Anger as a Symptom of Depression

Depression-related anger can be the way a person reacts to the perceived idea of the hopelessness within a situation or maybe frustration when it comes to recurring depression.

When a problem appears to have no positive outcome or effective solutions, it's a common reaction to feel angry and frustrated. For similar reasoning, anger is a common stage of the process of grief, also. In this article I will be discussing how to deal with anger and depression.

As is with depression, anger induced by grief is due to feelings of despair and hopelessness. Sometimes, though, the link between depression and anger can work in reverse. When you're angry, this feeling often comes from being hurt in some way, and a person who is angry may look to give that hurt to others, or take radical action to change the situation that caused the anger.

Anger Directed Outward

However, when it's directed externally, anger doesn't cause any basic change in the way one sees the situation. So instead, the anger eventually may be directed inward, toward a new object of hatred: being yourself. Self-pity, at this point, can't be too far away as you elaborate on the hopelessness of the situation or the innate unfairness of life.

Feelings of Helplessness

Those who believe that life should be fair all the time cannot tolerate it when it's not fair. That can lead straight to being totally inert, due to the fact that they think there is not a thing they can do regarding the unfairness. This leads to feelings of helplessness - in other words, depression. Another description of this is the notion of self-pity.

Catch Yourself being Negative

Notice when you complain. Listen for both covert and overt types of complaining. Overt complaining bothers others, and can be a strategy to manipulate people. So, notice when it's enough and is becoming a barrier to an effective strategy—like complaining when there's a fly in your soup. On the other hand, covert complaining bothers you - dragging you into inertia and passivity. As soon as you notice this, be determined to let go of it.

Once you can accept that life sometimes is unfair, then You will be able to look for positive purpose. You can look for constructive solutions to injustices, thereby transferring your anger into a passion.

Depression-related anger -- as with other signs affiliated with depression -- can diminish or even disappear completely by treating the actual cause, which is depression. Also useful, would be to learn techniques to manager anger. Instead of lashing out in anger as a response to an alleged hopeless situation, make it a plan to actually change the situation.

That being said, a great first step is to consult a professional counselor. Other positive steps that you can take are - exercise, eat well, avoid drugs or alcohol. Also, it's important to reach out to people who are supportive of you, whether it be a friend or a self help group.

What is most important, is to see that anger which is uncharacteristic, can potentially be a warning sign of a deeper underlying problem which needs to be addressed.

(This is for information only. It is not intended to take the place of medical advice).