Before my onset, and even a few years into my illness, I did not struggle with anger issues at all. But now every month seems to be getting worse for me, both with my combativeness and volatility with my emotions. I was prescribed Lithium to help with my aggression and suicidal ideation. I’m currently on 600mg but I haven’t noticed a difference at all. I’m also on 4mg of risperidone, 40mg of haldol, and 42mg of caplyta, but I still have persistent problematic emotional outbursts.
Wondering what was key to helping you with anger issues, because it turns cyclical with delusional thoughts and paranoia for me with one leading to the other.
I don’t want to seem like a I’m complaining too much, but just want to get better, and this forum is great for getting anecdotal accounts which further helps me have a inkling to know what to do.
For me it was environmental and a change in mindset. The less I was triggered the more I could ware down the habit of getting angry. At a certain point I realized I could have my emotions without having to get really violent/aggressive. I still get upset but I don’t rage out often anymore.
Is really solves nothing…if u can see it clearly it’s not as seductive…
Thank you for your response, @AKendrick. It’s funny, my whole life I was the chill one while my older brother was the one that was super violent and angry, and now, unbeknownst to little me, the roles are reversed with the onset of this illness. But I have taken what you have said to heart, and will try to get less triggered, something which I used to be good at. But that’s good, because I know how to do it; I did it once, I can do it again.
I changed by always asking myself why when I got angry. Why am I angry? do people deserve my anger? what is it that I want to do? would anger be of help etc??
You are on a lot of drugs. I don’t think your anger issues can be resolved with drugs.
Have you considered therapy for your anger issues?
Yes, I’ve been going to therapy for over six years now, ever since I was fifteen. But I have always focused on other things and not my anger, which it is partially due to it being a newer issue for me. Luckily, I see my therapist tomorrow, and I have already planned on talking to him about me living on the edge.
Thanks for responding, @Vertigo. I share your concerns also about the quantity of meds I’m on, and also about the side effects. But my dad wants me on these medications so I stay in reality, unfortunately, they don’t always work; and I’m stuck delusional and confused, which puts me over the edge.
Thank you for bringing to my attention the fact that these psychiatric medications can cause anger issues, I will bring it up to my psychiatrist, as he’s my only doctor.
Maybe deep breathing when you are getting angry would be helpful. Have you looked into anger management courses? Im sure they would have better tips than strangers on the internet.
Thank you for responding, @Rainstorm. I guess I was just looking for someone with a similar situation to mine and hopefully finding out what that person did to overcome their anger. But I agree usually that random strangers on the internet shouldn’t be the first course of action.
I had some problems with anger issues after a TBI (bad concussion). Took a while to go away and I had to take mood stabilizers and attend therapy for it. Haven’t really experienced it vis-a-vis having SZ, more when going through some bad patches in life when being angry is kind of an expected reaction to what’s going on.
My anger has improved as my communication skills have improved. When people said things I didn’t like, instead of expressing my opinion I would not say anything. I would “stuff” (keep the anger inside of me) my anger. I viewed expressing my opinion, a different opinion, as a confrontation, not a conversation. However, I could only stuff so much, and it was at those times when I was a ticking timebomb where the smallest thing would cause me to explode in anger. Psychologists call this Intermittent Explosive Disorder.
My anger has improved because I have become aware of my feelings. I focus on my feelings. I express my opinions. I have a civil, respectful conversation. Not a confrontation.
Exercise has also helped me release my anger. I ride my recumbent stationary bike until I’m exhausted (you have to make sure you’re healthy enough to exercise). When I’m riding there’s a point that feels like a fever breaking. That’s when the anger is released.
Of course you shouldn’t use our suggestions in place of medical advice, but I do think our suggestions are helpful because we have lived experience. So, no, in that way we are not random strangers on the internet.
Thank you for responding, @shutterbug. I am currently on a mood stabilizer myself, so I understand that part.
But, as far as an expectation of an reaction, I don’t relate. I have zero reason to be angry or react in emotional outbursts. I am very blessed with things and my situation has always been stable with home life. I understand from reading your posts that you have experienced things in life that no one should have to go through, done externally by others, and that itself is way different than my case.
I just saw my therapist today, and he said the first step to helping anger and aggression is identifying the root of it, or the reason for the trigger. So, that is what I’m in the process of working on until my next appointment later this month.
Thank you, @Catman, that personal anecdote is very helpful for me.
I can relate in a myriad of ways to what you said and have experienced. Everything from the way the anger comes about, to the release of anger by exercising. But you have put it in terms I have not thought of before. Before my service mission and going out with the regular teaching missionaries from my church, I viewed disagreement as an personal attack. I don’t know the exact cause of why I thought this pattern of thinking, but I did nonetheless. But as I grew to experience more disagreements, this line of thinking lessened to a great deal, at least to strangers.
To my most loved ones in my life, they seem to be catching most of the anger and aggression from me. Now, I think this is normal to a degree, but it’s accentuated and accelerated by my illness and anger. And that is what I’m trying to figure out.
Thank you again for responding and reaching out to me when you didn’t have to; it’s much appreciated, and the advice is taken to heart.
My therapist confirmed to me that everything in my life has been appropriate. Regarding my family and the people who are in my life with me. And my anger is actually internal towards myself. And in a way towards my father as he is very authoritative and ruling over me at times. I am not aggressive physically but verbally I am aggressive and become aggressive. Honestly I’d rather be dealing with this anger than suicidal depression and extreme negative symptoms of just having no ambition or mood for life.
Paranoia gives me intense anger and makes be bothered by every little thing. It is really hard to control so i just let myself feel it and don’t judge myself for getting upset.