Balance: Anger VS Depression

Are you quick to anger, or easily irritated? Is your first response to something that bothers you to lash out? Do you feel constantly frustrated and ‘on edge’, always close to being triggered by something that pushes you to boiling point?

Have you always been this way, or can you pinpoint this change in your behaviour to a certain time?

Did you know that anger is the ‘easier’ way to express pain or hurt? Getting angry is not fun – some people feel a total loss of control and this can be unnerving. There are often other side-effects to angry outbursts that are extremely unpleasant – remorse, for example, and saying something you regret, or embarrassment at over-reacting or taking your frustration out on someone blameless. However, the reason anger is regarded as an ‘easier’ way to express pain, is because it helps someone who feels powerless feel as though they are achieving something, or gives them a sense of moving forward. Anger is an ‘action-emotion’: sometimes, it gets results. An angry outburst can lead those around you to changing their behaviour, getting things done. It also feels like a release: Adrenalin kicks in, your heart starts pounding; you may feel vital and ‘alive’ in your moments of anger.

Anger: A Symptom of Depression?

While anger may seem like a better alternative to being sad or depressed, it is actually largely recognised as a symptom of depression, particularly in children and young adults. It’s also a more common symptom of burn-out, which has serious consequences if left un-dealt with. While expressing your anger (as opposed to suppressing it) can be healthy, your anger is damaging to you and those around you in the long-run. Prolonged anger will eventually lead to you becoming alienated, or hurting those closest to you, damaging your close relationships irreparably. Your anger is really a red-herring: you target people and things around you, which distracts you and prevents you from dealing with the cause of your frustration.

If you’ve noticed that you’re angrier or more frustrated than usual, consider the fact that you may be avoiding a much deeper pain. If you have someone in your life that you trust, ask them for their objective opinion: has your behaviour changed? Consider talking to someone, or getting balanced to discover the root cause of your anger. It may be the first step in a long journey of recovery, but sometimes all that you need to begin to change is to recognise the real feelings that are being masked.