Oh, I don't know. It might raise the standard of honest communication in your R a wee bit and perhaps built a smidge of emotional intimacy and trust.
"I'm going to take a real emotional risk here and be honest about something that is bothering me. Please be gentle, this is hard for me."
Of course, the clenched teeth approach while obsessing over what the truth is can also lead to emotional ties. The kind of nasty enmeshment that comes when your resentment leaks out in those clever passive aggressive ways.
Yes, taking no prisonners today. Sorry. I'm very angry about a benefits issue at work and it is eating up my patience.
Also, note how that direct thing works for me in this case.
