Do all Bipolar People have anger problems

[hell1971]

Hi

I have been diagnosed BP2 and although I recognise 98% of the symptoms anger and a low tolerence of stress isnt one of them, it takes a lot to make me react on my anger aggressively, I normally would walk away or rant and rave to someone else about the situation or burst into tears ( I do this alot ) at most I can be a little grumpy no more than PMS I think. One of my children is very difficult and I have now been told that she is showing early signs at 8 of being BP now that I have been diagnosed, she suffers from high anxiety and rages that are extremley stressfull, she has also been recently diagnosed as celiacs and sufferred depression so we are all just keeping and eye on her to see how the celiac thing effects her overall symptoms. Many times I have had comments on "you are so tolerant" "how do you cope" I just dont see that I am any more angry than the next person, I would say my husband is more snappy than me, I have asked my family and friends to be honest and I have had comments like " you are the last person I would have picked as being bp " " you are the most steady and reliable person I know "
Yes I have all the symtoms except anger outburst, I internalise my depressions and have never thought of most of them as being depression just being overwhelmed, as I said before I cry alot.
Just trying to understand ?

[kathy434]

I grew up in a very angry home.  There was a brother in particular who used to express his anger through hitting, kicking, shoving, pushing, belittling me, embarrassing me, frightening me, telling me I was a nothing, a nobody, I was hated, and he wished I were dead......so you get the picture.
I was always a very laid back person.  It has always taken a lot for me to get riled up, even today.  I am bipolar2.  When I was at my sickest, I could get angered  easier but mainly because I was under a lot of stress and not getting the home support I needed so badly.
Today, I am still very laid back, thoughtful about problems, analyze options, disengage all feelings to protect myself when needed.  My spouse is quiet and friendly but with a explosive personality whenever I don't agree.  I have calmly used that explosive anger of his to move us ahead on things too.  I don't see any corrolation between anger, rage, etc. and being bipolar.  I am convinced there are people in this world who are very angery and they are bad for those around them because of how they use their anger.  There are rageaholics who have learned that behavior because it works for them, they think.  They can scare others and thus feel more powerful.  Anger can be healthy, but when not used right it can be very ugly and even dangerous.  So, my opinion is that bipolar disorder and anger do not necessiarly go hand in hand.  When I experience irritability, I am usually starting a manic phase.  Knowing this, I mow the lawn to work off steam.  Or I go shopping or for a walk.  Physical excercise helps to return me to my equalibrium.  So does adequate sleep.

[Bear13]

I find that when I'm entering a manic phase I have an extremely short fuse.  Someone will say hi, and I'm immediately thinking "what's your problem?" and I get angry... I've started to recognize this now and take a few deep breaths and move on.... I don't think anger and bi-polar necessarily  have to go hand in hand, but as a person with bi-polar I think we tend to be a bit more emotionally in tune than others.... not always a bad thing, it's just how you react that causes the trouble......

[adel_ezz]

here is a nice article by Ramesh on anger
http://ramesh140043.multiply.com/journal/item/207
good luck
ezz

[elwoodsf]

My anger comes out when I am on the depressive side of BP. I get irritable at the snap of a finger. I take my anger out on anything that isn't moving. I am not an angry person so after an outburst I become very remorseful. My anger is also accommpanied with aggitation. I get so aggitated with everything. I cannot afford this type of mood since I work with teenagers and teens will be teens. I have started to meditate which, so far, is helping me.

This is how my BP2 works for me.

[bernie40]

I only show signs of anger when i'm hypomanic.  I also get irritable very quickly.  When I'm well I am very placid, patient and understanding.

I have frightened myself with some of my outbursts as they are so "out of character".

So the anger for me is definitely part of the BP.  

[jst4shanell]

I am BP1 with psychotic features.  I am as mellow as can be.  When I am manic, I am rageful and angry.  Dangerous to myself and others.  When I am stable and get upset I never hold it in.  I speak my  mind.  I cry a lot.  I think it's apart of being a woman.  When i'm in a depressed state, I become extremely aggitated.  Maybe i'm just an angry person inside, but I get therapy and the works and still have these tendencies.  My best friend is also BP1 with psychotic tendencies and I have seen him in action.  It's shocking.  I have never seen such an easy going person slowly progress to a raging person who is not in their right mind.  We did have to call the cops on him for his and our safety.  It was aweful to do.  That's my experience

[adel_ezz]

As ILADVOCATE said anger is not necessarily part of BP . I remember to have sent this question to a kind lady in another forum when I was deeply concerned. She replied that she doesn't consider a bout of rage an episode. Her words: She said we all as humans keep pent up anger and dispel it using whatever coping mechanisms we’ve grown used to using over time, stuffing down these emotions is like building a dam, with a huge emotional weight pushing against it. Eventually, something very tiny, perhaps not even perceived consciously by us, could be even subconscious, knocks a hole in the dam and a rush of emotion, negative or positive (usually negative) comes pouring out, and the next thing you know you are having a temper tantrum.

However having had it twice this year for a few minutes, and i can't tell you how it develops it's like my brain starts burning then the rage comes, it's horrible. However I put it off directly by adding an extra 25 of seroquel.

So my conclusion (personal experience) that it's part of BP because i never had before being dx. Yet people disagree and even my pdoc upon asking him said anger can occur to "normal" people. Thereis also a nice Indian friend who owns a site in multiply his name is Ramesh Gupta and lives in the states his theory that part of many people illness is due to anger inside, and that contrary to my thesis in that it is part of the course of the disease, he asked me what triggered my anger so i gathered that anger needs a trigger and doesn't come by itself opposite to what i concluded. i think this is a controversial question which needs a professional because it happens mostly much to BP pts.
good luck

[ILADVOCATE]

There are many forms of bipolar. Look on one of the websites on the links page for more information. You could ask your psychiatrist which one you are specifically diagnosed with and find out more information but there is a whole spectrum.

[lagatta]

I internalize my anger.  Outwardly I wouldn't display it, but internally I'm ragging.  Sometimes I feel like my insides are going to explode.  I become self-destructive when I'm angry.  I too am generally patient but then once I get angry I'm uncontrollably so.  I wouldn't say I'm quick-tempered, just hot tempered.  

I don't think you have to display every symptom to have a BP diagnosis.  My hypo- manias come out more in the form of irritability and anxiety.  I've never displayed the classic symptoms of grandiose ideas, over-spending or being hyper-sexual.

[hell1971]

Thank you for that, I guess I would discribe mine as emotional tearful outbursts rather than anger and I know everything else fits I guess im holding on to that tiny little bit of me that doesnt want to beleive, im a little hypomanic I think or is this normal I have no idea, I just feel like the last few days I have been starting to feel gradually happier yet have that aggitation and impulses to do stuff and im not sure if this means the meds are finally working or im still more hypomanic than down or that my mixed episode is balancing. As for my daughter she is in a good place right now and managable and changing her diet has had a positive effect on her overall wellbeing so we will just see what happens. I need to get myself better so that she has a mum that can support her so at the moment I am my focus because her needs can change dramatically overnight and I dont want to be were I was last month I would be no use to anyone. Thanks again  

[ILADVOCATE]

Anger isn't always part of bipolar. It just can be. An "agitated mixed state" is very common where the person has the feelings of depression but the speeded up quality of mania. But that doesn't mean everyone experiences it. Often depression just occurs in a standard fashion and is more common than mania. And people repressing their emotions or feelings can be part of bipolar as well. I'm the opposite way. Before recovery a person would be more likely to get what appeared to be a rant but for every person like that there's someone who has a silent depression. Both are not healthy forms of coping. In addition to medication, talk therapy and behavioral therapy can help a person guide their negative emotions that can come from bipolar.
As for your daughter with the physical disability you describe I believe that can affect things so why not post for more information on that specific forum on that.