Hi there
It doesn't always take much to raise our hackles when we're combing through our inbox.
Sometimes a blunt tone or even just a clipped sign-off can be all it takes to darken our mood.
An actual negative response to what we thought was a reasonable request can send our blood pressure through the roof.
The strange thing though is that we probably wouldn't react like that in a phone call or face to face. And that's not just because social pressure would then give us more self-control.
Assuming the worst
Digital communication strips out the non-verbal cues that would normally help us judge how to react - facial expressions, pauses, body language and tone of voice.
When we try to fill in those gaps, we often assume the worst.
But there is something else happening at a much deeper level.
At its heart is a fundamental difference between how our brains handle text and speech.
Find out what's really going on - and how to keep your cool - when a message leaves you miffed:
