When Feeling Depressed And Angry Make Coping Difficult
When living with depression, we may get caught up in our feelings without understanding why we feel a certain way. Sometimes, the pain can be too much to cope with, and we may try to move forward from our emotions without analyzing them. While these emotions can be a part of life, it’s often beneficial to look further within yourself to understand where they are coming from. This type of analysis can encourage personal growth and self-healing, as well as potentially making it easier to process and work through these emotions. As this process can be challenging to move through on your own, you might consider working with a licensed therapist online or in person for professional insight and guidance.
The link between anger and depression
The link between anger and depression is complex, with individuals often exhibiting symptoms such as anger attacks and irritability. Effective anger management can be crucial in mitigating these symptoms, helping to prevent the escalation of depression. Anger and irritability are linked to depression because both emotions can stem from underlying feelings of frustration, helplessness, and chronic stress, which are common in depressive disorders. Additionally, personality disorders and other mental health diagnoses can complicate the relationship between anger and depression, making comprehensive treatment and management strategies essential.
Why it can be hard to understand that your feelings matter
Experiencing multiple emotions at the same time can be difficult for anyone to understand. Sometimes, people may feel emotions that are hard to put into words, potentially making it more challenging to express them. Others may put too much focus on what others may think about them if they choose to be honest about their feelings, and many are not honest with themselves about what they are feeling. Some people may believe it is pointless to talk about their feelings, possibly thinking that it won't accomplish anything.
Many people admit they don't explore their feelings in a deeper context. It can be hard to confront your feelings due to fear or denial. Having low self-esteem may push feelings to the back burner; instead, you may believe that others’ emotions are more important than your own.
Some people may admit they don't know how to assess their emotions because it wasn't something they were ever taught, encouraged to explore, or led to believe was necessary. Some people can go through life feeling emotions, but not knowing how they affect them from the inside out or what to do with them.
Emotions experienced when depressed or angry can act as roadblocks to addressing the source of your feelings. Sometimes, these emotions can be overwhelming and may seem to be too much to comprehend. There can be ways to understand your emotions so you can manage your moods and learn to effectively communicate them to others.
When you feel like someone other than yourself
Sometimes, emotions may lead you to believe that you may be out of place. People may express certain emotions because they are hiding their true feelings. For example, a person may express anger but truly feel sad. Your emotions may make it difficult to concentrate on things you should be doing, and you may lose interest in favored activities or spending time with others.
There are changes you can make in your daily life that may make it easier to cope with your emotions. For example, if you struggle with feeling tired, you might learn mindfulness techniques, meditation, and other forms of exercise to encourage better sleep at night. Doing so may help you feel more like yourself and less overwhelmed by your emotions.
When you feel at odds with yourself
It can be common to experience frustration and believe you've failed yourself. People may blame themselves for feeling weak or worthless due to depression, and these feelings may grow into anger. What you feel when depressed generally isn't your fault. When you're too hard on yourself, you may be more likely to experience emotional pain. Consider being open about your thoughts with someone when you feel frustrated with yourself. You may need to hear that you are worthy despite how you feel from an outside perspective.
Understand the truth behind your feelings
In general, your feelings deserve acknowledgment. To understand why your feelings matter, you should first be honest with yourself about your feelings. People may not understand their feelings because they have misleading or distorted thinking about what they mean. Such views may prevent personal growth while making it more difficult to move forward from a situation in a productive and healthy manner.
Your feelings matter because they can help you be true to yourself. Consider your feelings with logic and good reason. Sometimes, depression can lead people to think about the worst-case scenario. When you can be true to yourself, it generally makes it easier to be honest with others and ease any negative feelings. You might practice getting in touch with your feelings and make it a habit. It may encourage you to be willing and open about how your feelings affect you so you can communicate them more effectively with others.
Let your feelings tell their story
You might try to think of your emotions as a part of a story that needs to be told. Many situations and relationships in life can bring an assortment of feelings and emotions. You may gain an understanding of your emotional experiences when you let yourself feel your feelings. Allowing yourself to authentically feel your emotions can bring a sense of strength and power, potentially helping you realize that what you are feeling is real and it matters. In turn, you can begin to let go of those feelings and move forward.
Sometimes, people may experience feelings of sadness, confusion, or frustration without a specific reason. Such feelings may lead you to give up doing things you enjoy or isolate yourself from loved ones. You may hurt when thinking about how your emotions have gotten in the way of relationships or daily activities. Instead of focusing on the past, you might look to the future by setting goals and considering what you have learned about your feelings. They may continue to tell a story, but moving forward, you can dictate how the story is told by being proactive in analyzing and controlling your emotions.
Benefits of acknowledging your feelings
Emotions can be considered emotional challenges that nearly everyone faces. The level of these challenges may vary from one person to the next, but everyone may need to learn how to cope with emotions productively, especially when living with depression, anger, or anxiety. When you ignore what you are feeling, it may increase the risk of turning to unhealthy alternatives. Even if you're not engaging in potentially destructive activities, you may ignore your emotions by taking part in unproductive activities, such as binge-watching TV shows or spending hours on social media.
Emotions can create energy in the body, potentially creating tension and stress. Anxiety and depression symptoms may add additional strain to the body. Parts of the body, such as your intestines, lungs, and heart, may react when certain emotions are triggered. As a result, physical issues like headaches, insomnia, heart disease, and intestinal issues may arise. Studies suggest that anxiety levels often increase as the body experiences more emotional conflict. You may feel better after discovering emotional tools to navigate your thoughts and feelings.
Understanding how to cope with your emotions
Getting professional support can help you learn how to cope with your feelings effectively and healthily. Emotions can be an important part of life, and how they are managed can affect our well-being. They may affect relationships, decision-making, and how we view ourselves. Our feelings may drive the way we produce, act, and respond to things in life. Exploring healthy ways to cope may help your body heal from aches and pains and improve your mental health.
Learning to cope with emotions while angry or depressed often takes commitment and patience. You might consider individual therapy, support groups, journal writing, and more.
Benefits of online therapy
If you’re living with depression, getting out of the house can be challenging. Online therapy can offer a convenient, flexible alternative to in-person therapy. You can attend sessions from the comfort of your own couch (or any location with an internet connection) at a time that fits your schedule, removing many potential barriers to treatment.
Effectiveness of online therapy
According to a 2019 study, “Users of BetterHelp experienced significantly reduced depression symptom severity after engaging with the platform. Study findings suggest that this intervention is equally effective across gender, self-reported financial status, and self-reported physical health status and particularly effective for individuals without a history of psychotherapy. Overall, study results suggest that multimodal digital psychotherapy is a potentially effective treatment for adult depression.”
Takeaway
Can depression make you have anger issues?
Hopelessness, sadness, and lack of motivation are common signs of depression. Though anger is not listed as a core symptom of depression in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), depression can cause symptoms like irritability, which may reduce a person’s control over their temper and can result in angry outbursts.
How can I control my anger and depression?
If you experience persistent depression and anger, it may be beneficial to reach out to a mental health professional to discuss treatment options and come up with the right plan of action for dealing with anger and depression in your specific circumstances.
Anger management and depression treatment might include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) – Therapy can offer a safe space to identify potential causes of depression and anger, learn effective coping strategies, and reframe negative thought patterns.
- Antidepressant medication – Certain medications, such as antidepressants and mood stabilizers can be prescribed to address depression and manage anger.
- Complementary approaches – Self-care strategies such as relaxation techniques, mindfulness meditation, and deep breathing exercises can be used to manage overwhelming or upsetting emotions.
- Emotional support – Talking to a trusted friend, family member, or mental health professional can help you reduce stress, manage negative emotions, and practice self-compassion.
How do I stop being so angry?
As you begin to recognize potential sources of anger in your life, you can develop coping skills to better manage those situations. While this can limit instances of anger, it can also be helpful to know how to manage your emotions if you do get angry. You can try various anger management techniques to control anger, including:
- Mindfulness
- Affirmations
- Journaling
- Yoga
- Routines
- Therapy
Why do I rage so easily?
Rage is the most extreme expression of anger. By the time you feel angry to the point of being enraged, you may display destructive behaviors such as verbal confrontation or violent threats. If you perceive that you frequently and easily experience rage, it may be due to circumstances such as:
- Childhood upbringing – If you grew up in a household where you witnessed domestic violence or watched caregivers lash out frequently in anger, you may emulate those learned behaviors in adulthood.
- Negative past experiences – If you experienced an upsetting or traumatic past event, such as living with a parent struggling with severe mental illness, you may be holding onto anger associated with those negative experiences.
- Challenging current circumstances – If you are currently facing difficult experiences, such as being treated unfairly in personal and professional relationships, you may be channeling that feeling of powerlessness through anger.
- Mental health disorders – If you feel easily enraged but struggle to find a specific reason why, you may be living with a mental illness that causes symptoms like anger. An example of this is intermittent explosive disorder.
What emotion is behind anger?
Anger is typically a reaction to perceived threats to our safety, livelihood, or peace of mind. It often arises as a secondary emotion that follows an initial emotional trigger. For example, fear, stress, sadness, and embarrassment can all lead to feeling angry.
Is anger a mental illness?
Anger isn’t considered a mental illness and does not appear in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM–5). Anger is an instinctive human response to feeling threatened. However, uncontrolled anger can become a problem if it negatively impacts a person’s wellbeing and relationships.
Though not a mental illness on its own, anger is associated with various mental illnesses, including depressive disorders. If you experience symptoms like sadness, hopelessness, anxiety, or worthlessness in combination with feeling angry, depression may be to blame. In these instances, it may be beneficial to consult with a mental health professional to discuss the possibility of a depressive disorder.
Do antidepressants help with anger?
Though they are not typically considered the first line of treatment, doctors can prescribe antidepressants to help people manage anger. Some of these medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been found to help treat symptoms of anger and irritability.
Is anger a symptom of bipolar depression?
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that causes people living with it to experience extreme emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression). When people living with bipolar disorder become depressed, common symptoms include sadness, hopelessness, and lack of motivation. However, when their mood shifts to mania, they may feel euphoric, energetic, or irritable.
Though anger is not listed as a core symptom of bipolar depression in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the mood swings and irritability associated with the disorder can reduce a person’s control over their temper and result in angry outbursts.
Does depression make you mad at everything?
Anger is one of many potential emotions a person can feel strongly when living with major depressive disorder. In extreme cases, this can translate to feeling persistently angry throughout the day. Studies have shown that the act of turning anger inward instead of practicing anger turned outward, can worsen the severity of depression.
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