The best medications and treatment options for anger management and irritability
Anger is a complex emotion that everyone experiences at some point in their lives. It is often misunderstood and can be frightening when not managed well. For many, anger can feel like an overwhelming force that is difficult to control. This intense emotion can lead to impulsive actions, such as lashing out, saying things you don’t mean or feeling constantly restless and on edge.
Sudden anger can hurt your quality of life. It's normal to feel angry sometimes. But frequent, intense anger may be a sign of an underlying mental health condition. Some people may struggle to control these feelings of anger despite having tried non-medical treatment options, like therapy. In these cases, medication may help manage anger and restore emotional balance and control.
Is anger a mental illness?
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), anger is not classified as a standalone mental illness. Instead, it is recognized as a common symptom of various mental health conditions. The DSM-5, which serves as the clinical guidebook for diagnosing and treating mental health disorders, does not list anger as a separate disorder.
Anger is one of the four basic human emotions, alongside happiness, sadness and fear. It's a primitive emotion that evolved from our hunter-gatherer ancestors' original survival mechanisms. In modern times, anger can arise from various situations, such as feeling mistreated or witnessing injustice.
Anger is a common symptom of certain mental health disorders, such as:
Anxiety
Depression
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Bipolar disorder
Intermittent explosive disorder
Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder
Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
It's important to understand that these conditions can contribute to the development or intensification of anger. By treating the root cause – the underlying mental health condition – anger can often become more manageable.
Learning to identify anger and recognize when feelings of anger arise is a crucial first step in addressing and controlling this emotion. This self-awareness can help people better understand their emotional responses and develop healthier ways to express and manage anger.
