I had to put myself in time out earlier this week. I know, a grown man shouldn't need time outs, but I still do from time to time.
This past week, I was playing a game of Scrabble at a table on base in our housing unit. The unit was particularly loud and crowded at the time, but I can usually tune out the noise, for the most part. But, a guy decided to stand literally inches from my shoulder, and after time in higher security levels, I'm a little touchy about people standing so close to me.
I somewhat politely asked him to move away and give me some space, which he did. However, within seconds, he'd moved right back into invading my space. Now, I've worked hard for many years to change my communication style from passive aggressive to assertive. However, my irritation level rose sharply, and I resorted to being passive aggressive again.
After some choice words said loudly enough for him to hear but without directing them TO him, I switched seats at the table. Shaking my head at the blatant disrespect at this level 1 minimum security prison, I got back to the game.
Within a minute or two, another guy came and stood right to the left of me. He began hollering at a guy in the hole behind me, right over my head. It was difficult for me to even think with how loud the two of them were being. Again, I resorted to passive aggressive comments.
Recognizing that I was highly irritated, and that I'd resorted to communicating in a way that I've worked hard for years to avoid, I knew it was time for me to utilize a healthy coping strategy. I put myself in time out. I had to avoid resorting to aggressive communication, which is likely to lead to worse problems.
I told my gaming partner that I needed to go, so we packed up the game, and I went to my cell.
Over the years, I've learned to recognize situations and reactions like this, and to employ healthy coping strategies to avoid conflict and violence. It's helped me to go 16 years misconduct-free (minus one minor misconduct for cutting someone's hair in the bathroom). These are lessons I plan to take with me when I leave prison.
I've also worked for several years to teach other prisoners how to identify trigger situations and emotions and to pre-plan coping strategies to manage their emotions and reactions better. Too many prisoners, and if we're frank about it free people too, are impulsive and let their emotions dictate their behaviors.
The truth is, we can't always depend on other people to be respectful, to understand and read situations accurately, or to manage their own emotions well. It's critical, especially for a class of people who are prone to being impulsive, to increase our emotional regulation skills.
I'd rather take myself to my room and self-impose a short time out than to end up in the hole in an extended time out, with all the consequences that come with it. It just makes sense to me.