what are your experiences with bipolar and sudden anger?

Do anger outbursts (very bad and sudden) just happen with BP or happen more frequently when mixed? I had a bad one today (granted, it was an annoying situation, but still, it was bad, sudden, and I couldn't think of anything else and was screaming my lungs out, fortunately in the car with the windows closed).

I feel like I am about to have another one, just any little thing will tip me over. I have had quite a few of these lately, though I only recall the circumstances of the one today because I have also been very forgetful lately; I wrote about today's outburst in the BP update thread, so I am not going to write about it again. But I do feel like I am having more & more of these lately.

Is is stress? Is is just bipolar in general? Is it being mixed or more towards depressed, mania, the middle, or it doesn't really matter, it just happens with bipolar? Does it mean anything, like the mixed is getting worse? How do you even tell when mixed is getting worse, considering you are living under extreme stress, have panic disorder, an eating disorder, PTSD and may or may not have ADHD, so you feel like a walking, talking DSM-V.

I have a feeling it's the bipolar, but I'm not sure. What have your experiences been with bipolar and sudden anger outbursts?

Sudden anger is part of my bipolar disorder. I get irrationally angry over minor situations. My boyfriend thinks I'm verbally aggressive at times. I think anger can happen in a mixed episode.

Sudden anger just happens to anyone when stressed to the max MI or not.

This is one of the most stressful times of my life that I remember, but I do have a couple good things happening of late. One is that I am fairly sure the CPS case is going to be wrapped up without me having to get myself into the middle of Houston at 8 AM on a Saturday morning to get a 4-6 hour CPS psych evaluation. I'm pretty sure, anyway.

Also, my mom (relationship there a bit rocky, but I've made some tentative peace with her) has agreed to pay off my EMS bill, which is around $460. That was after a re-submission to the insurance and making $100 worth of $25/month payments on it. So that expense will go away.

That will leave only the hospital bill on the medical expenses I owe. Granted, that is the worst one - $3800. I did submit to the hospital charity case as you can ask for help if your bill exceeds $1000 and you feel you are underinsured. Yes, with a $7500 deductible, I do feel we are very underinsured. There are also caveats in the insurance fine print that make the insurance even worse, if you can believe it. I hope to get some parital aid at least for the hospital, but they have a while to review the case. Still $3800 is more than H even brings home each month, so I hope they take some pity on us.

My mom has bipolar 2, and when she is in a mixed state, the slightest little thing can set her off. So I think sudden anger is definitely a part of bipolar.

For me, it's stress and/or impulsivity in manic or mixed episodes. I have a tendency to feel the need for control in some situations, I also have high expectations for myself and some others. If I feel wronged, I speak up. I'm quite assertive in most situations. If people are rude, I sometimes have trouble keeping my cool, but I've learned over time to let some things go. Most, but not all of the time.

I don’t have episodes of sudden anger. That being said, in the early days of Bipolar 4 years ago I found myself once yelling at a roomful of complete strangers. I was unmedicated at the time.

Yeah, I had the most intense anger while in a mixed episode. I felt like my head was going to explode but it was not over anything. I also found I would just rage out over nothing even when I thought I was feeling better for a second. I would not be surprised if bipolar is playing a part in your sudden anger, although I am sure it is hard to tell if any of your other diagnoses or situational stuff is playing a part, too.

I do not know if it is bipolar or just .... but I have ripped many heads off ... but I have not since I have been on mood meds ... I still feel that way at times but now I am (so far) in control ...

I'm not all that great at measuring my mood. I know the triggers but I'm also not good at seeing them coming. In other words, my outbursts come without warning. I think being a more even person overall is the key to managing the anger. I don't use immediate strategies all that much - I'm usually too busy, distracted, or involved in something else to use those tactics. I'm more focused on a holistic approach - meditation, mindfulness, diet, exercise, medication. It's almost like pursing a personality overhaul and it takes a *long* time to make that change.

Any points on how to encourage a teenager experiencing these sudden bouts of anger - who also knows the triggers/doesn't-see-them-coming - to get to the point where he even wants to be a more even person (as in actually working on it and not just paying lipservice to the idea for the benefit of the several sheriff's deputies who happen to be inquiring at the moment?)

----Be assessed by a professional if you haven't already. Talk to your parents and school counselor. Whether you have a diagnosis and what it is, is very important in trying to get an answer to this question. What makes you angry? Just the immediate situation or do you think that underlying things in your life are making you angry? If I was your parent I would have you do these things and have you do vigorous exercise as an outlet, and possibly pursue other hobbies.. As to why you don't have any control: If you don't have a diagnosable condition, and sometimes it takes a while to get a diagnosis, remember that the teen years include huge transitions and your brain is actually still growing. And your hormones are raging. You are not ignoring the problem, so you are that much closer to some solutions! If you feel that the problem is that you cant express yourself verbally, consider an assertiveness class. Good luck!

It definitely is for me. I have so much guilt over not being dx for 30 years and the anger I have spewed at my husband and kids when in a hypo/manic phase. I don't do it when stable or depressed so it's one of the things I look for in monitoring moods.

I know your financial situation is dire so this may not even help and you may already be aware of it. But, whatever your bill ends up being most hospitals, at least in Texas, will allow you to set up a payment plan. We are doing that now for my last Crohn's episode. If you've never done it call the business office and let them know how much you can pay per month and the date you can pay by each month.

I was undiagnosed for the 1st 44 years of my life. Can't say that the diagnosis helped though because before it i was working full time with a career, had a social life and raised my son. I've also had these bouts of anger throughout life.

I hope the hospital gives you a break on the bill, Blueberrybook.

This is exactly I how I feel with a burst os sudden anger that I think is due to bipolar though I have absolutely no control over it, which is very bad.

luvyrslf,
i am not still in school. I graduated years ago, 2004 from grad school with an M.S in Cell & Molecular Biology. Sometimes your post sounds like you know this and other times not, but I do thank you for your thoughtful response. I am been in the mental help system since around 2000, nearly 18 year (except for right before & during my pregnancy, I did not take meds until the very end of the 3rd trimester. The OB gave me Zoloft, I think. Back then, it was still considered safe for pregnancy and breastfeeding. I don't believe they feel that way now, but I don't know; it was 10 years ago.

I do need to thoroughly express what find what th makes me that angry when I see my therapist again. Because the anger tends to be awful for an annoying situation that is not a super big deal. Such as being behind a person in a checkout line insisting dividing their groceries into 2 orders and a price check, coupon/newspaper price comparison with several other stores in the area with newspaper ads (and they will have a decent sized load) and writing out checks for both orders. This is an annoying situation for me as as it takes me much longer to check out, but I already have most of my groceries on the conveyer belt and people behind me waiting to check out. And if this happens in an express lane, just forget it for me. I am sure to have a fit.. Then, I will just lose it. It is an aggravating situation, but there is no reason to go ballistic over it.

——no, no, I was responding to the other person who asked about a teenager having this type of rages. At first I thought it was the teenager posting, but I think it was the parent. Yes it was your thread, but it sounded serious because the teen had tangled w the police as the result of one of their rages. I felt an urgency in responding.
As usual you and I being both mixed are having some similar experiences. I have the rages worst in hypomania and mixed states. We had better control ourselves in traffic because in Texas and in Arizona these good old boys have guns! Joke. I think I understand your situation except for the age of your daughter which I don’t know.

Its happened to me a handful of times. Really out of character.

It's hard for me because borderline types also have "anger fits." But I definitely notice it more when I'm manic or mixed. I also have zero patience for anyone or anything.

My daughter is 10.5 yr old and I'm involved with a CPS case I hope to God will be closing soon. The caseworker seemed to insinuate that if I started up with a therapist my own, she would close the case, fingers crossed. My daughter is not in mental health crisis or developing eating disorder type symptoms. She does have enough sensory issues to almost get her to the end of the autism spectrum very near Asperger's . She has other issues, like can't tie a bow, couldn't jump until she was 3.5 year old while her 1 year old cousin could jump, she stimmed a little in kindergarten, but it stopped. i am 99.9% certain my father has Asperger's. People meet him and know in 30 seconds he is not normal. But they didn't diagnose those things while he was growing up.

So I saw a therapist last Friday. She is a 5 minute drive away, which is super convenient. Of course, the first appt. is all about giving your history, particularly your psych history. She said she does CBT therapy, which is what I wanted and she did not flinch when I mentioned I had an eating disorder and it is anorexia. A lot of therapists drop me right then and there, but she didn't. So we shall see.

My hypomanic and mixed states tend to have lots of anger and irritability.

Sorry! My bad. My post was supposed to've been a PM.