Why Am I So Angry All The Time? – Symptoms & Treatments

It’s hard to believe that so many people struggle with anger. In fact, it is estimated that as much as 7.8% of adults^[1] in America are angry for the majority of their waking hours. We don’t know what causes us to experience rage or why some people seem more prone to it than others.

But we do know that anger can be a very damaging emotion and has been linked with numerous health problems like heart disease and stroke. And so, seeking help, such as using online therapy, can be helpful. So if you are struggling with chronic anger, here are some excellent reasons why you should take steps toward managing your feelings:

Likely Causes of Anger

People experience anger for many different reasons, and everyone experiences it differently. Some people might feel angry if they are;

• Attacked or threatened
• Deceived
• Frustrated
• Feeling powerless
• Invalidated or mistreated by others.

When you’re stuck in a traffic jam, having your flight canceled, or are experiencing personal relationship problems, these can cause extreme worry and rumination. These situations can lead to feelings of anger which may come from specific people like coworkers, partners, friends, and even strangers. The memories of traumatic events^[3] and physical pain can trigger anger.

Another cause of anger is when you feel unable to achieve your goals or if others are unfair. 

These circumstances can be compounded by discomfort induced by unpleasant circumstances such as heat or odorous surroundings. Such can aggravate a feeling that you may describe as unbearable.

Signs and Symptoms of Anger

What are the signs and symptoms of anger? It is a question many people with anxiety and other anger sufferers ask before they seek help. Well, here are the warning signs. Anger can affect you both mentally as well as physically violent. Some common physical changes that occur when a person is angry include:

• Increased heart rate
• Shallow breathing
• Clenched fists or jaws
• Tighter stomach muscles
• Headaches
• Elevated blood pressure levels due to constricted blood vessels

Anger also affects your mental health by causing you to feel more stressed out than usual. This puts strain on your body, affecting its ability to fight off infections like colds & flu viruses.

Here are all the mental implications when you experience anger more often than usual:

• Annoyed
• Anxious^[4]
• Guilty
• Sad or melancholy
• Resentful
• Humiliated
• Worried
• Nervous

Anger is a complex emotion to deal with because it can trigger so many harmful and destructive behaviors^[5]. These behaviors include pacing, becoming sarcastic, losing a sense of humor or wit that you once had, and shouting and yelling at others angrily. Abusing others in your immediate environment, even if they are not the source of your rage, is a sign that your anger is getting out of hand.

Sometimes those who struggle with their temper may find themselves craving substances like alcohol or tobacco as coping mechanisms when angry feelings take hold.

Medical Reasons Behind The Anger

The above warning signs are not always definitive, and that is why you need to seek advice, diagnosis, or treatment. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders^[6], DSM-5, over 32 mental disorders include anger as a symptom.

These symptoms can lead you to believe your issue may be resulting from other health issues^[7], like borderline personality disorder or intermittent explosive disorder.

Here are some of the diagnostic reasons that may link anger as a symptom:

• Antisocial personality disorder
• Anxiety
• Oppositional defiant disorder
• Schizophrenia
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
• Bipolar disorder^[8]
• Borderline personality disorder^[9] 
• Conduct disorder
• Depression
• Intermittent explosive disorder
• Narcissistic personality disorder^[10] 
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder^[11]

What Are The Warning Signs That You Need To See A Doctor?

It is not always a clear sign that you need help with anger management from a professional. And sadly, this is the case with most people. Most patients seek help when the damage is already done – they sought help after hurting themselves or have severed their relationships. But if you are on the lookout for the following signs, your medical appointment with an expert is due:

Anger Episodes That You Cannot Control

These are behaviors like shouting, throwing items, swearing, threatening others around you, or even fighting.

Internal Angry Feelings You Cannot Control

These manifest as self-loathing to the point you self-harm, feel guilty, prefer isolation, and feeling like a failure.

Passive Aggression

These warning signs are like ignoring people, acting indifferent towards essential people and things, sarcasm, and keeping it all to yourself. In this state, you simply bottle it up, and it could lead to serious mental health issues like anxiety or depression.

How Professionals Help Patients Manage Anger

After you report to a medical facility with signs of anger, the medical practitioners that will be involved in your case are both physicians and psychologists. These two professionals will help provide medical advice, diagnosis and offer the best treatment regime. They will look at both your physical and underlying mental health conditions like negative feelings and get to the bottom of the issue.

If it is physical, they offer the appropriate treatment. And if it is mental, below are the likely treatment channels you will receive for controlling anger. To treat your condition, a doctor will likely refer you to one of three types of mental health foundation professionals: psychologists, psychiatrists, or counselors.

This is because each type specializes in different forms and causes of the disorder. A psychologist’s role can be more limited compared to that of a psychiatrist who has access to prescription medications. These are for medication-based treatments like anxiety disorders or depression. Such a patient receives therapy by antidepressants such as SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors^[12]).

Counselors might use psychotherapy instead, which aims at resolving symptoms by talking about issues causing anger rather than searching for an underlying cause. A psychotherapist can help you figure out what’s causing your aggression and how to deal with it. You will be able to process your emotions and improve your reactions to circumstances that make you upset.

Should You Have Your Anger Checked?

Yes,  if you have an anger problem, it’s vital to seek professional help. Talking with your physician is an excellent start. They can refer you to someone who specializes in helping people deal with their anger issues and providing you with anger management tips.

Suppose the issue continues or gets worse over time; some unnecessary and regrettable things might also happen. One is like violence against yourself or those around you and not controlling how angry outbursts you get when provoked. This could lead to self-harm^[13] without intending to do so or even hurting other people.

In a nutshell, here are some of the support treatments that you may receive for anger:

• Anger management classes
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy^[14]
• Psychotherapy
• Counseling

Anger Management Tips

Here are some of the things you can do to help you control your anger whenever you encounter a trigger:

Know Your Triggers and Learn To Think Before Acting

Recognizing the warning signs and pauses can lead to a better reaction to secure all your relationships. It is crucial for someone who is angry to think about their options before lashing out in rage, which often leads people down the wrong path. Sometimes walking away from an argument will help you gain back control of yourself so that you don’t make hasty decisions or hurt others around them as well.

Pay Attention To Your Physical Response And Calm Down

If you feel upset, take a deep breath as a first step. As you breathe in and out slowly for about 10 seconds, it will allow your body to relax more. This is called progressive muscle relaxation^[15] or PMR.

To release tension in the body, unclench your jaw and drop your shoulders. Uncross arms or uncross legs while rolling them back to stretch out the neck on either side if holding any tension there.

Listen

Listening can help you avoid heated arguments. If you disagree, it’s essential to stop and listen before responding because your expressing anger may make the situation worse if you don’t take some time to cool off first.

Find Healthy Distractions

Eliminating anger might seem like an impossible task, but in reality, a few simple anger management techniques^[16] can help. One effective method of keeping aggression under control is cardiovascular exercises such as running, cycling, or swimming, which releases the energy our body creates instead of letting it build up and become aggressive.

Another way we can prevent these feelings from arising is by finding ways to distract ourselves with activities like listening to music, dancing, going for a walk, or just taking time out alone. You do this so that you don’t let negative emotions escalate into something more serious. It would be best if you also considered writing down what has made you angry. This helps bring things back into perspective before making any decisions based on a short temper.

Practice Mindfulness

When having angry emotions, it can feel like the situation is much worse than reality. We may think that this will last forever or spiral out of control. However, cognitive restructuring^[17] challenges these negative thoughts and helps people replace them with more positive ones. Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation also reduce feelings of anger so that you won’t be on edge all day long.

Never Hold It In

If you get angry, try to have a calm discussion with the person who hurt your feelings. That way, it is possible for everyone involved in the situation to solve any problems and prevent future incidents from occurring again. Keeping it in does more harm than good. But expressing it helps you let go and heal from those emotions and keep your social life healthy.

 So the next time someone makes you angry, breathe, walk away, and have a conversation later on about it. Keep these tiffs in the past.

Conclusion

The bottom line is that if you’re constantly feeling angry, it’s time to get help. If you have any of the symptoms, then a doctor should diagnose the problem and prescribe treatments.

There are many different types of treatment options available, so there really is something out there for everyone who needs help with their anger issues. It would be best to get your rage under control because it can lead to high-stress levels. And this could lead to an unhealthy path toward depression. Your mental health solely depends on it!

Frequently Asked Questions

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