Anger Solutions and Accepting Mental Illness

Ever since I've been taking Effexor, I've had to deal with more anger issues than normal. I'm not on it anymore, but the anger issues are still there.

There's a great anger workbook out there that has identified an anger definition that hits home for me. It's the fact that when our needs aren't met, we get angry. In particular, something like, "Why does nobody understand me? Don't people recognize I have these needs?"

In mental health, we often go thru many things, like symptoms of the diagnosis, side effects of taking medicines, withdrawal symptoms, that others don't understand, and after a while I've built up anger over time.

We have to accept that we will not be understood, and our needs will not be met. When I quit relying on people to restore my happiness, I stopped feeling angry this way. I was beginning actually, to accept my mental illness.

A lot of anger issues continue because we refuse to be humble and allow our pride to rule the roost. Accepting that people won't or can't do for us what we're looking for and not fighting them for it, is a form of humility.

I am going to respectfully disagree with you here. I in no way think that we should accept that "we will not be understood". I think the hope that things WILL get better is the thing that will help to keep us going. Yes we may at one point think that things wont get any better. I know I did. but I worked at it. and I found someone who has changed my life so much: my t. I am so thankful for her. Now I DO have someone who understands me. I know it may seem better to go solo, but it is lonely. As human beings, we need personal contact. It may feel safer to go solo, but I dont think it should make us any more happier..? at least thats how it was for me.

While I am glad that you are finding calm and happiness in accepting, I hope that you do find the ability to ask for help, and accept what people *can* offer you, because I think that in the end, you will be much happier. They want to help you, and I think they may be able to more than you think. if you let them.