[BlueFaith]

I have bipolar II disorder, and I've always had issues with anger. I get so angry about things sometimes that I have to go to my bedroom, shut the door, and isolate myself for a good while before I "trust" myself enough to know that I won't say or do anything stupid. Does anyone else have anger issues with this disorder? Is it a part of the disorder? I'm just wondering if it's something that comes along with being bipolar. This may be hard to answer, since everyone is different. I just wanted to know if anyone else has experienced this.

[Junerain]

Yes, I have a lot of anger, it's my main issue in therapy. What are you angry about? For me....I am angry I have an illness. Do you implode your anger or expolde? I implode...let it go to the back of my heart and build up...I wish I exploded it would be better. Thank you for bringing light to anger.

[crazymusiclvr]

There are a lot of different things that can cause anger. It could be part of any mood disorder or could be inner issues that need to be worked out. My sister gets aweful anger but she does not have bipolar.

You may want to ask yourself, do you feel better on your medication? Is it helping? It may be something that needs to be delt with along with the use of your meds.

Whenever I get upset, anxious or impatient, I always stop, take a deep breath and tell myself, "this is something that is beyond my control. I cannot change it. It's going to happen no matter what I do so I need to go with it".

I hope you feel better soon!

~Lia

[darkeyes]

That's a toss up, for I know so many that have no DX's (maybe do) and have anger issues. Again, I think it becomes a "Bipolar stigma", when people hear the word, "mania".
Yes, we, people with "Bipolar disorder" display manic (anger) but Bipolar becomes a "catch all" for people experiencing anger, an every day emotion/act, and personally, I resent that.
Final feelings, is, anger is a natural emotion, regardless, "bipolar", "normal", whatever . . . anger is a normal emotion and function, the main thing is control, etc.
Just my 2 cents, but I may be rambling on, senseless, LOL!!

[dogtanian]

anger's a big issue for me too. i try to cover it in therapy, but it has got the better of me a lot. the problem i have is i can't be angry at people i know because i also have a paranoia that they hate me, so i vent at random strangers, and yell at people i've never met and will never see again. it's not healthy, one of these days i'll be done for assault :S

[darkeyes]

From my personal experience, DON'T cover it up in therapy, but talk about it, even express it, but do not hold or bottle it all up. My former T, seemed to provoke temper in me,I still do not know if it were to help him with me and DX or provoke me.
It's non-productive and not healthy, either,to hold it in.

[pink26glitter]

I understand exactly what you are dealing with. I too am bipolar II and instread of getting "manic" i get irratable, and just ticked off over the littlest things. I know that I am being irrational and just plain old mean but I cant contol myself and I too have to go be alone so I dont make anyone else feel like they have to walk on eggshells around me.
The hardest part for me is I have 3 young kids and I am probally screwing them up by being this way. I hate myself so much and some days I feel like they'd be better off not living w/ me. Who wants a total b**** for a mommy?

[dogtanian]

oh, sorry, by "cover" i meant go through and discuss, i didn't mean "cover up". oops!

[BlueFaith]

Yeah, DE, I agree. A lot of times people try to "blame" the anger solely on the bipolar disorder. And I know that everyone gets angry once in awhile. I'm just saying that I seem to ger OVERLY angry... if that makes any sense? Like pink26glitter said... I get irrational and just plain mean. I say really mean things, too. I'm guilty of not bringing this up to my doc yet. I know she needs to know, but I am so embarrassed that I actually ACT like this. I have to let her know though, if I ever want to get this under control. I've tried to get it under control alone, and it just isn't working.

pink26glitter, I have 3 small children, too. I can totally relate to what you are saying.

[darkeyes]

((((((((( MP ))))))))))
Maybe hormones are fueling this?? Just a thought, I understand how it sucks when we get this way.
Get in touch with your doc, tell him or her exactly what's going on, so it gets nipped sooner than later.
Hope I didn't offend you with my replies, if so I apologize.

Roe

[BlueFaith]

((( Roe )))
Nope... not offended at all. Wow, It never crossed my mind that this might be hormones. Thank you for bringing that up. I am certainly going to talk to my doc about this very soon.

[SilverGirl]

My anger was why I sought out help in the first place. I assaulted a girl in my class and thats when I new something was wrong. I was Dx'd as BP about six months later. Unfortuantly for me things got worse before they got better, but hay, I have very little anger issues now and I'm sure yours will get better too!

[kimmydawn]

((((((((((((((((Jenn)))))))))))))))))))

I'm not bipolar, but brother has been dx'ed with it. There are times where he's said, "I have all this anger, no reason for it, and don't know what to do with it."

He said meds did help to take it down from rage to anger.

I hope you always the best.

Love,

KD

[DaveyJones]

Hey, Jenn...

I had very bad anger issues several years ago. I'm BPII, also. It got to the point that my wife and kids were physically afraid of me at times. I got up to the edge of getting seriously abusive when I took an anger management course. It truly changed my life! It was taught using behavioral therapy, teaching us what to do when we got angry, and eventually teaching us how to modify our bodies' response to anger. It was weird the first time I started to get angry and actually felt my body relax! Very cool! If only all therapy worked this way! AND I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO SLEEP WITH JACK NICHOLSON!!! (rotfl)

So, I don't think it matters whether or not your anger is part of your BP...it is possible to change the way you handle it. Check with your pdoc and T and see what they think...my course was either 6 or 8 weeks, some of the best time I ever spent!

Hope this helps!
YFDJ

[pink26glitter]

you should tell your doc. the anger and "moodiness" your dealing w/ is a symptom of hypomania. maybe your doc will up your mood stablizer or put you on one if your not taking one. i'm on depakote but honestly it only works alittle for me.
i know everyone experiences some degree of mood changes and anger and all that but when it is chronic and interfearing w/ your life...its not "normal". and i definately know that when you are hypomanic, you truely are experiencing these intense feelings so saying it is b/c of the bipolar is the truth. just as when someone is experiencing depression or mania, they cant just "turn it off".