pressure a person to go faster, blasting the horn, impeding others from passing, driving with unnecessary high beams and weaving through lanes. Keesler members may encounter motorists who are driving recklessly and feel they need to retaliate with hasty words, hand gestures and threats. Everyone must find ways to maintain their composure and uphold a respectful Air Force image, especially those in and out of uniform. Aggressive driving that endangers or compromises persons or property can lead to criminal charges. Aside from the legal implications of "road rage," a driver's mental well-being also can be negatively impacted. Road rage perpetrators often explain a strong, uncontrollable impulse leads them to habitual episodes of aggressive driving. This driving style can become chronic as learned or conditioned reactions to feelings of anger and frustration. There are several effective relaxation tools that can be used to reduce stress and reckless behaviors related to road rage. Deep breathing, with an emphasis on the diaphragm, activates the body's relaxation response and allows a person to exhale negative emotions. While this breathing technique can be used before and after an incident occurs, it's important not become too distracted at the same time. For those who listen to intense music, changing to more pleasant and relaxing sounds is helpful. In addition to counting from 0 to 10 as a distracter from stressors, some find it both relaxing and entertaining to count foolish or ridiculous drivers on the road. This reduces the overall anger reaction while allowing drivers to focus their attention on something less upsetting. The most effective tool to prevent road rage is time management. It's common to become frustrated when running late, so timeliness is a good prevention strategy. Reducing rushing and allowing enough time to account for unexpected road delays or obstacles will result in a calmer state of mind.