4 Things About Bipolar Anger You Might Not Know
Greetings, Bipolar Community,
Anger and irritability have historically been one of my most pervasive Bipolar symptoms. For obvious reasons, this can quickly become problematic. Over the years, I have learned how to manage this differently, but the truth is it still gets away from me from time to time. Personally, I experience Mixed Episodes which are specifically marked by intense bouts of agitation. As with anything though, knowledge is power, and when we know better, we do better.
bpHope offers 4 Things About Bipolar Anger You Might Not Know,
#1 Effects Are Significant
Bipolar anger or rage is a side of the disorder that has long passed under the radar screen. This uncontrolled anger has destroyed the marriages, families, and personal relationships of many people with bipolar. It has ruined their careers and left them emotionally isolated.
#2 Mild to Wild
Anger stemming from bipolar disorder can range from “mild to wild” … and, many times, there is no great trigger—or only a disproportionate trigger that wouldn’t typically set off most people. For example, in a situation that people without a bipolar diagnosis would consider only an irritation, people experiencing bipolar anger will react with significant and extremely angry behaviors.
#3 Defining What Anger Really Is
Experts are careful to distinguish between the odd angry outburst and the long-simmering anger and rage of bipolar anger, sometimes lasting over several days during both manic episodes and irritated states of depression. When someone is in a manic episode, mood changes can swing from irritability to euphoria to depression—all within less than a half hour. Many times, people will just wake up with a feeling of anger that they can’t explain or shake.
#4 “Anger Attacks”
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston found that 40 percent of patients with bipolar had experienced significant levels of irritability within a one-week period. And a study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders reported that at least a third of bipolar patients described angry outbursts called “anger attacks.”
Please use the space below to address the following talking points:
How has Bipolar anger impacted your life? Share your experience.
What is one thing you wish people would understand about Bipolar agitation?
What are some strategies that have helped you successfully manage Bipolar irritability?
I think this is a topic that's easy to feel guilty about. Hopefully this space will allow others to dispel some of the mystery and offer support to those in need.
Thank you for sharing! ❤️
@blitheSun94
i have not been diagnosed with BP but i do tend to have some of these items i get angry very quickly and sometimes it is over something mild ......... i blow up but always think it is just long term resentments or irritations that boil over..... Maybe it is More
i have quit jobs or lost one because i overreacted to one of the staff being a liar and trying to throw others under a bus for his incompetence....... when discussing with the boss they took it like ok he is a liar and so ...... do not like when people seem OK being lied to.
i have tried to run or vent outside of the area of the person who ticked me off. I need to work on this as i find many many people not concerned about being honest or professional.
@blitheSun94
How has Bipolar anger impacted your life? Share your experience. My anger comes out in hysterical crying jags, which to say the least is quite frieghtening and not easy to live with (most adults were expecting another adult not an adult that is still emotionally undevelopled). I also have a tendendy to break things when I am nervous (so that is the worse time to do dishes or try to repair something). If it is really bad then I start mistreating myself (I try to avoid this behavior). I have been doing behavior like this since childhood and at work and at home. It is so sad that the place I use to work at thought this was normal behavior to have a woman constantly breaking down crying as long as I go my work out. I worked there for 26 years so they got to see the irrational OCD stuff too. My relationships of course have suffered. I have just been recently diagnosised with bipolar mixed and I am 55. My kids who are now adults are happy that I am seeking out help again. When I look back, my parents encouraged this crying behavior. My mom once told me that she thought all my crying was a sign that I was an obident child (I also kept their sick secrets). She did come to realize that she was wrong and told me so. Nothing changed except that I am trying to get take steps to get better.
What is one thing you wish people would understand about Bipolar agitation? The agitation comes out in different ways for different people. For me it is crying jags or getting so caught up into something that nothing else matters and I snap at people I love that are trying to help me but I think that they maybe they just want to make fun of me (something also carried over from childhood). For example playing video games is a lot of fun but not when I pursue it to the point that I am not eating, drinking, bathing (However, I can also do this with family genealogy too). This is how I got through college and it was not healthy for me to continue.
What are some strategies that have helped you successfully manage Bipolar irritability? Starting therapy, starting new medication (so far it is not working so I left a message to let them know before my appontment next week). Writing, Yoga, Meditation, Video games (in moderation), and telling people what is on my mind even if it sounds irrational because I need to run my thoughts by people to make sure they make sense. I work full time as an electronic publisher so I make sure things are done exactly according to SOPs (operating procedures) but I am learning to let them know when I need time off and also learning to let go of mistakes the author is ok with keeping. Leaving core social media alone is good because I have been known to get myself worked up over a meme or something innocent someone said that I didn't understand or took the wrong way. Going outside for walks helps loads! I am also careful what I watch on TV at times. Graditide and basic self-care (eating, drinking water, showering, proper breathing, and clean clothing) is normally the way out of irrational thoughts for me.
Thank you for this topic! It is reminding me what is important because most of the things I am upset about today don't matter in this very moment.
