– I don’t want to be a raging lunatic on the phone like I was on a call to my bank! I just lost it. I had one of those days where my physical reaction to things was way off. I can tell when it’s meds. It’s different from being angry- this is out of control I want to thrown my phone through the widow anger. I made sure I didn’t take it out on others too badly- I have learned to control myself. But it’s hard.
There are so many meds that can cause this kind of anger and aggression. You know it’s the illness or the meds when it literally comes out of nowhere- it’s not a normal part of your personality- you watch yourself and think what in the heck is going on with me- and your behaviors are odd such as cussing as loudly as possible for longer than normal!
I woke up fine today. This kind of aggression gets people in jail. I’ve seen it too many times.
It’s important to learn the first signs that you’re getting in a rage and then remove yourself from the situation even if for a few minutes. This has to be done right at the beginning, but you can often realize what is going on in the middle of a rage. This is when you stop- apologize to whomever you yelled at – and focus on managing the illness.
Is is your meds? Is it a relationship? Lack of sleep? Etc.
This is how I keep from throwing a phone through my window even though it seemed like it would make feel better at the time.
Julie
PS: Antidepressants are notorious for causing irritation and anger- if you just started a med and you are suddenly more angry than normal- talk with your HCP.
Julie, I love these blogs but I have an 8yr old girl with this illness and everything is about adults. Her anger just gets worse and worse and I don’t know how to teach her the stuff i read from you. the hcp has her on depakote and risperidal, please tell my wife and I how we can help her. I feel so bad that she has to feel this way.
i am bipolar and have a bad anger problem. its hard to control.
Hi Julie, I am the mother of a 38year old bipolar son who attempted suicide last year. His wife has left him & he is now totally dependent on me. His attempt left him with a paralysed right arm, he suffered three strokes which have also affected his ability to walk (he has parkinsoniasm) & he battles to communicate effectively. He speaks very fast. He is aggressive when I try to encourage him to write with his left hand, when I try to assist him to get his walking right he sees it as an attack. My husband is 81 years old & I am desperate to help him to be reasonably self sufficient. If something happens to me where will he go? Should I go to his psychologist to find out the best way to communicate?
How wonderful to see that someone else wants to hurl a phone thru the window!It’s great to have this “I’m not alone” feeling.
I can be perfectly happy one moment doing usual family things with a smile when all the sudden I get this overwhelming feeling of anger. I feel like I am going to absolutely pop with anger. I find that I cuss and yell, usually at my husband and for things that anyone else would probably just let roll off there backs as nothing or I find myself making reasons to yell at him when he hasn’t done anything at all. I haven’t figured out how to walk away from the feelings yet. The feeling are only manageable after I blow up. I fear for my marriage when this happens. Bless my husband he has stuck around this long, hope he can wait it out with me. I have only been diagnosed with Bipolar for about a week and have not started any meds yet.
Hi katie,
I write about this in more detail in my book Bipolar Happens. There are so many different moods caused by this illness- it’s ridiculous. I have a plan for each one. I find that writing in a journal also helps if I’m abnormally angry. If you are just diagnosed, there is a lot of hope! I definitely recommend my Health Cards. You can read about them on bipolarhappens.com. I created them in 1999. I wish I had them sooner! I am really glad you have a diagnosis. It clears up a lot! Julie
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