Do I Have Anger Issues? How to Identify and Treat an Angry Outlook

Do I Have Anger Issues? How to Identify and Treat an Angry Outlook

Anger is a natural, instinctive response to threats. Some anger is necessary for our survival.

Anger becomes a problem when you have trouble controlling it, causing you to say or do things you regret.

A 2010 study found that uncontrolled anger is bad for your physical and emotional health. It can also quickly escalate to verbal or physical violence, harming you and those around you.

What causes anger issues?

Many things can trigger anger, including stress, family problems, and financial issues.

For some people, anger is caused by an underlying disorder, such as alcoholism or depression. Anger itself isn’t considered a disorder, but anger is a known symptom of several mental health conditions.

The following are some of the possible causes of anger issues.

Depression
Anger is one of the symptoms of depression, which is characterized as ongoing feelings of sadness and loss of interest lasting at least two weeks.

Anger can be suppressed or overtly expressed. The intensity of the anger and how it’s expressed varies from person to person.

If you have depression, you may experience other symptoms. These include:

• irritability
• loss of energy
• feelings of hopelessness
• thoughts of self-harm or suicide
• Obsessive compulsive disorder

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder that’s characterized by obsessive thoughts and compulsive behavior. A person with OCD has unwanted, disturbing thoughts, urges, or images that drive them to do something repetitively.

For example, they may perform certain rituals, such as counting to a number or repeating a word or phrase, because of an irrational belief that something bad will happen if they don’t.

A 2011 found that anger is a common symptom of OCD. It affects approximately half of people with OCD.

Anger may result from frustration with your inability to prevent obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors, or from having someone or something interfere with your ability to carry out a ritual.

Alcohol abuse
Research shows that drinking alcohol increases aggression. Anger is a contributing factor in approximately half of all violent crimes committed in the United States.

Alcohol abuse, or alcoholism, refers to consuming too much alcohol at once or regularly.

Alcohol impairs your ability to think clearly and make rational decisions. It affects your impulse control and can make it harder for you to control your emotions.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder marked by symptoms such as inattention, hyperactivity, and or impulsivity.

Symptoms usually start in early childhood and continue throughout a person’s life. Some people are not diagnosed until adulthood, which is sometimes referred to as adult ADHD.

Anger and short temper can also occur in people of all ages with ADHD. Other symptoms include:

• restlessness
• problems focusing
• poor time management or planning skills
• Oppositional defiant disorder
• anger
• hot temper
• irritability

Children with ODD are often easily annoyed by others. They may be defiant and argumentative.

Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder that causes dramatic shifts in your mood.

These intense mood shifts can range from mania to depression, although not everyone with bipolar disorder will experience depression. Many people with bipolar disorder may experience periods of anger, irritability, and rage.

During a manic episode, you may:

• be easily agitated
• feel euphoric
• have racing thoughts
• engage in impulsive or reckless behavior

During a depressive episode, you may:

• feel sad, hopeless, or tearful
• lose interest in things once enjoyed
• have thoughts of suicide
• Intermittent explosive disorder

A person with intermittent explosive disorder (IED) has repeated episodes of aggressive, impulsive, or violent behavior. They may overreact to situations with angry outbursts that are out of proportion to the situation.

Episodes last less than 30 minutes and come on without warning. People with the disorder may feel irritable and angry most of the time.

Some common behaviors include:

• temper tantrums
• arguments
• fighting
• physical violence
• throwing things

Grief
Anger is one of the stages of grief. Grief can come from the death of a loved one, a divorce or breakup, or from losing a job. The anger may be directed at the person who died, anyone else involved in the event, or inanimate objects.

Physical symptoms
Anger affects different parts of your body, including your heart, brain, and muscles. A 2011 study found that anger also causes an increase in testosterone levels and decrease in cortisol levels.