Cumbrian Gunman Rage

There are times when people just lose the plot.

As in the recent killings in Cumbria (UK) sometimes simmering resentment boils over into uncontrollable rage.

I don't know the full background to this case, perhaps no one ever will but I recognise the rage.

It can happen to the best and most well meaning person; an event, a situation; perhaps that becomes exaggerated by drink or drugs that results in uncontrollable rage.

Rage is blind, it is I believe, a deep emotionally driven response to an assault (or perceived assault) on one self. An assault so potentially damaging that it must be dealt with at any cost.

When you see someone in a rage you quickly recognise that until the fire-storm of anger passes, there is no way to have a rational conversation with that person.

The best that might happen is to provide words of comfort from a distance, direct intervention, even from a loved one can be perceived as a further increasing threat to be dealt with.

In that rage, anything that comes to hand can become a weapon, it needn't be a gun; a chair or fist or handbag will do just as well.

Whilst I do not think we can eliminate rage (nor should we) it's easier to stay in control of one's own deep emotions when eating well, avoiding drugs (including alcohol) and cultivating a deep reserve of self-esteem to deal with the issues that other people push on to us.

In this most recent case the result of what seems to have been a long simmering rage is nothing short of a deep and profound tragedy. Sadly, guns or not, it will not be the last incident of raging violence that we hear about.

All you can really do is look after your own well being and help those others willing to change their life. Some people do not want to change and for that reason alone rage will always be with us.