How to avoid, or help someone avoid, road rage

As the video of a motorist hitting a taxi driver in a case of unchecked road rage continues to rack up views on various social media platforms, Susan Enriquez and Lala Roque on Tuesday discussed the causes of this phenomenon and how it can be prevented.

Enriquez and Roque consulted with psychiatrist and life coach Dr. Ali Gui, who explained that many factors contribute to people suddenly bursting with anger, noting that many of them might have been victims of a difficult childhood.

Gui also suggested other tips for managing road rage:

1. For the companion: Develop a signal to indicate rising temper

If you're with someone prone to such outbursts, Gui suggests developing a signal that will indicate that there's danger of the situation getting out of hand if the anger goes unchecked.

When her partner's temper is flaring, one of Gui's clients has learned to "rub his back to make him aware that he is getting angry."

But these signals should be discussed beforehand and should be "properly thought, executed well, and agreed upon by the people involved."

It's also best to intervene before your companion — in a manner of speaking — turns into The Hulk.

Gui advised against embracing the angry person to pull him out of the situation and encouraged people to learn the "right and wrong way of touching" by discussing it with the person during sober moments.

2. For the person experiencing anger: Walk away

It's difficult to do at the heat of the moment, but simply walking away is the best course of action.

Gui said that we usually are able to tell when anger is beginning to build inside of us. "Alam natin [kapag] galit tayo or when anger is [rising] up, nandiyan ang physical manifestation — 'yong iba namumula ang tenga, umiinit ang mukha, 'yong iba nag-cle-clench ng fist," she said.

"If you're already there [at alam mong] nagagalit ka na, try to walk away. You don't have to stay in that situation where it will provoke you more to be a bad person than a better person," she explained.

Gui described this as an emotional time out and suggested counting backwards from a thousand. Pinch yourself or wear a rubber band around your wrist and flick it — these activities will ground you or snap you out of the rage daze.

While shouting it out is a good way to release our anger, it's not really a good option when you're in public. People might misconstrue what you're doing and before you know it, you're in a viral video.

3. For everyone: Put yourself in the other person's shoes

A little perspective goes a long way and Gui wisely advised everyone to think of the situation of the other person. Think of the person behind the wheel as someone you know or maybe even a family member, which might help you understand that they're just people, too.

Gui's personal philosophy is, "Mas importante ang tao kaysa sa kotse ko."

Scratches on your car is nothing compared to cracks in your relationships with other people because of unsavory behavior. "Our emotions can work for us or against us," Gui said.

4. For everyone: Get help

If you have trouble controlling your temper or anger, it's not something you have to "just deal with" or force other people to handle.

"If we are aware of it, if we want to behave...There are professionals who can help you manage your anger," Gui said.

People respond to the same stimuli differently and if there is a situation that is particularly stressful to you, don't be afraid or ashamed to seek help. — LA, GMA News