Anger Disorder Types
And How To Deal With Them

Authored by William G. DeFoore, Ph.D.

Do you, your spouse, your child or co-worker have an anger disorder? This is where you can find out for sure, and how to help and be helped. You can even get some help right here on this page, by telling your story for the benefit of others.

If there is an emotional disorder in your life, whether it's you or somebody else, then it's causing you stress in many ways and at a lot of levels.

One of the best things you can do to lower your stess right now is to write about what you're feeling, thinking and going through.

Tell your story now, and if chosen, your contribution will be a page on this site--but you will benefit just by writing it down. 

Types Of Anger Disorders

Occasional anger outbursts

You get angry on a fairly regular basis, whether it's once a day, weekly, monthly or even less frequently than that. You know, and everybody around you knows, that you're going to have an anger outburst once in a while. when you have these outbursts, what you do is some or all of these:

• Yelling, screaming or shouting at friends, family or co-workers
• Aggressive gestures such as pointing, huffing, angry looks, finger pointing, door slamming, bullying, etc.
• Name calling, ridiculing, criticizing, blaming and other forms of verbal abuse.
  
  

Total anger suppression

You never get angry. I know, you think this is success and not an anger disorder! However, your body doesn't agree. The fact that you don't explode only means you're getting ready to implode which is a kind of internal explosion. If you just sit on your anger and never express it in any way, you are at risk of:

• Depression, which often results from suppressed or unexpressed anger
• Feeling tired a lot of the time--holding anger inside your body is hard work!
• Getting sick--yes, suppressed anger can definitely make you sick. You can't suppress your anger without taxing your physiological system, and feeling depressed, which lowers the function of your immune system.
  
  

Anger addiction and rage addiction

This is an anger disorder that occurs when anger outbursts keep happening over and over again, especially if there is a predictable pattern. When anger is released, some people actually feel a sense of relief, that can become addictive.

Learn all about anger and rage addiction in this article devoted entirely to dealing with the anger disorder of anger addiction and rage addiction. This kind of compulsive-addictive pattern can also result from unresolved grief.

The debilitating factor here is the way that the anger outbursts keep happening, and usually increase in intensity over time. No one has to live like that.

Passive aggressive behavior

This goes along with anger suppression, because many people just can't seem to hold it all inside. This is also sometimes called "sideways anger," which often comes out unconsciously. This can literally eat away at relationships, creating distance and hostility. Here are some examples of passive-aggressive behavior:

• Teasing or kidding around with someone when, if you're really honest with yourself, you know you're hurting their feelings. This is humor that is at someone else's expense, or you might say humor that has a victim.
• Asking a question that is really a statement, for example, "Are you sure you want to wear that?" is actually a criticism of the other person's choice of clothes.
• Sarcasm, cynicism and just being disagreeable can be forms of passive-aggressive behavior.
• Excluding the other person from something can also be a form of passive-aggressive behavior. You may have very good reasons to exclude them, but if the reason is just that you're angry at them and secretly want to "get back at them," then that's definitely passive-aggressive behavior.

One way to know if you have passive-aggressive behavior is to pay attention to your thoughts about the other person when they're not around. If you're thinking angry, resentful or bitter thoughts about them in their absence, chances are good that you will be passive-aggressive when you are with them.

Intermittent Explosive Disorder

This is an extreme anger disorder that is actually an official diagnosis in the DSM IV manual. Read our full article on Intermittent Explosive Disorder.

The reason this is considered to be a full blown psychological disorder is that at this level the condition takes on a life of its own, with many complex physical symptoms accompanying the psychological and emotional symptoms. It's like all of the other anger disorders rolled into one.

Learn more about Explosive Anger Disorder (EAD). 

In this excellent audio program entitled, Anger: Deal With It Before It Deals With You, you will learn:

• Where the anger started and how knowing that will help you heal a disorder if you have one.
• The other emotions that go along with the anger.
• Specific tools and techniques to help you protect your relationships from your anger.
• Healthy ways to release and communicate all of your emotions.

You have a full money-back guarantee with this program, so there's absolutely nothing to lose.

ANGER: Deal With It Before It Deals With You

A powerful and effective four-CD program addressing anger management, rage addiction and depression. Learn specific skills for dealing with your anger, overcoming rage, and creating positive, fulfilling relationships.

To listen to these previews, click the links below. When you're through listening, just close that window to return to this page.

Listen To Previews Now!

Learn More Or Order Now!

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