Is Anger a Symptom of Depression? How Depression and Anger Are Connected

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.

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. 

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.