Sometimes we get in a habit of reacting in certain ways from the time we were a child. Everyone around us can see it, but we can't as easily because we end up conditioned to it being the normal way we react when certain buttons get pushed.

It almost takes an outside person to point out when we are doing it because it's hard to see something that seems so very normal all of our life.

It's good that you are working on it & starting to become aware of when you are doing it....that is the first step because we can't change something we don't recognize. Then once we recognize what we are doing & when we are doing it, comes the hard part of catching it before it becomes the habitual reaction.

Don't know if you can inlist the people around you to help out & point out when you start to act that way so you can make sure you catch it like your friend did....that really is a great help. It's hard not to turn on them for helping though. It takes time to change any behavior that had become a habit.....just be patient....but be determined to change & you will succeed