Anger. . .But Not the Grief Kind

The Five Stages of Grief (Kubler-Ross Model):
1.  Denial
2.  Anger
3.  Bargaining
4.  Depression
5.  Acceptance


Wikipedia States:
Kübler-Ross claimed these steps do not necessarily come in the order noted above, nor are all steps experienced by all patients, though she stated a person will always experience at least two. Often, people will experience several stages in a "roller coaster" effect—switching between two or more stages, returning to one or more several times before working through it.


I have been in the grief stage of anger most of the last 3 weeks.  Feelings of "why me?", and "it isn't fair" are a kind of anger.  I think I was in a bit of denial at first and sometimes still float back there, but mostly I am stuck in the anger stage.  I am not feeling a screaming, want to throw something, or hurt someone kind of anger.  The statement "Why Me?" completely sums up the anger I am feeling.  I am in no hurry to leave this stage.  In fact, I am not doing any thinking at all about the stages.  I know I may or may not pass through them at some time.  I figure if it happens, it will just happen.


I have been "throw something" angry about other things, but I wouldn't include these feelings in the Kubler-Ross Model.  I have had these feelings of anger as long as I can remember.  Here are a couple of examples:

1. Elevators.  Elevator etiquette really came to my attention when we were in the hospital with Tripp.  There are some unwritten rules and it ANGERS me when people don't follow them.  First, let the people off the elevator before you get on.  Secondly, there is a set order to getting on the elevator even though a line-up hasn't been formed.  The people waiting the longest get on first.  
2. Drivers.  On Circle Drive or any two lane highway the left lane is for passing.  Do not drive in the left lane directly beside a car in the right lane at the exact same speed.  Do not pass a car if you are only going to pass them at 1 km/h faster than they are going.
3. Residential Driving.  I know speeding happens, but don't do it in a residential area (especially not on my crescent).  Last year I almost threw a gardening tool at a truck who flew by our house at an obscene speed.  And yesterday when we were out splashing in puddles a truck stopped thinking we were trying to cross the street (we were standing in the middle of a block).  We weren't trying to cross.  Since we were just waiting for the driver to pass so Calder could go out and splash some more, Hugh waved the man in the truck on.  The driver then, apparently annoyed and mad, did some sort of brake stand as he slammed on the gas to race off.  In the mean time, he shot rocks everywhere, including right at us.  (My patience is small right now and I may or may not have made an obscene gesture at him.)

About a year ago my sister, Jes, was doing some reading and came across a disorder called Low Tolerance for Frustration (LTF).  Basically, if you get even a bit frustrated you tend to snap.  She has self diagnosed herself as having this disorder and if you know my sister you would probably agree with her diagnosis.  She was just pumped to find out that there was an actual condition that could explain how quickly she tends to get angry at things.

She was explaining this to my parents shortly after she made this diagnosis and my dad quickly concluded that he too was suffering from a disorder, LTSP.   Apparently, my dad has self diagnosed himself as having Low Tolerance for Stupid People.  You won't find this in any medical textbooks, but my dad definitely has it (and maybe I do too)!