Busy Highway Travel Could Mean More Road Rage

the MPR take:

Memorial Day is typically considered the unofficial start of summer which means plenty of people will be on the road this weekend heading to their vacation destinations and possibly frustrating other drivers. A recent study conducted by the travel website Expedia showed that people were more likely to have a bout of road rage if they were stuck behind a slow driver, had to share the road with a driver who was texting, or had to deal with a tailgater. While occasional mild outbursts are common for most, having three or more impulsive episodes that are way out of proportion for the situation at any time in one's life could classify a person with intermittent explosive disorder (IED). IED typically begins in the teen years and may predispose people to other mental illnesses in later life including depression, anxiety, and substance abuse disorders. Researchers believe that treating anger early may prevent some of these disorders from developing.