Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAnger AttacksPanic AttacksUnderstanding the DifferencesCauses of Anger AttacksHow to Cope

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Anger Attacks

Panic Attacks

Understanding the Differences

Causes of Anger Attacks

How to Cope

Close

It’s not unusual for people who have panic disorder, agoraphobia, or anotheranxiety disorderto experience frustration because of their condition. You may blame yourself or others for your condition, further escalating your sense of anger and resentment. Sometimes this frustration can develop into anger toward yourself, anger at your situation, or anger toward others.

Researchers have conducted studies on what they term “anger attacks” in depressed and anxious individuals.They conclude that there are certain similarities between anger attacks and panic attacks. The following describes the symptoms of anger attacks and panic attacks with an explanation of the key differences.

Symptoms of Anger Attacks

Symptoms of Panic Attacks

A Basic Guide to Panic Attacks

It’s easy to see the similarities between the symptoms of an anger attack and a panic attack. Both produce many of the same sudden and intense physical and emotional sensations. However, there are important differences.

Anger attacks might be more likely to occur in situations in which an individual feels emotionally trapped rather than as the result of fear and anxiety that are often associated with panic attacks. Because a person feels trapped and unsure of how to manage the situation, they lash out with anger.

Distinguishing Characteristics

In addition, there are criteria that are unique to anger attacks, including:

Anger attacks can also be a symptom of numerous health conditions, including:

RecapMany things can trigger anger attacks, including stress, financial issues, work, and social pressures, family or relationship troubles, lack of sleep, and even frustration over having panic disorder, agoraphobia, or another type of anxiety disorder.

Recap

Many things can trigger anger attacks, including stress, financial issues, work, and social pressures, family or relationship troubles, lack of sleep, and even frustration over having panic disorder, agoraphobia, or another type of anxiety disorder.

Coping With Anger Attacks

If you feel that you are experiencing anger attacks, and they are interfering with your work or relationships, talk to your doctor or mental healthcare provider.

Use Anger Management Techniques

Together, you can work to develop ananger management plan, which might include identifying your triggers, behaviors, and reactions and learning and practicing relaxation techniques such as the following:

Try Anger Management Therapy

Anger management therapycan help you address the cognitive and behavioral components of anger in order to better regulate difficult and intense emotions.

During therapy, you’ll learn how to identify your anger triggers and develop strategies to diffuse feelings of frustration and anger. You’ll also learn how to change the underlyingnegative thinkingpatterns that contribute to your anger.

Consider Medication

Your doctor may also prescribe medications to help reduce your symptoms. Certain medications, such asantidepressants, that can be used to effectively treat panic attacks also work for managing anger attacks.

Practice Self-Care

Good self-care routines can also help. Self-care may includeexercising,eating well,managing your sleep habits, and building a solid support network.

Join a Support Group

Attending local or online support groups and ongoing therapy are also viable options. Such groups can offer encouragement, advice, and resources that can help you better manage your anger.

A Word From Verywell

Through therapy, you can learn to better control your anger and cope with your panic or anger attacks in a healthy way. By following through with treatment and embracing healthy lifestyle choices, you can expect to have both issues in check.

If you or a loved one are struggling with an anxiety disorder, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you or a loved one are struggling with an anxiety disorder, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

The Best Online Anxiety Support Groups

9 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.de Bles NJ, Rius Ottenheim N, van Hemert AM, et al.Trait anger and anger attacks in relation to depressive and anxiety disorders.J Affect Disord. 2019;259:259-265. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2019.08.023Painuly NP, Grover S, Gupta N, Mattoo SK.Prevalence of anger attacks in depressive and anxiety disorders: Implications for their construct?.Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2011;65(2):165-74. doi:10.1111/j.1440-1819.2010.02177.xAmerican Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.Giancola PR, Levinson CA, Corman MD, et al.Men and women, alcohol and aggression.Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2009;17(3):154-64. doi:10.1037/a0016385Ballester J, Goldstein T, Goldstein B, et al.Is bipolar disorder specifically associated with aggression?.Bipolar Disord. 2012;14(3):283-90. doi:10.1111/j.1399-5618.2012.01006.xVidal-Ribas P, Stringaris A.How and why are irritability and depression linked?Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2021;30(2):401-414. doi:10.1016/j.chc.2020.10.009American Psychological Association.Controlling anger before it controls you.American Psychological Association.Understanding anger: how psychologists help with anger problems.Farnam A, MehrAra A, Dadashzadeh H, Chalabianlou G, Safikhanlou S.Studying the effect of sertraline in reducing aggressive behavior in patients with major depression.Adv Pharm Bull. 2017;7(2):275–279. doi:10.15171/apb.2017.033Additional ReadingFava M, Anderson K, Rosenbaum JF.Anger attacks: Possible variants of panic and major depressive disorders.American Journal of Psychiatry.1990;147:867-870. doi:10.1176/ajp.147.7.867

9 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.de Bles NJ, Rius Ottenheim N, van Hemert AM, et al.Trait anger and anger attacks in relation to depressive and anxiety disorders.J Affect Disord. 2019;259:259-265. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2019.08.023Painuly NP, Grover S, Gupta N, Mattoo SK.Prevalence of anger attacks in depressive and anxiety disorders: Implications for their construct?.Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2011;65(2):165-74. doi:10.1111/j.1440-1819.2010.02177.xAmerican Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.Giancola PR, Levinson CA, Corman MD, et al.Men and women, alcohol and aggression.Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2009;17(3):154-64. doi:10.1037/a0016385Ballester J, Goldstein T, Goldstein B, et al.Is bipolar disorder specifically associated with aggression?.Bipolar Disord. 2012;14(3):283-90. doi:10.1111/j.1399-5618.2012.01006.xVidal-Ribas P, Stringaris A.How and why are irritability and depression linked?Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2021;30(2):401-414. doi:10.1016/j.chc.2020.10.009American Psychological Association.Controlling anger before it controls you.American Psychological Association.Understanding anger: how psychologists help with anger problems.Farnam A, MehrAra A, Dadashzadeh H, Chalabianlou G, Safikhanlou S.Studying the effect of sertraline in reducing aggressive behavior in patients with major depression.Adv Pharm Bull. 2017;7(2):275–279. doi:10.15171/apb.2017.033Additional ReadingFava M, Anderson K, Rosenbaum JF.Anger attacks: Possible variants of panic and major depressive disorders.American Journal of Psychiatry.1990;147:867-870. doi:10.1176/ajp.147.7.867

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

de Bles NJ, Rius Ottenheim N, van Hemert AM, et al.Trait anger and anger attacks in relation to depressive and anxiety disorders.J Affect Disord. 2019;259:259-265. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2019.08.023Painuly NP, Grover S, Gupta N, Mattoo SK.Prevalence of anger attacks in depressive and anxiety disorders: Implications for their construct?.Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2011;65(2):165-74. doi:10.1111/j.1440-1819.2010.02177.xAmerican Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.Giancola PR, Levinson CA, Corman MD, et al.Men and women, alcohol and aggression.Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2009;17(3):154-64. doi:10.1037/a0016385Ballester J, Goldstein T, Goldstein B, et al.Is bipolar disorder specifically associated with aggression?.Bipolar Disord. 2012;14(3):283-90. doi:10.1111/j.1399-5618.2012.01006.xVidal-Ribas P, Stringaris A.How and why are irritability and depression linked?Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2021;30(2):401-414. doi:10.1016/j.chc.2020.10.009American Psychological Association.Controlling anger before it controls you.American Psychological Association.Understanding anger: how psychologists help with anger problems.Farnam A, MehrAra A, Dadashzadeh H, Chalabianlou G, Safikhanlou S.Studying the effect of sertraline in reducing aggressive behavior in patients with major depression.Adv Pharm Bull. 2017;7(2):275–279. doi:10.15171/apb.2017.033

de Bles NJ, Rius Ottenheim N, van Hemert AM, et al.Trait anger and anger attacks in relation to depressive and anxiety disorders.J Affect Disord. 2019;259:259-265. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2019.08.023

Painuly NP, Grover S, Gupta N, Mattoo SK.Prevalence of anger attacks in depressive and anxiety disorders: Implications for their construct?.Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2011;65(2):165-74. doi:10.1111/j.1440-1819.2010.02177.x

American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.

Giancola PR, Levinson CA, Corman MD, et al.Men and women, alcohol and aggression.Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2009;17(3):154-64. doi:10.1037/a0016385

Ballester J, Goldstein T, Goldstein B, et al.Is bipolar disorder specifically associated with aggression?.Bipolar Disord. 2012;14(3):283-90. doi:10.1111/j.1399-5618.2012.01006.x

Vidal-Ribas P, Stringaris A.How and why are irritability and depression linked?Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2021;30(2):401-414. doi:10.1016/j.chc.2020.10.009

American Psychological Association.Controlling anger before it controls you.

American Psychological Association.Understanding anger: how psychologists help with anger problems.

Farnam A, MehrAra A, Dadashzadeh H, Chalabianlou G, Safikhanlou S.Studying the effect of sertraline in reducing aggressive behavior in patients with major depression.Adv Pharm Bull. 2017;7(2):275–279. doi:10.15171/apb.2017.033

Fava M, Anderson K, Rosenbaum JF.Anger attacks: Possible variants of panic and major depressive disorders.American Journal of Psychiatry.1990;147:867-870. doi:10.1176/ajp.147.7.867

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