One of the things that has helped me a great deal is the insight that when we are "reactionary," a lot of times we are actually reacting to old memories, not to what's in front of us in the moment. We end up being furious at something... but it's actually related to some deceased aunt who said things a certain way, and the person we are speaking to is reminding us of that.

As you say, it will pass... and a moment of "wakefulness" will make us realize that we're not needing to get angry, at all.