Can anger replace mania with bipolar 2 disorder

Hello,

I believe I have bipolar 2 disorder.  I have an appointment with a psychiatrist but I am just curious about my anger.  I do not experience mania but my anger is out of control.  I fly off the handle at home and swear and cuss and threaten my family.  I believe I have major depression too or something like it.  I can burst out in tears for no real reason and I do not sleep well at night.  I have been on celexa 40 mg for about a year and I really do not notice much difference.  I have had a hard time with my anger and flying off the handle since I was very young.  I only fly off the handle at home.  At work I can get lost on the internet and obsess about different things.  Could that be a form of mania?  I have a wonderful family and I love them dearly.  My life is stressful but I just take things so far over the top.

Thanks
Connie

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

Anger is very often part of the bipolar syndrome.  When you see your psychiatrist ask him or her about the advisablity of continuing Celexa..it may be making things worse.

[Paxiled]

Just want to add that many don't believe there is such a thing as bipolar 2, that it was invented by pharmaceutical companies to hide the fact that some antidepressants pushed people into manic or irritable conditions.  Just a term to sell more antipsychotics.  Since you've always had too much anger, it sounds like an issue for psychotherapy, and Dr. Gould is right, antidepressants can cause anger and aggressive thinking, so if it's gotten worse it might well be the Celexa making it worse, but since you've always had it, it wasn't caused by the Celexa.  But don't take that bipolar 2 stuff as gospel, just work on your issues.  

[cbmmom5]

Thank you for responding.  I have an appointment next week so it will good to start getting all of this figured out.  I am just wondering if my mania is coming out through my anger outbursts.  I also get very obsessive about things.

Thanks again
Connie

[Jaquta]

I don't know much about bipolar and mania or mania being expressed as anger or aggression.  I guess presentation is different for everyone.
I don't have bipolar -just so there is no confusion there.  When I was in hospital people with bipolar seemed to be excessively happy -some maybe were a touch aggressive and forceful.  Hard for me to differentiate between illness and a person's personality.
Obsessiveness, I think, is something more concerned with anxiety.
Maybe it is the anxiety, and not having things structured as you would like them, then precipitates the anger?

Good luck for your appointment next week.  I hope you get everything figured out too.