Anger

[Melissa S.]

Anger seems to be a sign of where I am in the mania/depression cycle. Sometimes family members tend to trigger my anger but I’ve learned to keep away from them when I feel it coming on. I feel like by staying away I am avoiding destroying the relationships but at the same time I feel like I'm always keeping at arms length. Does anyone have any techniques on how to deal with my anger without avoiding the people I love?

[Kathy Ann]

I was very interested in the DBT Workbook mentioned earlier so I went to Amazon to order it and found that there is a DBT Workbook for Bipolar coming out soon. I preordered it and thought others might be interested in knowing about this book as well.

[Geri]

Thanks, Kathy Ann, for letting us know about the DBT Workbook for Bipolar. I've put it on my Amazon wish list.

[Rikki Evans]

I also get angry and easily frustrated when I am not doing well. I have even thrown things on the floor at work when I was angry - it's a good thing I was in my own area so no one saw me. Now I work mostly by myself and can do all the screaming and cussing I need. I also try to stay away from family and friends, but then ended up taking it out on my cat.

I have lost many friends over the years, but luckily my family knows about my bipolar disorder and understands (somewhat) when I need my space. When I am around my family I just try to keep my mouth shut as much as I can, but my frustration definately shows. I also try to listen to some loud, angry, but meaningful rock music that helps me vent and the right songs help me understand that I am not alone. If anyone has any better ideas, please let us know.

[TeachBaby]

Anger! Sometimes I'm inexplicably angry at everything and everyone. My husband is a good sounding board as I tell him what my mother did when I was five, how angry I am at his son (so's he), my brother stealing my chocolate Easter bunny when I was ten, all the verbal and emotional abuse I received from my ex-idiot, and how mad I am about this &*$%^ illness, the meds with all the side effects, and the shape of politics. Then I turn it on myself...I'm getting stupider by the day (meds), I hate these mixed states. They are the hardest to deal with. I can't do anything right, I'm worthless, etc. I'm p oed because I'm medication fat. And I'm weak-willed and just not trying hard enough to overcome these problems. When I'm over it, I know most of this isn't true. But when I'm going through it, I can't see that. Maybe the anger is part of the BP, and maybe some of it is justified. But, I guess I hold a grudge. I may forgive, but I sure don't forget. Best thing to do is vent, I think.

[Edward L. Erikson]

Hi, anger and irritability are symptoms of mania. Irritability is a symptom of Depression. Stress triggers mania,depression and psychosis. If you lower your stress level you will start to feel less angry about them.

Ed

[sherri anne bercier]

if you try to breath and just keep taking breathes, it should subside alittle but enough to get you into a safe haven in your mind and then you can try to relax; whenever you feel it comming try this and it should help alittle. it should help apease it enough to stop the behaviors from happening. then you can continue to work on your anger by finding out what makes you angry, like what about the person or situation that triggered it. then you can put posative self talk in your mind to stop yourself from being triggered again. the anger will go as fast as it went in when you let go of it and the triggers. one other thing,......sex...a bipolar trip...will help! and when you are masturbating you can force the anger out by hitting the spot that makes you feel good and everytime you hit the spot, think of the anger and what angers you and let it go! it works because i have done it!!!!

[Kathie D.]

Do the people you love understand your illness and thus, the source of your anger? If they do, they should be able to help you work through the anger as it unfolds. If they don't understand BP, I would say avoidance is probably the thing that will help you deal. Example: my mother is my greatest source of anger....she knows I have BP, knows that the stress between us is one of my triggers, but hasn't changed the way she approaches things with me. So I have to change how I deal with it, which is to avoid it entirely....arms length, as you put it. Sometimes I feel bad about it, but at the same time, I'm not avoiding her and the issue to be mean, it's merely a protection measure for me. I hope this helps.