Temper Tantrums in Adults

I have had to deal with this because I worked in retail for almost 10 years. I learned "kill em with kindness." As long as you are nice to the person freaking out on you they will eventually leave you alone, they will still act like a fool but they wont do it to you.

I have had co-workers who behave in this fashion. I do not consider them friends. I truly believe that popular culture is partially responsible for this wave of savagery. After all it has become mainstream to say whatever hurtful nasty comment which comes to mind with no regard for the recipient of the attack.

Yes, it is amazing when somebody is an adult and they haven't learned that tantrums are showing the ugly side of their nature. You see this kind of thing so much anymore! I think that a lot of things factor into why we see this more lately. One of them is everybody is so rushed all the time that they're severely impatient, another is the 'me generation' thinks they deserve special consideration; they also never learned any better, or didn't learn how to handle their anger in a productive way. The way I handle it is to keep my cool and not let myself stoop to their level. By remaining neutral I've actually had those kinds of people apologize for their ranting. Customer service is one of the hardest things to deal with no matter what rung of the ladder you're on (whether you're customer service at the desk, or just a worker-bee, it's still customer service.) What those people never realize is that by throwing a tantrum like that, people's opinions of them goes down...not up. Good discussion anora!

lol...my guy does this sometimes, just throws a mantrum, as I call it.... There is nothing to do about it short from ignoring them, as you would a child. It is ridiculous, and I agree with the deevolving statement, it does seem we are changing but for the worst...

Hi Anora I think the thing your describing are people without the emotional vocabulary to express what is bothering them in a constructive and positive way. I think this trend is a product of society requiring ever faster speeds for us to develop at - like the younger generation wanting to grow up as soon as possible but bypass all the growth of mind, pesonality and body! when dealing with adults or Kidults who have this attitude, I will tell them to 'stop spitting your dummy out'. I have a on-off friend who launches into a massive tantrum if the slightest thing is wrong, and I've said in various ways ' stop asking the world to be how you want it to be, and accept that you are the only thing which you have control of'. His behaviour is completely unacceptable but it is entirely the way in which he views the world that causes him so much pain'

I worked in a bank for many years and over that time I have witnessed my share of tantrums! It seems that people are very touchy when it comes to money! The emotional immaturity I have experienced still astounds me. One incident I recall was when I told a young man that the Social Security department had not deposited any funds into his account and that he would have to approach the department because there is nothing the bank can do. Upon hearing this he began to yell and literally stamp his feet (I kid you not!) and called me a thief (amongst other things). He believed that I had his money and I was refusing to give it to him! He proceeded to stand on the mat in front of the self closing doors so that the doors wouldn't shut and because it was our closing time the police had to intervene to remove him. I have no idea what would make someone behave this way unless he had some type of mental disorder. Nowadays everyone is so stressed and pressured, although I'm not sure that excuses the ones who forget to be civil when things don't go their way. Could it be that nobody cares anymore and it's every man for himself? I hope not.

i also experience it because i work in a large retail company and i deal with hundreds of customers everyday... what i do when i encounter such customers, i ignore them and leave them alone... i pretend not to listen to them at all and don't answer to their questions... i don't want to waste my time entertaining those types of customers... sometimes other customers who watch the incident will say something to the person anyway... and he/she will be ashamed and left eventually... take care and have a nice day...

my ex was a HUGE tantrum thrower. you could see..like a cloud come over his face when he was about to throw a fit about something.i remember asking him one time if he could have a discussion like a human being,and he did a clipped sarcastic "NO" like a 5 year old would,and proceeded to throw things.and F me if he didn't stomp his feet too i think a lot of it is today's society in general. some people are of the mind they can do whatever they want with no reprocussions,so they do.

Believe it or not, I'm a fairly mellow person...LOL. Might not know it from some of my ranting type discussions but I am, and yes, I can have a temper or hissy fit, but not like what I sometimes witness. I'll give you two examples. Very late at night on one of the Spanish-speaking channels is a show which has as it's host a woman named Monica (sorry never caught the beginning of the show so don't know the whole name of it) Think of the show as a Jerry Springer type. Now I don't speak Spanish but I sit in fascination as I can't believe the genuine imbecilic temper tantrums her guests have. It usually pits several groups of two...say mother and daughter (teenaged or older), siblings, whatever. And yikes I never knew people to scream and rant and rave at each other like at this show...I mean it's almost funny to watch. Second example. A pet rescuer friend of mine came to visit me sometime ago (she lives in upstate NY) This person has an "open" invitation that if need be, and I ever needed to move out of my apt for whatever reason I could move into her home and could live free room and board in exchange for helping out with the rescued pets...she described where she lives and it sounds like heaven, but it wouldn't be just a matter of taking care of a few cats, but a lot of cats, plus dogs, ponies, horses, ferrets....uh, as much as I love animals it would sound like I'd be spending more time taking care of the animals than getting any of my work done. Anyway, the invite is still there...as a just in case. So here she came to visit me. She arrived several hours later than planned as she got tied up with chores before leaving, then battled traffic, so once she did arrive it was latish. So several hours later, now it's time for her to leave. So I walk her to where she parked her van. But she was blocked as a cable truck had doubled park....YIKES...she exploded. She called the number that was on the side of the cable truck and ranted and raved and was screaming at the person to somehow connect with the cable person so he could come down from whatever apartment he was into move his truck.....but she didn't let up...she just kept yelling on her cell phone to the cable company. I'm standing there listening to all this and thinking to myself, geez, if she explodes at a relatively simple thing like this, what the heck does she do for some real major crisis...I'm also thinking to myself...like geez, would I want to live with someone like this??? Uh, don't think so.

As my mom has said 'Three year olds in size 40 suits' lol. Yes I have met plenty of people like that in my life. Best way to deal with them is either be overly nice, like one of your responses said, or just walk away. I can't stand when adults act like they are 2. Because of that, I can't think of any of my close friends or family for that matter, that act that way, at least not when I'm around.

I suppose it was the example they were set as children. They think that bullying behavior is going to get them what they want. And often enough, it does. I remember a flight delay I had due to a bomb threat. This man was just going off on the airport personnel as if there was anything that they could do about it. It was just awful. Myself, I just say what the rules are, politely and calmly over and over again. If necessary, I say that I won't tolerate the behavior and find myself a higher up who can handle it (hopefully). Or if I don't have that option, I beat a retreat.

The environment of Earth is not the same as it was 100-150 years ago. Now, there are only humans in this world. You can hardly see any animal or forests here. The balance is not that good. It gives bad impact on any human mind. Now a days, people seems to be a short tamper guy. They will loose tamper on small things. Now, it is very tough for us to stay cool iwth the temperature going up every day on Earth. I see the End not so far!

i think it happens to me too, but that not worse.I am like that when i encounter people with "bad energy" , i mean those who are really angry too, and so annoying, so i really go away if i see that aura. If the people is jolly, they said you stick with them. Its not gunna be dangerous, so sometimes bad energy from other people is contagious, sometimes you got annoyed by a screaming woman in anger, then you dont realize you easily get irrirated and the day is ruin.

Ok I am guilty of throwing tantrums inside my house sometimes. So I bang the door and throw pillows inside my room. And ok, I have broken my cellphone lol. It happens rarely and when I am super pissed. Thats when I get mad at my brother or dad. It gets tedious at times and they aggravate stuff or shout at me. On the other hand I am a total angel outside and with other people. I am an astonishingly composed person and it does take a lot to make me act silly. Its not really good to get on my wrong side though lol. But I never throw tantrums outside.

My partner frequenty erupts into a violent rage whenever I say something he either disagrees with or feels I am having a 'dig' at him. He will become arrogant and aggressive, quite often ripping the shirt off his back, slamming doors etc. I feel cowed in this relationship in so far as it's become habitual to think twice before saying anything for fear he takes it the wrong way. He doesn't believe he has a problem but I have never met anyone like him before and am at my wits end what to do.