Learn How To Manage Volatile Anger, Not Ignore It

Did you know that anger is a normal human emotion? Everyone experiences it and it shows itself along a broad spectrum of behaviors. Despite the potential harm it may cause if not managed appropriately, many manifestations of anger are healthy.

When someone becomes angry it normally results from another emotion, such as the desire to protect, or a feeling of fear or shame. People may experience anger as frustration or irritation, on one side of the spectrum, with outrage on the other. Subtle forms such as frustration may not be identified as anger, which is far more obvious when someone’s behavior shows that they are out of control and volatile.

When we are severely triggered we can go from calm to upset quickly because of an event or situation. Volatile anger is characterized by an outburst of powerful emotions that may descend into violence.

Furious, volatile, and unhinged: defining volatile anger

If you have experienced severe road rage while driving, you may have experienced volatile anger. The more severe form is known as intermittent explosive disorder, characterized by aggressive and violent behavior, commonly accompanied by verbal outbursts that are completely out of proportion to the situation.

When people manifest intermittent explosive disorder the types of intense anger on display are often out of character for them. Some experts compare it to a type of seizure. This type of volatile anger is experienced more often by those with substance abuse problems and men.

It is an episode of extreme anger that appears suddenly without warning. The emotion may be so intense that the volatile person may continue to be angry after the moment has passed. It is seen as a sudden and often shocking explosive form of behavior that occurs abruptly and surprises everyone.

How anger shows itself in your daily life

The emotional symptoms tied to volatile anger can include feelings of anxiety, irritability, and rage. The feeling that your thoughts and emotions are swamping your capacity to cope and dragging you under the pressures of life will lead to people finding it a challenge to organize their thoughts appropriately, and they may even have thoughts of hurting themselves and others.

There are several types of anger disorders, but acting upset and saying angry and destructive words does not mean that you automatically have self-control issues or are emotionally volatile. Remember that as a normal human emotion, everyone feels anger.

A mental health professional will look at the physical and emotional signs of anger that accompany the behavioral pattern, including any sudden changes in temperament before diagnosing any type of anger disorder.

Notice if your behavior swerves spontaneously off-course, where you regularly include violent and long periods of anger. Others may notice a potential problem when you do not take responsibility for your reaction and instead blame your behavior on others. These are telling symptoms that should set alarm bells ringing.

Bodily reactions to anger

While cutting loose with sharp words and throwing items across the room is an obvious way to show you are experiencing anger, many physical symptoms of anger can manifest internally and lead to increased health risks if left untreated. Look out for:

• Feeling tired.
• Feeling pressure in your head or sinuses.
• Climbing blood pressure.
• Tingling.
• Tightness in your chest.
• Feeling pressure in your head.

These bodily symptoms of unresolved anger can increase the risk of anxiety and show up in the short term as rapid breathing, muscle pain and tension, dizziness, and difficulty utilizing recall and concentration. Some of the longer-term symptoms include sleep that is disrupted and disturbed to the point of a chronic disorder, stroke, and memory loss. Relationship issues are often present.

What causes volatile anger, and what are the risks?

Triggers are distinct to each individual and commonly include a person, type of situation, a personal issue, a current event, or even an event from the past. Studies show that volatile anger is most often displayed by men, those who misuse substances, a history of mental health concerns, or genetic predisposition, and a tumultuous living environment. These all potentially contribute to various risk factors that may encourage the development of volatile anger.

The exact cause of a particular behavior such as volatile anger is not known but several factors could contribute to understanding how it comes to be. These are, having lived in a home with others who did not know how to control their emotions, or where types of abuse occurred such as mental or physical abuse. Children who are exposed to abusive or violent situations often find it more difficult to not act out what they have witnessed as they grow older.

Some studies have also looked at a chemical imbalance in the brain as a source of anger issues. The findings indicate that some individuals experiencing difficulties with anger have differences in brain chemistry and function when compared to those who do not suffer from anger problems.

The types of strong emotions that lead to volatile anger may also increase the risk of self-harm or violence toward others, the risk of property damage, and the negative effect of this type of behavior in personal relationships. The typical behavioral symptoms common to those experiencing volatile anger are seen as unacceptable.

Is there a link between volatile anger and other disorders?

There are several links between the types of persistent rage-filled episodes of volatile anger and other anger-related mental disorders:

Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED)

As mentioned earlier, this extreme type of volatile anger can be diagnosed when someone, on at least three different occasions, exhibits explosive anger with the result of temper tantrums, road rage, breaking objects, and physical abuse.

Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)

This is a childhood condition of extreme irritability, anger, and frequent, intense temper outbursts every day. The symptoms go beyond those of a moody child and sufferers experience severe impairment that needs clinical attention. DMDD is a fairly new diagnosis first published in 2013.

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

While BPD exists on a spectrum of behaviors, not all related to anger, a sufferer’s behavior and moods are severely unstable. Individuals may display reckless, impulsive behaviors with difficulties controlling emotions and often experience unstable relationships with others.

Anxiety and depression may accompany some of the anger disorders listed, including suicidal behaviors or thoughts of suicide.

When anger and symptoms of depression mix, or when a person is struggling to control their mood and their judgment is clouded, worse behavior is a likely outcome. Adding substance and alcohol misuse to this may increase the unpredictability of the behavior as well as worsen health risks such as heart disease, diabetes, and ulcers.

Other risks of volatile anger are

• Self-harm, most often undertaken when the person feels angry at the world around them.
• Diminished intimacy of personal relationships as the sufferer’s anger may isolate them.
• Physical or verbal fights with family.
• Tense and difficult situations in work and school environments due to explosive and damaging anger and/ or an inability to remain calm and focus on the task at hand.

How to prevent and treat volatile anger

A professional medical diagnosis is a key first step when seeking help with this type of sudden and unpredictable anger. Correct treatment methods would help sufferers and their friends and families feel calmer and more in control preventing situations from getting out of hand. Anger issues are often treated through prescribed medicines, group therapy, individual counseling, anger management therapies, and other suggested options.

Self-help techniques also help people to gain and keep control of their emotions. These are:

• Completing the course of your treatments and whatever becomes part of this. This includes therapy, prescription medication, and practicing particular skills. It is important that people who start also complete their treatment to ensure lasting results. Asking someone you trust to hold you accountable increases this rate of completion.
• Avoid all substances or alcohol that may alter your mood or behaviors.
• Practice healthy ways to relax, these can include deep breathing, stretching routines, reading the Bible, and praying. They will all encourage your body to be in a calmer state.
• Journaling is an effective self-management tool in many circumstances, and practicing mindfulness will give insight into personal patterns and triggers related to any expression of anger.
• Positive thinking. By changing your thinking patterns from negative downward spirals to virtuous upward cycles a person may encourage reasonable logic to act as a buffer when managing your expectations and reactions to events.
• Proactively plan solutions to create an outcome you want for frustrating problems. Even if a solution is unknown a plan could keep you focused in a positive and constructive direction.
• Improving communication skills by more often pausing and thinking about your response before speaking up will make you a more active listener and allow you the extra time to process what is being said before any knee-jerk reaction tips you over the emotional edge.
• Physically move away from a tense situation when you find yourself becoming provoked and upset. Having previously set boundaries to help with situations that upset you is valuable.
• Do more things that boost your emotional state, such as exercising, and conscientiously work on your relationships with others so they are robust, and you are more likely to take on constructive advice given by peers you trust and respect.

Living with volatile anger is a severe strain. It will most likely have unhealthy consequences and could well bring on damaging actions and behaviors. Medical professionals strongly recommend those suffering from volatile anger take action to live better, stay calm, show empathy, exhibit self-control with their thoughts, words, and actions, and find the right resources to promote prevention.

Connect with our office for help managing your anger. The counselors in our office are here to support you.