Does anyone have an answer for how to control a quick fiery temper?
I wanted to murder a woman in the supermarket just now.

It is among the worst of bipolar symptoms for me to control.

A woman lost her temper at me for almost bumping HER cart which was in my incoming parking space. She said I almost bumped her car. I did bump MY car.

Road rage/ anger is hard for me. Also when I am happy and someone ends up being *****y to me. I can control myself for the most part, but when strangers are rude I have a hard time controlling myself sometimes.

Tips? PS This usually happens when someone is rude to me first.

[~Christina]

I use the 2 breathe rule. I can't react until I breath twice.. Its not foolproof , But it has kept me outta jail thus far

Bipolar rage/anger is a very difficult thing to manage.

I have this too. I didn't want to accept that I was a rager, but I have terrible road rage, I have made a fool of myself at the grocery store on a few occasion, and I'm no longer welcome at the post office due to my anger. (well, I'm too embarrassed to go back, not that I"m not allowed)

I don't go out when I'm in my moods. It's not safe....I'm afraid I'm going to "go off" on the wrong person someday and get myself killed. I'm serious too.

I will try the 2 breath rule.

Best of luck on finding a solution to this.

Anger is something that you should really talk to your Pdoc about. I internalize my feelings for the most part, either good or bad. I find that they are too overwhelming and intense for most people. As far as anger, It can be controlled via mood stabilizers quite effectively, well in my case it is anyways.

[Nammu]

When I'm in a mixed episode I get road rage too, since I no longer work I try not to drive when I'm like that. But my poor cat has to listen to me ***** over insignificant nothings. I do rage and sometimes throw things but he never hides, just sits there and looks at me with his hurt way did you do that look. People who have never seen me in that state tell me they can't imagine me angry. If they do see me like that it's never the same. I grew up with the women do not get angry, women are nice philosophy I get so ashamed I mostly just hide away when I get like that. So far it's kept me out of trouble. I shop late at night to avoid people and rearrange appointments. I should try the two breath strategy.

Sidestepper, being a women myself, I relate. It feels like its more acceptable for a man to have rage problems, when in fact, it's just as bad either way. It really is embarrassing.

I would never "Hit" anyone, but my mouth just fires off. I never "start" it, but I don't handle situations with any grace when I'm manic. In my usual state, i'm incredibly passive to the point of disgust really.

[Lonlin3zz]

I don't know how tolerant we are at approaching these kind of situations.

As per normal, I would be clueless as why a person would be raging at me randomly.

But really:

1. She could be having a bad day.
2. She could be experiencing the worst kind of pms temper.
3. She could be in a rush.
4. She could be agitated at that point of time
5. She wasn't herself

But you'll never really know what's on her mind though.

Other than advising a 2-breathe rule, try to switch from a different frame of thoughts when it comes to approaching this kind of scenario. Afterall, she's a stranger and you would seldom cross path with her.

Not saying it's not okay to be angry at another person, but give it a benefit of doubt.

[token451]

I've done some pretty dumb things out of a quick burst of anger like throw my phone and keys out of the car window and punch a hole in my bedroom door. Lately, I've been trying to ground myself when theses bursts happen. Deep breathing, tightening and releasing muscles, and if possible, removing myself from the situation physically. It's tough and it takes my anger a while to subside but I don't break as many things or hurt as many people with angry words. Hope this helps.

Thanks everyone for replying. It caught me off guard. SHE was blocking a parking space unloading groceries and I try to inch in around the cart. She moved it a bit but when I bumped it she yelled at me. I wasn't going to say anything at all until she snapped at me and said I almost hit HER car.

Then I just let it fly and called her a *****. I was trying to be polite by not saying anything and she *****ed at me.

I have a hard time being *****ed at by a stranger. Who knows? Maybe she is bipolar too! lol

[Crazy Hitch]

I have a very powerful imagination .......

I can manage all sorts, without doing a thing!

[In your case I would have probably imagined giving her a big fat slap whilst walking back to my car and dreaming of how nice it might have been had I actually bumped her]

In all honesty - some people deserve it!!

I do not have too much of a temper but I can be snappy and blunt. I have said things to make people cry. The difference is - I still believe in most of what I say and that the people needed to hear it.

Many of the times I have been "mean" to people has usually ended up with them thanking me or completely ignoring me, because I was right. Yep I am a bit arrogant today but yet again I have been proven right in something I said 8 months ago (which apparently was mean and a result of me being mentally ill - hey who knew mental illness = psychic?) haha.

Anyway, I might not have read it right but if someone was unloading groceries in an empty carpark I would tell them to move, and if they didnt I would hit it! And if they *****ed at me - well they would get an ear full too! Some people are just oblivious to anyone else in the world - they need a good "talking to" to snap out of it!

Sometimes its hard to maintain a level head, but when people piss me off I just smile, and laugh. Although there have been times I have blown people kisses with my middle fingers.

I really don't have a good way to control my temper as I'm generally a pretty laid back person. But I really do think that like Supernova said, some people deserve it If someone wants to come off like a b**** then well, they should expect to be treated like one.