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Why Am I So Angry?
Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, PhD, PsyD on October 10, 2017 — Written by Erica Cirino
Causes
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Complications
Home treatments
Treatments
Outlook
Is anger healthy?
Everyone has experienced anger. The intensity of your anger can range from profound annoyance to extreme rage. It’s normal and healthy to feel angry from time to time in response to certain situations.
But sometimes people experience an uncontrollable anger that often escalates, especially when the provocation is minor. In this case, anger is not a normal emotion but a major problem.
What causes anger and anger problems?
Anger comes from a variety of sources and can vary widely. Some common anger triggers include:
personal problems, such as missing a promotion at work or relationship difficulties
a problem caused by another person such as cancelling plans
an event like bad traffic or getting in a car accident
memories of a traumatic or enraging event
In other cases, an anger problem may be caused by early trauma or events in a person’s life that have shaped their personality. In some cases, hormonal changes can also cause anger, as can certain mental disorders.
What are the symptoms of an anger problem?
Some signs that your anger is not normal include:
anger that affects your relationships and social life
feeling that you have to hide or hold in your anger
constant negative thinking and focusing on negative experiences
constantly feeling impatient, irritated, and hostile
arguing with others often, and getting angrier in the process
being physically violent when you’re angry
threatening violence to people or their property
an inability to control your anger
feeling compelled to do, or doing, violent or impulsive things because you feel angry, such as driving recklessly or destroying things
staying away from certain situations because you’re anxious or depressed about your angry outbursts
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