Many individuals suffer from anger problems. Their unhealthy anger could lead them to feel resentful and miserable if they hold their anger in. Their anger could lead to relationship, legal or job problems if they express their anger outwardly.

Anger is one of the moral emotions. Individuals with unhealthy anger problems often are stuck on some real injustice that has befallen them. They cannot get past the transgressions they have received.

Some individuals with unhealthy anger feel irritable much of the time. Their anger is easily triggered by minor or slight inconveniences. Some individuals with anger find themselves often disappointed in the behavior of others who fail to meet their expectations. Some individuals with anger feel they are embattled with the world and have difficulty with authority or functioning under the direction of others.  Anger episodes can last for days or weeks, taking up much of a person’s conscious thought and devouring their time and energy.

Although there is no diagnosis for anger problems in DSM-5 or the World Health Organizations ICD-10 manual, several disorders reflect enduring and dysfunctional anger. The most common of these are Intermittent Explosive Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder. However, more than 32 disorders listed anger, aggression, or irritability as a symptom.

Research shows that mental health professionals often misdiagnose clients with anger problems and give them a more severe diagnosis than their symptoms indicate.

Often people have anger problems with another emotional problem. Research has shown that the presence of anger with a primary emotional disorder like depression or anxiety results in more severe emotional problems and are more resistant to treatment.

Back to What We Treat