Dr LeCrone
12-20-2005, 11:45 AM
As Bill sat at the red traffic light, his hand gripped the wheel tightly, the muscles in his jaws twitched with tension, and he looked at his watch three times before the light turned green.
As Jim waited for an elevator, he paced back and forth, impatiently looking up at the descending lighted numbers. He punched the up button three different times with force enough to move a small mountain. He then darted across the lobby to another elevator which arrived only seconds before that of his original choice.
Trapped by time urgency, both Bill and Jim display one of the chief characteristics of a cluster of symptoms known as “Type A Behavior Pattern.” Other symptoms they may have include an overly competitive striving at most endeavors, a very high need for control in all situations and a very aggressive and easily angered disposition, with a low boiling point.
Type A individuals are more prone to heart attacks. Unfortunately, in our society, there are a great number of individuals with this behavior pattern. Indeed, our competitive, success-oriented society often pushes this individual beyond his capacity.
If you are a Type A personality, you will probably answer affirmatively to a number of the following characteristics:
I talk rapidly and often say the last few words of sentence more rapidly than the first few. I tend to emphasize and accentuate key words. I walk rapidly. I eat rapidly. I like to get things done in a hurry. I often am impatient with others and try to hurry them up. I often finish sentences for others before they have a chance to. I hate to wait behind people in line. I get irritated if cards in front of me slow my driving or keep me from going where I want to. I can’t stand routine or repetitious work. I often find myself trying to do two or more things at the same time. I eat while I work at my job. I am restless if I don’t have anything to do. I feel guilty if I just relax and don’t do anything for a whole day. I find myself so eager to accomplish something in the future that I don’t enjoy the present. I am often irritable with those around me. I always feel that I should be doing more. I find that I live by the clock and am always racing against time. I often have trouble sleeping. I argue a lot with people. I get bored on vacation.
Although many Type A person recognize their traits, they often do not wish to alter their lifestyle until disaster strikes and they have their first heart attack. Then they can see that many Type B personalities who are contemplative, easy-going and relaxed are also successful, productive and energetic people.
Thinking more about eh quality of life, Type B persons don’t measure their lives in quantitities – number of things achieved, number of cars or houses owned. They tone down perfectionism, although they don’t hit mediocrity. They don’t lie by the clock; don’t try to cram too many activities into too little time. They don’t set a lot of unnecessary deadlines for themselves.
They know how to say NO. They are good listeners, instead of always finishing other people’s sentences or letting their own thoughts consumer them. Away from their work, they know how to relax and enjoy themselves. When participating in a contest, they enjoy winning, but they also know how to lose without becoming ego-deflated and angry.
Type B persons tend to accept and like themselves for the most part and don’t have an inner compulsion to constantly push themselves to greater “achievements.”
Becoming more like Type B isn’t easy. With time and determination, Type A can improve their health. Hurry sickness can be avoided.
Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 1984
As Jim waited for an elevator, he paced back and forth, impatiently looking up at the descending lighted numbers. He punched the up button three different times with force enough to move a small mountain. He then darted across the lobby to another elevator which arrived only seconds before that of his original choice.
Trapped by time urgency, both Bill and Jim display one of the chief characteristics of a cluster of symptoms known as “Type A Behavior Pattern.” Other symptoms they may have include an overly competitive striving at most endeavors, a very high need for control in all situations and a very aggressive and easily angered disposition, with a low boiling point.
Type A individuals are more prone to heart attacks. Unfortunately, in our society, there are a great number of individuals with this behavior pattern. Indeed, our competitive, success-oriented society often pushes this individual beyond his capacity.
If you are a Type A personality, you will probably answer affirmatively to a number of the following characteristics:
I talk rapidly and often say the last few words of sentence more rapidly than the first few. I tend to emphasize and accentuate key words. I walk rapidly. I eat rapidly. I like to get things done in a hurry. I often am impatient with others and try to hurry them up. I often finish sentences for others before they have a chance to. I hate to wait behind people in line. I get irritated if cards in front of me slow my driving or keep me from going where I want to. I can’t stand routine or repetitious work. I often find myself trying to do two or more things at the same time. I eat while I work at my job. I am restless if I don’t have anything to do. I feel guilty if I just relax and don’t do anything for a whole day. I find myself so eager to accomplish something in the future that I don’t enjoy the present. I am often irritable with those around me. I always feel that I should be doing more. I find that I live by the clock and am always racing against time. I often have trouble sleeping. I argue a lot with people. I get bored on vacation.
Although many Type A person recognize their traits, they often do not wish to alter their lifestyle until disaster strikes and they have their first heart attack. Then they can see that many Type B personalities who are contemplative, easy-going and relaxed are also successful, productive and energetic people.
Thinking more about eh quality of life, Type B persons don’t measure their lives in quantitities – number of things achieved, number of cars or houses owned. They tone down perfectionism, although they don’t hit mediocrity. They don’t lie by the clock; don’t try to cram too many activities into too little time. They don’t set a lot of unnecessary deadlines for themselves.
They know how to say NO. They are good listeners, instead of always finishing other people’s sentences or letting their own thoughts consumer them. Away from their work, they know how to relax and enjoy themselves. When participating in a contest, they enjoy winning, but they also know how to lose without becoming ego-deflated and angry.
Type B persons tend to accept and like themselves for the most part and don’t have an inner compulsion to constantly push themselves to greater “achievements.”
Becoming more like Type B isn’t easy. With time and determination, Type A can improve their health. Hurry sickness can be avoided.
Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 1984