Emmmmy said:
I let so many little things go until the anger builds up and then just break.
You know, I think that's quite a common thing for many of us. In fact, I'm just dealing with the aftermath (although it's not over yet) with my in-laws about this. For the last 3 or 4 years our relationship with his parents has been degenerating. We've always kept a lid on it, but it's gotten worse and worse and now we've brought it up. They're confused because they thought there wasn't a problem. Well, the issue's worse than that - they're denying there's a problem. But that's another story.
What I'm trying to say is that I think that keeping quiet about an issue that annoys you until you blow your top is quite widespread. I know I'm terminally guilty of that one.
I mostly take it out on people close to me who don't deserve it
. I feel as I'm getting older though, and maybe naturally caring less what people think (only slightly though), I'm occasionally rude to people I don't know. I regret it afterwards though - I still keep going over this time at work a while ago, when I was rude to a customer (he was being a twat though - but makes no difference).
I think I'm capable of the displays of anger, but not the aftermath - so I avoid it.
You know what? I run an office and, as this is a small business, I'm also the receptionist. This means that I answer almost all phone calls and have lots of power over bookings. If a customer's rude to me on the 'phone then my general thought pattern is: 'oh, you think you're going to talk to me like that? Okay, suits me fine: I've had a stressful morning anyway.' and then I say, "Sorry sir, I only have one call free that day, and it's at [insert difficult time here, like first thing in the morning]." And if they say they can't make it, all the better. They'll have to shoehorn the call in. I will quite happily do this even if the rest of the day is empty.
And, to be honest, anyone who's going to be rude to me deserves it. So there. I think it's fine to get even; it's a darn sight better than getting mad, I know that.