happy talk . How do you keep your sanity when working with insane people?

"Scream release energy and talk to pizzas especialy if they are called dad."

—Bob, Edinburgh

"When I am around people who are exceedingly difficult, I often ask God to meet the needs in their life that make them act and feel the way they do. It is a great way to connect with empathy for the person, and realize if they were a genuinely happy and fulfilled person, they could never act the way they do or say the things they say."

—Vicki, Sparta, TN

"I read the Bible."

—Mauricio, Woodbridge, VA

"I picture my body being coated with a thick layer of love and protection. If I see people being insane, such as negative, gossipy, mean, etc. I simply remember that thick coat. They can't touch me and their poison can't get to me!!"

—Renata, Central, SC

"There's a scene in the movie, 'Knotting Hill' where Hugh Grant poses as a Horse Magazine writer and is forced to interview various actors leading up to the interview/meeting with Julia Roberts. He manages to ask his awkward questions all from the point of view of a horse magazine enthusiast and make them relate to a movie that takes place in outer space (where there are no horses). When you're having a weird, uncomfortable moment with someone, you may want to consider the fact that each person is like a writer from a specialty magazine; they each bring their own agenda/point of view to the table which stems from the type of life experience or "magazine" they've lived or "represent". If the person you are talking to sounds like they're insane, think of them as just another writer from the "Irrationally Insane Monthly" magazine, before allowing your emotions to take over and get you all riled up.

"Try imagining yourself as the actor who has just made a movie that takes place in outer space but is being asked ridiculous questions about horses by this bumbling writer in a press junket where cameras may be rolling at any given time. Do you show sympathy and understanding for the writer's difficult task? Do you keep your composure in front of other people (and the cameras)? Do you stomp off and out of the interview in a huff? The closer you can get to being the consummate "actor" on and off the screen may help you to keep your calm in difficult situations."

—Linda, New York, NY

"Sometimes it helps to think of different people as different surfaces. Some people are like linoleum, others are like wood, porcelain, metal, etc... Each surface has its own type of cleanser specific to that surface. Likewise, each problem has its own type of solution specific to that problem. Therefore, what may work for you/your problem/your type of surface as a solution or cleanser, may not work for someone else's problem or "surface". Try thinking of how you would feel if you saw someone cleaning a wood floor with a metal scouring brush. You would probably want that person to use a softer cleaning method instead. Your way may be good for you but not necessarily for everyone else.

"This also helps when there are communication disconnects - just imagine that you are like wood; your words are the wood cleaner; you are trying to communicate with a different person (surface) but your wood cleanser may not clean that other person's surface; you must either become like the other surface or find another effective "cleanser" or solution in order to successfully communicate with them."
—Linda, New York, NY

"Remember how miserable they must be and be grateful that you are not them."
—Swan, New York, NY

"Vent and share your frustration with your co-workers. Try and let the person who upset you know how you feel and see if you can come up with an understanding or resolution."
—Michele, New York, NY

"Try to understand that they make their own inner joy by making other people crazy or bend to their craziness.
Avoid getting sucked in, don't get baited and let them live their craziness without reacting to it.
If all else fails, treat them like a fly; by not paying attention to their craziness, you minimize the power they feel from their actions, causing them to wind down their antics."
—Jeff, Queens, NY

"Try this:
Assign a value of 0% to each person, until YOU consider them worthy of a higher percentage."
—V, New York, NY

"Co-workers are like a family. You don't get to choose most of them and you spend a lot of time together. When things get a bit crazy, remember that sometimes co-workers are reacting to things that have absolutely nothing to do with you. They're just looking for a functional place to exist where they feel special and loved."
—Maya, LIC, NY