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Is Anger a Symptom of Depression? How Depression and Anger Are Connected
Erika Krull, MSEd, LMHP
The sound of your spouse's voice taking Zoom calls in the dining room has become grating. On trips to the grocery store, you feel on edge and impatient with the other drivers on the road. And when you go around shutting the lights off for the night, all you see is clutter and your kids' toys on the floor. You aren't normally an angry person, but these frustrations stick with you all day now. This anger feels new, and with it has come depression symptoms like fatigue, trouble concentrating, and unexplained back pain.
This scenario raises an important question: is anger a symptom of depression? Yes, it is—yet it's often overlooked. Major depression and anger are closely connected, but the stereotype about depression is that a person only feels sad all the time. Because of this misunderstanding, many people wrestle with untreated depression disguised as anger every day. It's often easier to be angry than to face deep emotional pain.
If this sounds like you, don't give up seeking a solution. Take a closer look at how depression and anger are connected and how you can feel better with guidance and support.
Recognizing Anger as a Symptom of Depression
Experts believe that current research has yet to fully explore the relationship between major depression and anger. Some have suggested that at least
a third or more
of individuals with depression struggle with irritability and anger. It's easy to see how ongoing irritability could cause a person to lose their temper. Untreated depression symptoms like the following can wear a person down, leading to increased irritability over time:
- Lack of sleep
- Negative thoughts and ruminations
- More perceived life stress (and more sensitivity to it)
- Feelings of insufficient control over life
- Feeling of hopelessness and helplessness
Major depression and anger can develop from two directions, each one triggering the other. When coping skills are tested and frustrations pile up, a person's emotions may flip from sadness to irritability. At some point, these feelings can boil over and come out as anger in the form of cutting words or physical aggression. On the other hand, chronic
stressors can turn an irritable mood into an angry outburst. Ongoing stress and anger can increase the odds of developing depression over time.
Understanding Anger as a Defense Mechanism against Depression
While it's often difficult to talk about loneliness, hopelessness, and negative thoughts, anger can create a brief sense of power and control, deflecting attention from deeper emotional pain and vulnerability.
Men are more likely to experience depression through anger. Compared to women,
men talk about their mental health less often and are less likely to seek help. These and other factors mean that men with depression often struggle for months or years without treatment.
Women also experience anger or irritability, but it is often not a dominant symptom. It's also more socially acceptable for women to express a wider range of emotions, making anger less likely to obscure other symptoms.
Small frustrations can be easy targets for pent-up anger, especially if you're feeling overwhelmed by depression. You may grumble at the grocery store clerk, make a rude remark to your spouse, or yell at your child after work. Getting mad might help you release some energy and emotion, but you may not feel better in the end. If this seems to be an ongoing cycle, your anger may stem from depression. Without treatment, getting angry may be one of the few ways you've found to cope with your feelings. And without help, you may feel stuck in your emotional state.
Seeking Treatment for Extreme Anger
Everyone feels angry sometimes—it's a part of being human. But extreme anger can threaten your job, relationships, and finances. Irritability can be a sign of medical problems like a possible
concussion or an
overactive thyroid . An irritable mood can also signal
unstable blood sugar levels , a medical emergency for someone with or at risk for diabetes.
The good news is that you can reduce the impact of severe anger on your life with treatment and support. Whether your anger stems from depression, stress, or something else, you deserve to feel better.
Seeking treatment is a great step forward, but not all methods work on the first try. The search for helpful treatment can be frustrating, especially when you try several options with little success. It's natural to feel discouraged, but there is hope. If you've already tried a few treatment options, it may be time to look closer at Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS).
TMS therapy is a safe and effective option for depression, which may be an underlying cause of severe anger issues.
Extreme anger doesn't have to take your life off track. Professional help is the key to feeling better, so keep seeking depression treatment until you find
something that works for you . You may feel discouraged along the way, but remember that you have options. You can feel better, and TMS therapy could be the treatment that helps you get there.
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We’ve all heard the common health-related misconceptions or myths-- chocolate causes acne, carrots will improve your night vision, and cracking your knuckles gives you arthritis. Subscribing to these particular myths is relatively harmless, but other health-related misconceptions can have far more serious consequences. This is the case for depression—the myths surrounding it can prevent people from getting the help they need. This is the case for depression—the myths surrounding it can prevent people from getting the help they need. Because untreated depression can have a serious physical and psychological impact, it’s imperative to have the right information in order to make the best decisions for yourself and for your health. Here are 5 common misconceptions about depression, and the facts behind them:
Starting any medical treatment for the first time can leave you with questions, especially if you’re looking forward to the benefits it may bring. It’s no different when you’re preparing for your nasal esketamine treatment. Your previous mental health treatments may have consisted solely of taking antidepressants at home or visiting a therapist’s office for cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), so nasal esketamine is probably a new treatment experience for you. If you're wondering what it's like to start nasal esketamine and get ready for your first session, keep reading. Getting Started with the Nasal Esketamine Treatment As with any new treatment, you’ll first talk to your primary care provider or psychiatrist about whether nasal esketamine is a good fit for you. Alternatively, you can schedule your esketamine nasal spray consultation with a treatment center (such as Greenbrook) that has certification by the FDA’s Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS). At Greenbrook's REMS-certified nasal esketamine treatment centers, our Greenbrook-affiliated psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners will review your medical history and also conduct our own assessment to help determine whether nasal esketamine treatment is right for you. Certain conditions, including blood vessel disease and a history of psychosis, may make treatment a risk for you. Make sure you discuss all previous and present conditions with your doctor or nasal esketamine provider before beginning treatment. If the medication is deemed a good fit, you’ll receive your prescription from the Greenbrook-affiliated provider. Your Greenbrook Care Team will put together a personalized care plan for the weeks and months to follow. Keep in mind that you will need to take a standard (oral) antidepressant along with your nasal esketamine treatment. There are two important regulations to note when it comes to preparing for treatment: Each treatment is followed by a mandatory two-hour observation period. This means you will need to plan to stay at the center for at least two hours following your self-administration of the esketamine nasal spray. You cannot drive during the rest of the day after treatment and must arrange for transportation. These regulations are mandatory. It may be helpful to sit down and plan out several weeks’ worth of transportation once you know your treatment schedule. In addition, if you’re wondering what to bring for the treatment, we recommend entertainment such as an audiobook or playlist of favorite songs and a pair of headphones. You may want them during the two-hour observation period. What to Expect During Nasal Esketamine Treatment On the day of treatment, you’ll need to stop eating any food two hours before your appointment and stop drinking all fluids 30 minutes before you come in. Your Greenbrook Care Team will confirm that you are prepared for the two-hour observation period and that you have a ride home. You’ll get the opportunity to practice using a “trainer sprayer” that mimics the real nasal esketamine sprayer but does not release any medication. The Care Team will encourage you to use the restroom and set up your preferred environment in your private treatment bay or room. Some patients like reduced lighting, for example, while others don’t request light adjustments. You’ll complete a depression scale before each treatment session. Your Greenbrook provider will confirm that the dose kit is yours, show you how to administer it, and then hand it to you. Each sprayer contained 28mg of Spravato esketamine nasal spray. Patients usually start with two sprayers (56mg) and soon increase to 84mg (three sprayers) per treatment. But, your dosage maybe vary. Should you be left with a metallic taste by the spray, the Care Team will offer suckers to help make the flavor dissipate. After your dose, you’ll be encouraged to lie back in your comfortable recliner. While most patients enjoy a quiet setting, Greenbrook is prepared to accommodate patients with a more animated reaction to the medication. You may feel sleepy, dizzy, mildly dissociated, and/or nauseated during treatment. Greenbrook's Care Team is readily available if you need assistance. How to Prepare for after your Nasal Esketamine Treatment Most side effects begin to wane in the second hour of observation, but if you’re wondering, “Is it safe to drive immediately after nasal esketamine treatment?” the answer is a resounding no. In addition to the mandatory ride home, you will need to block off time to rest and let side effects fully dissipate. This extended rest period is especially important in the first weeks of treatment when you’ll have treatment twice a week. Do not drive or operate machinery of any kind until the day after treatment. Just take it easy, relax, and take care of yourself. If you’re unsure what activities you can do or should avoid during this time, talk to your Care Team for more information. While side effects tend to dissipate completely after a good night’s sleep, many nasal esketamine patients begin feeling relief from depression symptoms within hours of their treatment. Other Tips in Preparing for Your Nasal Esketamine Treatment At Greenbrook, we make every effort to schedule your treatment in the afternoons or whenever it is most convenient for you. We encourage you to see each treatment session as an opportunity to relax and take care of your mental health. If you have any questions or concerns, talk to your doctor or the Greenbrook Care Team. At Greenbrook, we’ll help you feel at ease when preparing for each treatment session. Schedule A Free Consultation To get started with nasal esketamine, schedule your free consultation today.
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