I Find Myself So Angry - All the Time

I used to feel like this -- my doc put me on 100mg of Zoloft. It made everyone around me 75% less irritating!

It was one of a few symptoms of hypothyroidism for me. Now my b*tchiness only comes out occasionally instead of constantly.

I feel like this too! Especially the part where you said you take everything super personal :/ I do this often. When someone says something I take it to heart and let it ruin my day. I started taking Zoloft for it and it was helping me tons, but I had to get off of it when I became pregnant. During my pregnancy I felt great, but now that my baby is almost 6 weeks old, I'm going to be calling my doctor soon to get back on it :) I can already tell that I'm feeling like i used to...sad, angry, and depressed. Good luck to you!!!

i find myself like this too. not all of the time, but way to frequent. It's not even angry so much as my brain seems to search for things to stress about and dwell on.
let M. know if you find an natural remedy besides beer=)

I get angry when I'm not getting enough sleep. I was also getting super angry during ovulation and my period prior to my latest pregnancy.

Sleep and exercise help me.

Is there resentment lying around anywhere concerning an issue you have not addressed?

Anger can also be a sign of depression. not as common in women as men, but still something to talk to your doctor about.

It sounds like it is hormonal based.
PMS.... since it is, cyclical in nature.

The KEY thing is: if this moodiness is cyclical per your periods, then it is most likely, PMS.
You can see your Doctor for help, or see a Naturopath Doctor.

Read about PMS. The moodiness can be in various degrees and lots of it.

I agree with the others who have said to have your doctor do a complete physical. I would add that when your doctor orders a blood test, ask to have your thyroid checked at the same time. I was experiencing a lot of unpleasant symptoms which I didn't know were related - depression and irritability being 2 of them - and it turned out that I have a hypothyroid condition! After treating for the thyroid problems, the depression and irritability went away on their own. Just something to think about. Here's the list of symptoms, in case you notice any other issues you've been having: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/long-and-pathetic/

Since you're questioning it, call your primary care physician. Get a check up. Ask for a referral to a therapist that can do an evaluation for depression and anxiety. It's good that you're this self-aware and questioning because that means you can get help.

Go and get yourself evaluated for depression. Depression doesn't always make people sad and weepy. It can also make people angry, frustrated, and unable to deal with "the small stuff." That particular manifestation of depression is more common in men, but it can look like that for women, too.

im right there with you!!!

A lot of people who have depression feel a lot of anger. I would contemplate that fact that you might be extremely depressed. Do you exercise? That helps me a lot. Definitely talk to your doctor.

Anger is/was one of the main symptoms in my husband's depression. Mixed with the hormonal stuff happening with your cycle it can really suck. Definitely see your doctor. Life can be a lot sweeter.

Ughh, M.. Yes, go see your Dr. I had the similar problems as you're describing, with occasional times when I would get very very blue. I found that I have a sort of "low grade" depression, but when I got stressed I found that I was very sensitive and would feel angry.

If anyone else struggles with depression in your family and has tried medication that has been helpful to them, talk to your Dr. about trying that first. Family members will have similar body chemistry and the meds will most likely work for you too.

You don't have to live the way you are when there are medications to help you. Best of luck~

Zoloft helped me with this feeling as well.

As a start to decide to be happy/positive instead of angry "all the time", apologize to your coworker, just say what you told us...."what happened yesterday was stupid/silly and not important, I hope we can leave it behind and be better coworkers".

Sounds like the type of thing that should be discussed with your primary care provider.

I second exercise.

Yes! See an endocrinologist and have your hormones tested. Also just being stressed can do that. My husband said to enjoy each moment as they will be gone soon. If your endocrinologist doesn't find much, see a therapist who can help you figure out the cause and how to cope with these feelings. They may also recommend an anti depressant if needed during certain weeks of your cycle. You can decide what you want to do and take. I just decided its not fair to me or my family to put up with me and my moods. Come to find out my hormones are a bit off. I just want to enjoy my family before they are grown:)

Check with OB/GYN about perimenapausal symptoms or some other issue connected with the monthly cycle. A friend was diagnosed with PMDD and takes a med and she's not mentally nuts anymore! She had been diagnosed with Bipolar and was taking nasty meds every day for years, would end up in the mental ward, etc...once she had a doc realize she was only a mental case 1 1/2 to 2 weeks of the month he took over her care and she's normal now.

I think it's a good thing to discuss with your doctor.

I used to ALL the time (not only PMS'ing)! It took me a year with a therapist and Psychiatrist trying different meds, but we finally found the one that worked. It's not a quick fix nor is it a one-size-fits-all but it was worth it. I am not one that quickly pops a pill and it took me feeling like this for 5 years before I finally went to the doctor. I tried vitamins/minerals/herbs; exercise; meditation; etc. All those helped briefly but not on the long term. I needed something that was consistent and that I could count on when I didn't have the time for all the other things.

Now I don't dwell on the things like you said you do (you can't get it out of your head). That type of thing is an imbalance in your brain and it can be hormonal. All of that can be fixed! Don't wait any longer - you, your family, your friends, your co-workers, etc. all deserve a happier you! There is a solution out there! Just please don't go in and ask for Zoloft or any of the other meds mentioned - your doctor is the only one that knows whats best. I can't emphasize enough that it's worth the visit to a psychiatrist who specializes in what you are going through and treating it with the appropriate meds. Mine didn't waste time, and he knew exactly what to try first, second and the combinations, etc. . .

You deserve to be happy and healthy. There's nothing wrong with admitting you need help. Also, it doesn't have to be a life sentence. My dr has weened me off of one of the meds - I am only taking one now. He is going to ween me off of that one soon. So there's answers out there, please take action! You and your family deserve it! Let us know how you are doing!

Sounds like there is an imbalance. There is no shame at all in talking to your doctor and maybe trying a low dose of Zoloft or something of the sort. It doesn't have to be forever, but something to get you through this period of your life. Do you happen to have any auto-immune diseases?

Good for you for recognizing your problem and seeking solutions.

Have a great holiday!

that was happening to me as well, my doctor diagnosed me with depression. i have been on a low dose of zoloft for almost two years. has totally taken the edge off. i still have moments but not as bad as they used to be. i also started walking, that has helped too.
good luck to you :):)

It could be a hormonal imbalance. It could be a life imbalance. Are you resentful in any way of where you are in life? Does your husband get on your nerves? Sometimes I have to check myself and how I relate to other people. For example, my husband is friendly with EVERYBODY. It seems like he has no boundaries when it comes to having other people around. I tend to be more reserved. (I think that this works for him because he can relegate everyone to the surface, where most of my relationships are intimate ones.) Well, anyway, because I feel like he would leave us wide open to some outside forces (oooohhhh!!!), I am even more reserved and closed-mouthed in the presence of new people, to the point of seeming rudeness, I guess to compensate.

Maybe you're feeling so annoyed with something that you can't change that it's changed how you respond to everything.

I think that you should check your hormones first. Check your diet--some foods are known to lend to depression. Talk/write it out; maybe you're used to holding it all in/together?

Good luck.

It can be a number of things. Do you have close gal pals? Are you sexually content? Are you gaining weight and are unhappy in your appearance? Are your parents alive and well? What would you change if you could?

Please don't feel the need to post your answers--just food for thought.

I, too, get angry and take Levothyroxin (thyroid was shot) and also St. John's Wort to help balance myself. The thyroid med doesn't really help but the St. Johns Wort does.

Good luck--I am there with you with constant irritation.

STRESS

I know you work full time and have kids but do yourself a favor and start exercising 20-30 minutes a day at least 3 times a week. It may take a while but you will start to feel so much better.

Sounds like you need a break from your normal schedule and to rest. Do call your doctor for help with an anti-depressant or exercise routine. It is not normal to feel this way all the time. Stress does wonders to the whole system. Be nice and apologize to your co-worker and your family.

The other S.

When I feel like what you are describing, it's usually because I'm tired, have too much on plate, and I need a break. Sometimes I choose to take on way too much and I pay for it later. So does my husband and family.

In my experience, going and talking to a therapist is a really good thing. Can you find someone in your area to go and talk to? Worked for me for sure.

Good luck. You can get out of this pattern. It just takes some good self-love and care.

I felt like this for years after kids. I thought I was just exhausted from that but turns out it was my thyroid and subsequent deficiencies. Could figure out how I could sleep all night and be exhausted first thing in the morning. MDs weren't any help but I found a great ND who listened and didn't take lab ranges as an absolute. Found a thyroid med that worked for me (ironically a synthetic one), take bit D and iron, and I am sooooo much nicer these days :P

If you do run a thyroid blood panel, make sure they order T3 and T4 as well as TSH. Check out www.stopthethyroidmadness.com. They have a section for labs. There are also some checklists to help you figure out if you fit the thyroidism profile.

Hope you feel better soon!

Your Dr will probably give you a 'depression' questionnaire. Make sure your DR also gives you the 'anxiety' questionnaire. I scored normal on the depression sheet, but my anxiety was off the charts. You sound like I was. 10MG of generic prozac x day and I feel like a different person. Everyone notices the difference too.