Anger

I have always been around angry people.

They have lived in my house.  I left one environment and saw the anger in the new living arrangement as normal, because it was my normal.  Red flags were waved in my face multiple times, early into the relationship. But I soldiered on.  Unwilling to admit I'd made a big mistake.

Oh, angry people aren't always angry.  That's not the picture I need to paint for you to understand my experience.  They are mostly normal.  But you see, you never knew what would trigger the hormonal flow feeding the anger passion play.  You prayed that no one be injured.  If children were present, you do your best to shield them from the black energy swirling inside the car, or sitting in the living room, or situated at a table or booth in a restaurant, or at a store.  It could happen anywhere, anytime.  Over time, you learned there were triggers.  Insomnia.  Poor health.  Pissed off at someone else and you are a convenient and readily available receptor for the emotional venom.  Ran out of weed.  Thyroid meds need adjusting.

The emotional eruption isn't pretty.  The face contorts.  The voice changes, and typically oozes sarcasm, blatant ridicule, and  the volume elevates while the tone becomes harsh.  Objects can be thrown.  Although it didn't happen often, you could be physically attacked. When behind the wheel, it is arrest-able level road rage.  Sometimes its a verbal attack on your character, appearance or behavior.  Impolite language is typically the style of the logic.

 In the beginning, you fight back.  You try to defend yourself.... you feel your integrity, your character, your.... your.....  you're being energetically assaulted, and you feel the urge to return the barb.  You try to use logic to point out the overreaction you are witnessing, and the deterioration into a rant worthy of a senate filibuster.  You are emotionally exhausted when silence and free moving air returns to your space.  

After awhile, you learn to shut up, keep your head low, and hope the shit flows overhead.  If you are the target of the attack, maybe you can deflect the anger away from you and toward another person or situation.  Sometimes that works.... at least it works for you, for the moment.