Spin Cycle

Game On

Have you heard the term fight arc?  I heard a radio host use the term during a conversation about arguments. He was talking about how we tend to dredge up or pile on nonsense when an argument starts and building up to a peak like the top of an arc.  He was so right.  Have you ever noticed how things tend to spin up and sometimes out of control during an argument?  It is like a bad game of one-up only with less than favorable results.  You say or hear that one thing that pretty much stops the argument or sends it right over the edge to the point both parties totally shut down.  I cannot recall feeling good after an argument with someone.  I am normally left with the feeling of why did I say that and physically worn out.  The worn out feeling comes from overproduction of the stress hormone Cortisol.  In small doses, it is a good thing as it is the fight or flight hormone.  In larger doses like in stressful situations, it just whips your butt.

It takes two to argue.  Shouldn’t we all work on communicating rather than building a fight arc?  Just asking!