Although anxiety disorders are typically characterized by social withdrawal, inhibition and shyness, and discomfort in social expression, individuals with anxiety disorders often express intense and out of proportion anger and aggression [7; 8].
While anger is not commonly a symptom that is associated with anxiety, there is evidence to suggest that when a person has an anxiety disorder, the rate and intensity of their anger can increase [source].
For example, someone with Social Anxiety Disorder may become frustrated with someone if they steer the anxious individual toward an uncomfortable social environment. Likewise, someone with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder may show anger if their routine is disturbed.
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.
Problems with mood.
Mood disorders such as depression and anxiety often occur with intermittent explosive disorder.
Intermittent explosive disorder (IED) is a mental health condition marked by frequent impulsive anger outbursts or aggression. The episodes are out of proportion to the situation that triggered them and cause significant distress.
Anger is present as a key criterion in five diagnoses within DSM-5: Intermittent Explosive Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder and Bipolar Disorder.
Exposure to violence and aggression during childhood, going through traumatic experiences, or being the victim of abuse and/or neglect are examples of some environmental factors that could bring about intermittent explosive disorder symptoms.
To calm someone during an IED episode, you can use empathetic statements, active listening, and emotional detachment. Treatment for intermittent explosive disorder includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Do something to distract yourself mentally or physically – anything that completely changes your situation, thoughts or patterns can help stop your anger escalating. For example, you could try: putting on upbeat music and dancing. doing something with your hands, like fixing something or making something.
Anxiety medications for anger
In addition to antidepressants, some anxiety medications may also treat anger. Benzodiazepines are a group of anxiety medications that can treat anxiety and agitation in short-term situations. Sometimes, agitation may appear in the form of anger.
It's easy to see the similarities between the symptoms of an anger attack and a panic attack. Researchers point out that both produce many of the same sudden and intense physical and emotional sensations.
Background. Evidence suggests that impulsive aggression and explosive anger are common among individuals with anxiety disorders; yet, the influence of IED on the onset, course, consequences, and patterns of comorbidity among those with anxiety disorders is unknown.
In clinical practice, some patients diagnosed with anxiety disorder (AD) may develop bipolar disorder (BD) many years later, and some cases of AD may be cured by the use of mood stabilizers.
Different types of medications may help in the treatment of intermittent explosive disorder. These may include certain antidepressants ― specifically selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) ― anticonvulsant mood stabilizers or other drugs if needed.
The researchers found that in people with IED, a brain structure called the frontolimbic region was smaller than in healthy people. This part of the brain helps regulate emotions, and there was a direct correlation between smaller brain volume in that area and the aggressive behavior of people with IED.
Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED) is characterized by repeated and sudden episodes of aggressive or violent behavior that can be verbal or physical in nature and are disproportionate to the triggering situation.
An intermittent explosive disorder episode can happen at any time. Some people have episodes daily, while others stay nonaggressive for weeks and months. A typical incident lasts for less than 30 minutes. People with IED experience varying intensity of symptoms.
It could be something as simple as being hungry or tired. Or, maybe something recently happened in your life that has you feeling scared, angry, or stressed out. Mental health struggles can also make you irritable, so if you haven't taken one of our mental health test yet, try that.
In a study using healthy volunteers, researchers from Britain's Cambridge University found that when serotonin levels are low, it may be more difficult for the brain to control emotional responses to anger.
Reacting quickly and violently to small problems, e.g. becoming angry when somebody bumps into you. Accusing friends and relatives of disrespecting you or of going behind your back. Finding it difficult to calm the feeling of anger without feeling the urge to express it through displays of anger.
Rage (also known as frenzy or fury) is intense, uncontrolled anger that is an increased stage of hostile response to a perceived egregious injury or injustice.
You may have feelings of impending doom, shortness of breath, chest pain, or a rapid, fluttering or pounding heart (heart palpitations). These panic attacks may lead to worrying about them happening again or avoiding situations in which they've occurred.
having a sense of dread, or fearing the worst. feeling like the world is speeding up or slowing down. feeling like other people can see you're anxious and are looking at you. feeling like you can't stop worrying, or that bad things will happen if you stop worrying.
At times, anxiety may trigger traumatic situations. For example, you may experience a panic attack in a public place. Perhaps you felt like you were suffocating or dying, and nobody came to help you. That experience can be traumatic.