[whimsicalman]

I don't know if there is anyone on here who has anger/irritability as a primary symptom of their depression, but it is one of mine. The unfortunate thing is that I lash out at the only other person who lives with me, my Mother. All the time. Almost everything I say to her is laced with it. I cannot seem to cognitively separate myself from doing so and could use whatever tips you have. It's all fine and well (not really, but better) when I let out the anger when I am alone, but not when I have her around. My only other coping mechanism is to distance myself from her, i.e. lock myself in my room and don't interact with her at all.

[Skeezyks]

I'm sorry you are struggling with that. Anger & irritability are things I struggle with as well. Unfortunately I don't know as I have any particularly useful suggestions to offer. What I do is to simply try to be mindful of my emotional state & meet my feelings of anger with compassionate abiding. Sometimes it works... sometimes it doesn't. But I do think that, over time, the numbers of times it works have increased & the numbers of times it doesn't have decreased. It's an evolutionary process.

[mote.of.soul]

Hello @whimsicalman. How are you going?

I can identify to your situation somewhat.

For me, after getting tired of my own behavior, I decided to check myself and ask, "Would I talk to a stranger like that? Or a friend?" - and the answer was 'No, I wouldn't. No, I don't'. So, I began to to view my parents - this was twenty years ago - simply as what they are: other people. Other people who deserved respect as well, in spite of anything. It did help me to grow in that area. Trying to treat people as equal. Checking my emotions.

[MickeyCheeky]

Yes, I can very much relate, @whimsicalman. I, too, am often angry or irritable to my Parents, especially my Father. I shouldn't be, but that's just the way it is! I COMPLETELY agree with BOTH the wise and wonderful @Skeezyks and @mote.of.soul have already wisely and wonderfully said better than I possibly ever could in my whole and entire Life! Don't blame yourself. It is not your fault i you're feelign this way. Are you seeing a Therapist? He/she may teach you some healthier coping skills other than the ones you're currently employing. Hit me up if you want to as I feel like our situations are very much alike, although I may be wrong of course. Still, give it a try if you wish to. Keep posting here as well. Sending many safe, warm hugs to BOTH you, @whimsicalman, Your Mother, your Family, your Friends and ALL of your Loved Ones! Keep fighting and keep rocking no matter what happens, ok?

There are times when I feel irritable; like when someone gets on the wrong side of me or I have my lunch interrupted at work. The anger part seems to happen to me on the inside. I can get angry and let it out if I get pushed enough. I feel like I don't get angry at people much. There are times when I get mad at myself for not "telling someone off" when I should have.

But lately I feel like I get angry thinking about the past a lot. I don't know if that's something that happens to someone as they get older. It's stuff from my family about a half of my lifetime ago and further back. I think about the times with my parents and brother. My parents were trying to be corrective with me and it was upsetting. And then my brother was antagonistic with me because we were rivals. He and I never got along. My parents and he are gone now but it seems so stupid for me to relive that past. That happens when I'm alone and there's nothing to do.