Signs Of Anger Issues
While some amount of anger is normal and healthy, it can be dangerous to develop issues with managing anger. Notice how you experience anger and seek help if necessary. You may be experiencing issues with anger management if you:
- Are hurting others either verbally or physically
- Always find yourself feeling angry
- Feel that your anger is out of control
- Frequently regret something youâve said or done when angry
- Notice that small or petty things make you angry
Risk Factors That Can Make You More Vulnerable
Depression most often results from a combination of factors, rather than one single cause. For example, if you went through a divorce, were diagnosed with a serious medical condition, or lost your job, the stress could prompt you to start drinking more, which in turn could cause you to withdraw from family and friends. Those factors combined could then trigger depression.
The following are examples of risk factors that can make you more susceptible:
Loneliness and isolation. Theres a strong relationship between loneliness and depression. Not only can lack of social support heighten your risk, but having depression can cause you to withdraw from others, exacerbating feelings of isolation. Having close friends or family to talk to can help you maintain perspective on your issues and avoid having to deal with problems alone.
. While a network of strong and supportive relationships can be crucial to good mental health, troubled, unhappy, or abusive relationships can have the opposite effect and increase your risk for depression.
Recent stressful life experiences. Major life changes, such as a bereavement, divorce, unemployment, or financial problems can often bring overwhelming levels of stress and increase your risk of developing depression.
Chronic illness or pain. Unmanaged pain or being diagnosed with a serious illness, such as cancer, heart disease, or diabetes, can trigger feelings of hopelessness and helplessness.
Ways To Help Your Depression
Men can take many steps on their own that may help their mood and depression, including:
- Seeing and interacting with trusted people
- Exercising or just increasing the level of physical activity
- Breaking down tasks into smaller pieces that are more manageable
- Waiting until depression improves to make big decisions
- Maintaining a routine, like eating and sleeping at predictable times
- Avoiding substances, like alcohol and drugs
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Life Expectancy And The Risk Of Suicide
Depressed individuals have a shorter life expectancy than those without depression, in part because people who are depressed are at risk of dying of suicide. Up to 60% of people who die of suicide have a mood disorder such as major depression, and the risk is especially high if a person has a marked sense of hopelessness or has both depression and borderline personality disorder. About 2â8% of adults with major depression die by suicide, and about 50% of people who die by suicide had depression or another mood disorder. The lifetime risk of suicide associated with a diagnosis of major depression in the US is estimated at 3.4%, which averages two highly disparate figures of almost 7% for men and 1% for women . The estimate is substantially lower than a previously accepted figure of 15%, which had been derived from older studies of people who were hospitalized.
Depressed people have a higher rate of dying from other causes. There is a 1.5- to 2-fold increased risk of cardiovascular disease, independent of other known risk factors, and is itself linked directly or indirectly to risk factors such as smoking and obesity. People with major depression are less likely to follow medical recommendations for treating and preventing cardiovascular disorders, further increasing their risk of medical complications.Cardiologists may not recognize underlying depression that complicates a cardiovascular problem under their care.
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
Transcranial direct current stimulation is another noninvasive method used to stimulate small regions of the brain with the help of a weak electric current. Increasing evidence has been gathered for its efficiency as a depression treatment. A meta-analysis was published in 2020 summarising results across nine studies concluded that active tDCS was significantly superior to sham for response , remission and depression improvement. According to a 2016 meta analysis, 34% of people treated with tDCS showed at least 50% symptom reduction compared to 19% sham-treated across 6 randomised controlled trials.
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Changes In Sleeping Habits
According to recent studies, nearly three-fourths of people suffering from depression also suffer from insomnia. Fear, anxiety, and the inability to switch off anxious thoughts contribute to feelings of frustration and hopelessness. These not only disturb sufferers during the day but also affect normal sleep and rest patterns. Many patients try to compensate by adopting irregular sleep patterns or consuming caffeine to excess, which does not allow the body to adopt their natural circadian rhythms. It is important to find things that help you relax at night. Also, realize that as you treat your symptoms, you will eventually feel better about your sleep cycle.
Stand Up To Your Inner Critic
As discussed in the section on emotionally focused therapy, being able to stand up to your inner critic will help to alleviate your depression and possibly also reduce your anger. This requires you to acknowledge your anger and emotions, rather than avoiding your feelings.
This is best done with the help of a therapist however, you can also engage in this process by writing about your feelings in a journal, identifying your critical inner voice, writing responses to your critical inner voice
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Lifestyle Changes And Natural Remedies
Some people may choose to take herbal remedies to treat depression.
However, there is little research to prove that they are effective in treating depression.
Some of the substances that doctors have studied include:
- S-adenosylmethionine
- St. Johns wort
In addition to these supplements, certain lifestyle practices may help lift a persons mood. These include:
- engaging in regular exercise
- spending time with loved ones
- eating a healthful diet
Some people also report that alternative therapies such as acupuncture, meditation, tai chi, and yoga can boost their mood.
Light therapy is another alternative treatment option. It involves exposing a person to a special light box. The light can help regulate the production of melatonin, a chemical that plays a role in a persons natural sleep-wake cycle.
How Can I Help Myself If I Am Depressed
Other things that may help include:
- Spending time with other people and talking with a friend or relative about your feelings
- Increasing your level of physical activity. Regular exercise can help people with mild to moderate depression and may be one part of a treatment plan for those with severe depression. Talk with your health care professional about what kind of exercise is right for you.
- Breaking up large tasks into small ones, and tackling what you can as you can. Don’t try to do too many things at once
- Delaying important decisions until you feel better. Discuss decisions with others who know you well.
- Keeping stable daily routines. For example, eating and going to bed at the same time every day.
- Avoiding alcohol
As you continue treatment, gradually you will start to feel better. Remember that if you are taking an antidepressant, it may take several weeks for it to start working. Try to do things that you used to enjoy before you had depression. Go easy on yourself.
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Causes And Risk Factors For Intermittent Explosive Disorder
The cause of intermittent explosive disorder is said to be a combination of multiple components, including genetic factors, physical factors, and environmental factors. The following are some examples of these varying factors:
Genetic: It has been hypothesized that the traits that this disorder is composed of are passed down from parents to children however, there is presently not any specific gene identified as having a prominent impact in the development of IED.
Physical: Research has suggested that intermittent explosive disorder may occur as the result of abnormalities in the areas of the brain that regulate arousal and inhibition. Impulsive aggression may be related to abnormal mechanisms in the part of the brain that inhibits or prohibits muscular activity through the neurotransmitter serotonin. Serotonin, which works to send chemical messages throughout the brain, may be composed differently in people with intermittent explosive disorder.
Risk Factors:
- Exposure to violence at an early age
- Exposure to explosive behaviors at home
- Having experienced physical trauma
Is Anger A Sign Of Depression
A person with depression typically has a negative bias, where they see the world around them through a negative filter. Some examples include:
- When remembering past events or conversations, they will recall them in a negative light or only remember the negative parts of them
- They will typically react to current situations that they are going through in a negative way, finding it difficult to think of any positives
- A person with depression will also tend to think negatively about the future
For many people with depression, this negative bias causes intense sadness and hopelessness. But for some, it can result in anger. Whether a person with depression does go on to experience anger, sadness or any other symptom typically depends on a number of factors, including their upbringing, culture and society as well as their biology.
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Learn The Signs Of Depressionand Heal Without Medication
Learn the signs of depression and take action now to heal. Did you know that anger is sort of on “both ends” of depression? What I mean by that is that: 1) not expressing anger can get you into depression, and 2) Healthy anger expression can help with the healing process to get you out of depression.
Depression comes with a sense of despair and helplessness, and healthy anger can be a way out of those feelings.
The type of depression we’re talking about here results from unexpressed pain, fear and anger, and the good news about that is that you have many choices for healing right at your fingertips.
Did you know you were designed to be healthy and happy? It’s true, and all you have to do is remove the barriers to this natural well being.
Let’s get started so you can feel better!
Symptoms Of Anger & Depression
Everyone feels angry and depressed sometimes. In most cases, these feelings de-escalate and pass after the triggering situation is over however, chronic anger may underlie clinical depression. Similarly, depression itself may contribute to more intensified feelings of anger. There is no doubt that experiencing symptoms of anger and depression at the same time can be challenging.1
Its important to remember that there are different kinds of anger.2 For example, some people become violent when they feel angry. In those cases, the anger is apparent and dangerous. Other times, anger may be more covert. For example, instead of shouting at someone, you might respond with a passive-aggressive sarcastic reply or gossip behind their back.
Here are eleven common symptoms of anger:1
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Talk To Someone About Your Feelings
If you have a challenging time expressing your emotions, working with a therapist can be helpful. Therapists provide a safe practice space to learn to express your feelings in healthy and adaptive ways. As you get more comfortable opening up, your therapist will empower you with tools to maintain that level of communication with other people in your life.
You may even find that discussing your anger openly helps reduce feelings of shame and guilt. If there are unhealthy aspects of your anger, getting them out in the open makes it easier to find skillful ways to deal with them. In short, talking about your emotions can help you see that theyre a natural and healthy part of being human.
Why So Angry & Irritable It Might Be Depression
When I talk to others about depression, most often theyll mention the signs and symptoms so many of us are familiar with: sadness, loneliness, isolation, a low mood, lack of energy, suicidal thoughts and feelings, and disrupted sleep and eating patterns. These are the common signs of depression that most people recognize.
What fewer people recognize are signs of depression when it manifests in an unusual way. Some people with depression become more irritable and angry with virtually everyone and everything in their life. They have inexplicable mood swings, and find that nothing their co-workers, friends, family, children, or partner does is right.
What does anger and irritability have to do with depression?
Some professionals like to say, Depression is anger turned inward. But what happens when that anger is turned outward, even though the person wouldnt ordinarily be angry at others? Its likely that the interaction between depression and anger is far more complex than we realized.
Its probably more helpful to think of depression not as an illness of mood alone, but rather as an impairment in the regulation of our emotions, as Besharat et al. note. They summarize the complex relationship between anger and depression at the start of their study:
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How Symptoms Of Depression Vary By Gender And Age
Anyone can experience depression. This means you are never too young to have clinical depression.
- Over 3% of American children aged 3-17 years had current depression
- Over 7% had anxiety
- Close to 7.5% had a current behavioral/conduct problem
But girls are more likely to be diagnosed with depression and boys are more likely to be diagnosed with a behavioral or conduct .
There are many studies that when taken together demonstrate these rather stereotypical differences in major depression diagnoses, and that gender differences in depression symptoms emerge earlier in life than previously thought but peak in adolescence.
Larger gender differences in major depression have been found in nations with greater gender equity and in more recent studies.
What Does Irritability Look Like When Its Part Of Depression
There are many things that can prompt irritability and anger in young people. What are the signs that these negative moods might be associated with depression?
If the irritability is constant rather than conditional. We expect some level of irritability from teenagers in general, especially when theyre being asked to do something they dont want to do, like put down their phones and join the family for dinner. But that typical kind of irritation or anger is intermittent, and its provoked by something specific.
However, if irritation is the main way that a teenager is throughout the day, says Dr. Allerhand, and not only at home but also at school or in other environments, it may be related to a mood disorder rather than an environmental circumstance.
If the irritability is accompanied by other symptoms of depression. In addition to depressed mood or irritability, to be diagnosed with depression a child would have to have at least four of these symptoms:
- Losing interest in things they once enjoyed
- Feeling worthless, saying negative things about themselves
- Lacking energy, feeling tired or seeming lazy
- Trouble concentrating or making decisions
- Gaining or losing weight, changes in appetite
- Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
- Thinking about or attempting suicide
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Healing Anger And Depression
One way of understanding depression warning signs is in terms of how anger and depression work together. Most of us never learned to express anger in healthy ways, so we either stuff it or blow up at those we love. Both can easily and often do lead to depression.
The program entitled Healing Anger And Depression will guide you through an understanding of all emotions, how depression develops, and how it relates to anger. You can preview this program below, buy the CDs, or buy the audio download to listen immediately–with a full, unconditional money-back guarantee!
HEALING ANGER AND DEPRESSION: Removing Barriers to Health and Happiness
These two anger management CDs help you to understand anger and depression and how they affect your health and your overall happiness.
You will also learn powerful tools for healing your anger issues, overcoming your depression symptoms and expressing all of your emotions in healthy ways. Listen to a free preview below!
Listen To Previews Now!
Body Pains That Cant Be Otherwise Explained
If you have new body pains or physical symptoms that arent better explained by another diagnosis, it could be a sign of depression. It can be particularly difficult to tell if your pain is from depression or some of the other common causes like stress, trauma, injury, chronic pain, bad posture, poor sleep or bed position, arthritis, or simply from being tense and working seated in an office.
Put your body pain into perspective with your lifestyle and see about making some adjustments like gentle stretching and increasing your overall movement, posture, etc.
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What Are The Signs Of Intermittent Explosive Disorder
Intermittent explosive disorder manifests itself in what seems like adult temper tantrums. Throwing objects, fighting for no reason, road rage and domestic abuse are examples of intermittent explosive disorder. The outbursts typically last less than 30 minutes. After an outburst, an individual may feel a sense of relief followed by regret and embarrassment.
Ask A Mental Health Professional: Is It Depression Bipolar Disorder A Major Depressive Disorder
Only you and your mental health care provider can determine whether or not youre experiencing bipolar disorder or if this is just what depression feels like when you come out of it.
Bipolar disorder is depression plus mania. Thats why its also called manic depression or manic depressive disorder. When you have bipolar disorder, you can experience periods of depression and periods of mania but some people may be more prone to the depression side of bipolar disorder or to the mania side of bipolar disorder.
Bipolar stereotypes make it seem like people swing from one extreme to the next, when really, mania can be a lot less dramatic and even so mild that it goes unnoticed. Experiencing any level of mania after depression can also feel like such a gift that the person doesnt dare question it.
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