[peterwwillis]

Things I've found to help situations like this:

1. When a person is asking you for help, try to imagine a situation where you have needed help and asked someone for it. Imagine your responses to them as someone's response to you. Empathy and compassion are really great tools to use when communicating.

2. Do not sign yourself up for something you don't want to do. If you don't have time to help or don't want to, simply say so. There is no reason to make yourself upset, and then lash out at a stranger, if you don't need to.

3. Be a teacher. Teachers don't give the answers, they help give an understanding of how to solve the problem.

4. Don't continue a conversation if you feel you are angry, upset or annoyed. Try to redirect your energy. Talk to a boss, co-worker, or friend about the situation and ask for their advice. Go for a walk. Listen to music. Write out the experience and your feelings to a private journal.