[dayton52]

We're moving into a new phase of something. My daughter (17) has been treated for bipolar for a couple of years now, but in the last month she's started having real problems controlling her anger. The slightest frustration leads to a rage. I always associated anger with depression more than with bipolar. Is rage a typical symptom of being biplor?

have you asked her?....if something bad had happened

to her?

sure an upset can go either way ....darkly quiet or obvious angry.

...personally?.....I believe the anger is easier to approach than the other.

..and it's best to just go 'human' about it before 'clinical'

[Trippin2.0]

Idk about typical, but if she experiences the dysphoric side of the coin then its to be expected IMO, especially if she's relatively young .. I have anger/rage issues which I believe are independent of my dx, but if I'm in an agitated state it could just take someone sighing audibly to set me off... We can learn to manage our reactions tho, I like exercise for anger best. So sorry you're dealing with this, I know its not pretty

[dayton52]

Great questions. We have talked to her about it--but she's not always communicative. Not sure what the "trigger" is. Something can go wrong with the tv and she'll start screaming, curing, throwing things, etc. I know sometimes other things are going on--worrying about school, being teased that day about her weight, just feeling lousy. Other times, I'm not sure what else is going on (if anything). It's also possible that the response is an attempt to get attention, just like a child will do with a tantrum. I'm not sure how much she can control things. She often seems not to try. I know it's easy for me to say--I'm not in her situation (as she often reminds me while in a rage)--but from what others have said here, she knows when she's heading in that direction and does not act to head it off. If she can do that, how do I encourage it??

[Trippin2.0]

Not everyone is born with natural insight and some cycles catch you so faar off guard it makes your head spin... Some people literally have to learn from scratch... A = B so when A happens, go for a run... Thing is, your daughter must WANT to know these things. Mood charts and journals are very handy in getting started,it could show you any correlation between cycles, triggers encountered- wether it was a word, caffeine, or That time of the month... Really helps give insight where there is very little...

Originally Posted by dayton52

Great questions. We have talked to her about it--but she's not always communicative. Not sure what the "trigger" is. Something can go wrong with the tv and she'll start screaming, curing, throwing things, etc. I know sometimes other things are going on--worrying about school, being teased that day about her weight, just feeling lousy. Other times, I'm not sure what else is going on (if anything). It's also possible that the response is an attempt to get attention, just like a child will do with a tantrum. I'm not sure how much she can control things. She often seems not to try. I know it's easy for me to say--I'm not in her situation (as she often reminds me while in a rage)--but from what others have said here, she knows when she's heading in that direction and does not act to head it off. If she can do that, how do I encourage it??

she is in good hands with you thats for certain....

sure you might and likely be a trigger and most anything can and will be a trigger could be anything?

she is emotionally vibrant...she sees things feels things that most don't notice cannot notice!...it's amazing but terrifying for her...and..

...you seem to have the "not guilty" approach...and this is superb...

cos it aint' her fault...

you already encourage it...just remember to take steps back for yourself...