At times, do your emotions and frustrations get the better of you? How do you manage them?

SN Vivien Roman-Hampton — Mon, 10 Apr 2017 17:50:50 -0400

Whether it's recreation, mindfulness or something else, what is it that works for you?

Response by LTC John Shaw made Apr 10 at 2017 6:02 PM

LTC John Shaw — Mon, 10 Apr 2017 18:02:22 -0400

Exercise is how I manage the desire to choke the $hit of my peers and/or people who simply do not see the world the way I see it. I try to exercise FIRST THING in the morning!
When I do feel the desire to 'correct' someone at work or family I know I must keep it positive interaction.
The PTS medication I am on allows me enough time to think before I speak. Then after a short pause or even a long breath, I know I can return to ask the open question back to the person as to what they hope to accomplish by asking the question or observation. Usually I gain an understanding on the why and I provide the best guidance I can and let it go.
I can't wait to try recreation and time with the kids and wife when I get home from demobilization.

Exercise!, it is much easier than UCMJ.

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Apr 10 at 2017 9:06 PM

SGT Philip Roncari — Mon, 10 Apr 2017 21:06:53 -0400

I must admit to an advantage in confronting emotions and frustrations,it came at life changing cost,alcoholism ,my disease of choice,you see it was my choice to drink,and now one day at a time for the last 40 years I have lived sober,my advantage is the Program and my Higher Power.

Response by PFC Jonathan Albano made Apr 10 at 2017 9:54 PM

PFC Jonathan Albano — Mon, 10 Apr 2017 21:54:00 -0400

Meditation is a good way to refocus one's self. I'm not talking sitting cross legged saying "ohmmmmmm" a million times, but rather, focusing all you brain power on something calming. A lot of people like to focus on an image such as a beach, while others prefer a meaningful phrase such as "I'm the master of my emotions" Anyhow, this is what works for me.

Response by Cpl Dennis F. made Apr 10 at 2017 10:04 PM

Cpl Dennis F. — Mon, 10 Apr 2017 22:04:10 -0400

Go out back and unload into my target pit for an hour or two....or jump into my race car for the weekend. It's a great psychiatrists couch for me. The concentration pushes everything else out of your head.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Apr 11 at 2017 12:15 AM

CAPT Kevin B. — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 00:15:12 -0400

Sure we all blow up on occasion. Sure we get pissed at ourselves. And then we do whatever to calm down. Gym, hiking, shooting, whatever. But then you need to Man/Woman Up and make sure you do the Apology Tour. I knew I was far from my best. Sometimes I did damage. Time to do what you can to fix it and ask for forgiveness. Never too lofty to do that. Did that as an O6 too. But, if it's a rare event, your humanity is still very much intact. And then when the event becomes part of a laughing roast later on, the forgiveness is apparent. It passed into legend.

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Apr 11 at 2017 6:24 AM

Cpl Jeff N. — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 06:24:44 -0400

No, the thought of spending the rest of my life in prison for dispatching someone usually helps me regulate my behavior. Now, if I thought I could get away with it...

Response by SPC John Adams made Apr 11 at 2017 11:42 PM

SPC John Adams — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 23:42:34 -0400

The best solution I've found for me is a labor intensive job with long days.

Response by CPL Eric Escasio made Apr 26 at 2017 12:42 PM

CPL Eric Escasio — Wed, 26 Apr 2017 12:42:00 -0400

My frustrations are related to not having any stable work, my military service was my stable job and a job I loved. Nowadays since being medically retired and deemed permanently disabled I still try to find something I could consider a job I will like and that is hard for me since I see myself as someone who is technologically inclined and a developer of technical devices. These are my frustrations, so now I know what triggers my frustrations. The best thing I could do is to stay sharp on what I know by studying, taking free Coursera courses at https://www.coursera.org/ (keeps my mind off the loneliness). When I was young my father introduced me to remote control planes hobby and flying. I got back on it in 2009 and until now I still do it and got more even involved with. This hobby keeps me moving and thinking. I teach safe flying to young enthusiast of the hobby based on the FAA's recommendation of safe flying. But I raise my bar a few notch higher by adding procedures that I consider safe. An example that I emphasize in line to safe flying would be before every flight a pilot needs to have a good "do before you fly" checklist on all his gear and aerial platform and even to oneself. Once you have checked your gear and aerial platform one must ask themselves. "Do I feel good with all of these and did I miss anything?" That gives you a second chance to review and re-review what seems to feel not right. Nowadays I think deeply to improve my skills and results are I haven't failed or an crash occurred on any of my flying platforms may it be a plane, jet or quad or hexa copters that I manage and operate. It generates me income sometimes by helping fixing or building other peoples RC problems. This is so much what I do now plus computer repair, network set-up and occasionally I make servers and configure and install AD Active directory and DC - domain controllers for old clients I still have that sometimes seeks my help, once in a blue moon. My frustrations are more into me felling not employed is a failure. When that though come into mind I tend to asses my health and really see where I have issues. That I will focus on and see how do I adjust it to make it better. That takes time and that is the answer I have for my frustrations to tell them to go away come back another day. That day the frustrations don't come to mess with me is the day that I think I am cured and its doens't happen often as it used to be, only during the holiday seasons it comes full blast. Because I wanted more for my family but it comes short during the holidays. Unlike before we had enough. This for me is a motivator to do better and recover faster. I dont really like going out much but I do like to read and tinker with my hands on electronic stuff.