There are many types of anger associated with bipolar disorder. But putting aside stereotypes is difficult.
Not every single angry episode can be attributed to a brain-based health condition. Just as people who like football have varying degrees of fandom — some paint their faces and attend every game, while others listen on the radio while they mow the lawn — anger is the same way.
That said, the majority of people with bipolar disorder have experienced “bipolar anger,” a level of rage and hostility outside of the “normal” range. But, what exactly is “bipolar anger”?
Everyone gets angry. Anger is a normal human emotion and one that serves a valuable purpose. As an example, anger triggers the fight-or-flight response, which can help a person survive danger. During the fight-or-flight response, a person will automatically respond to a threat without conscious thought.
Much like bipolar disorder, anger exists on a spectrum. From annoyed to enraged, all intensities of anger exist, to some extent, in the typical person. Anger, in and of itself, is not an issue.
Bipolar anger, on the other hand, is a different animal entirely. Appropriate anger has a general cause and a clear way to defuse it. Using the fight-or-flight example above, once the danger has been removed, the anger will begin to dissipate.
When the cause of the anger is due to the symptoms of bipolar disorder, there’s no clear reason for the anger and no clear way to defuse it.
In other words, since a person isn’t sure what the danger is, they won’t know when they have successfully fought it or escaped it.
The intensity of the anger can only escalate as a person becomes more and more desperate to defend themselves. At this point, the anger becomes uncontrollable and can be dangerous to the person and to those around them.
You can replace “danger” with “cause” and the person will be in a similar position. Since they don’t know what is causing their anger, they can’t resolve it. Finally, it’s possible that what is angering a person has been distorted or “imagined” entirely. Since the anger isn’t based on something concrete, the path to resolution becomes very unclear.
Like it or not, anger can be a symptom of bipolar disorder. Just like depression and mania, anger is relatively common. In my opinion, it’s one of the most destructive symptoms, as it relates to interacting with other people, especially friends and family.
Many people with bipolar disorder describe a feeling of abandonment by loved ones. This is an excellent example of how anger can be a very destructive symptom.
Whether the anger pushes a person away or we’re angry at someone who isn’t as prominent in our lives as we’d like, anger can rot a person from the inside out.
Ignoring anger is foolish for anyone, but it’s especially foolish for someone with bipolar disorder, given what’s at stake. Unchecked anger can lead to self-harm, irreparable damage in close relationships, and, in rare cases, violence.
Managing the symptoms of bipolar disorder is a full-time job and part of that job is to take an honest assessment of all symptoms, even the taboo ones. From hypersexuality to suicidal thoughts to uncontrollable anger, pretending that a symptom doesn’t exist often leads to devastating consequences for everyone involved.
You can’t flee any of the symptoms of bipolar disorder, so your only choice is to fight these symptoms.
For more insight and feedback on bipolar anger read the comments below.
UPDATED: Originally posted August 11, 2015
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I don’t feel prayers and blessings. My hope is to keep trying. I’ve noticed that if I feel love and sadness merge within different circumstances, I’m shaking inside. Everything becomes difficult. I get lost finding the hospital, there’s a fire on the stove, I get lost the next two days, and when I text and call for help there’s no response, so when I get through finally to my daughter-in-law who just had her baby, my words are hurt and thoughtless and her whole family hears on speaker phone. Her mother must dislike me so.
I am so sad for my daughter who has lost her babies in miscarriages , one was this week.
These happy and sad events collided in my brain. just overwhelming feelings. I had another sudden anger the other night and lashed out. I have apologized. But I think people really do not understand how challenging this illness is.
I will work now on being more present with the moments of daily life. I hope to try now again to practice regular meditation. Yes.
Wow.. I just keep learning about myself each time I read one of these articles… I didn’t find out I was bipolar until I was 47.. I’m 4 years in with this realization and medication (that saved my life). Prior to going on meds I just thought I was a crazy b*tch… It is very painful and damaging and the sadness and guilt that comes can feel intolerable. My set norm, if you will .. is a very easy going nature, open and loving. This is where I’ve strived to keep my mood for my whole life. The biggest and most damaging issue I’ve had has been this raging anger. I’ve destroyed relationships.. lots of pairs of.. many things that I’ve cherished throughout the years. I was very self-abusive and fight this and the rage still. But medication has helped me to be able to step back and see myself.. my moods better and I feel and am more in control. I am sad for myself.. for how this has affected my life.. and sad for others. But I’ve tried to harness this sadness and turn it into self-love… not the self-loathing that has reared it’s ugly head for long enough. If I feel this coming on.. and I’m in my car.. I give myself permission to deal with this and then be done with it. I scream… it’s a blood curdling scream that usually causes me to be hoarse for the rest of the day. I do this 3 times. I view this as a way to expel the anger before it takes over… We don’t deserve the cruelty we inflict on ourselves… this world is cruel enough… : 0)
My bipolar rage is THE chief concern of my illness and pretty much has always been a huge problem for me and especially those around me: family, friends, coworkers, humanity. Much of the problem is that it can feel so energizing to get so angry. Stuff gets done and points get made, but the fallout is brutal and self-destructive.
At least after a lifetime of this (I’m now 65), I can hire l now quickly recognize and apologize, reflect, step back, reorganize, and proceed. No earthly sense to get angry about getting angry. Self- forgiveness, for me, is vital. My faith regrounds me, as long as the guilt doesn’t chew me up too badly. Anger will always rear its ugly head to some degree, but maybe the best that can be said is that I know it now when it happens and can defuse it to tolerable levels. Communicating with those I care about helps to keep them in a more understanding place.
Wishing all who deal with this monster at least a modicum of triumph over it. It can be dealt with!
Peace out.
I can only relate to this level of anger when my hormones were out-of-whack (pregnancy and menopause). There were times I really could not control my anger and racing thoughts. Once my hormones evened out, the anger and racing thoughts were gone.
My daughter with BP2 has had rage / anger in the past. We increased her mood stabilizer and decreased a med that was making her heart rate increase. She no longer rages or has out of control anger.
My husband went through a period of increased agitation and anger a few years ago (not Bipolar) and we figured out he was depressed. He now takes an anti-depressant and daily CBD. He can still get “annoyed” but it’s on a much more normal level.
My point is….. Agitation / anger / rage can be an issue when our bodies and brains are out of balance. I’m happy to say that right now, all 3 of us are more balanced and calm and we do not deal with extreme agitation or anger. Medications have been the key for us.
The key features are distorted thinking and abandonment. Anger is part of our emotional life but other things are often going on when a person is unstable. The hard part is to remain non reactive and rational as much as you can. Feelings are just feelings not necessarily valid in any of us. Tough to endure when someone you love is acting like you’re satan. Been there! You have to draw on the love you can muster for that person…..it can be a great challenge.