TeenHealthFX - Answers - I Get Really Angry

Anger / Question
Published: March 30, 2009

Dear TeenHealthFX,

I was wondering if this is normal or not. I get really angry, like I'm not talking about every day agitiations. I feel like people were put on this Earth to irritate me. Everyone makes me angry and I've noticed espically lately I can't deal with it. I punch the bathroom stalls between every class period practically or my locker and this causes me to be late to my classes. Lately it seems like every day I come home and listen to "angry" music and punch my punching bag, with out boxing gloves because that way I feel the pain. I punch the walls over and over again until my knuckles are bruised and my hand physically can't take any more. I messed up my toe from kicknig a wall and my knees are bruised from kneeing my locker. Every little thing people do wrong makes me mad until the point of where i'm shaking and pracitcally having a seziure. today my friend was annoying me and I just wanted to strnagle her, and thats my friend. I'm afriad one day I'm just gonna get so irritated that I won't be able to make it to the bathroom to punch something or that one day some one will piss me off so bad i will keep pucnhing them and not be able to stop. i don't want to hurt anyone or get myself in trouble from acting on an angry impulse but this constant anger doesn't go away and its beginning to drive me crazy. I have dreams about murdering people from my school and everyday I say I hate everyone and the world( except my friends). I was just wondering if this anger is normal or what and what I can do to stop it because sometimes it gets to be too much and I start crying, violently shaking, get lightheaded, and sucha bad headache I can barely see. I also get extremely fustrated to the point where I punch myself in the head and have bumps on my head as a result. I also bruise my stomach and legs from punching myself. well thankx for yer time.

Signed: I Get Really Angry

Dear I Get Really Angry,

TeenHealthFX is concerned about the extent of your anger and subsequent violent thoughts and behaviors. Your anger could be a result of certain environmental factors that have caused you to feel extreme rage and pain. Your anger could also be connected to a mental health illness, such as bipolar disorder. FX thinks that it is very important for you to meet with a mental health professional as soon as possible for a consultation. A therapist could assess what is contributing to your anger and could work out an effective treatment plan with you. It may be necessary for you to be in individual therapy and/or family therapy. It may also be helpful for you to meet with a psychiatrist to be evaluated for psychotropic medication that would stabilize your mood.

Talk to your parents, a school counselor, or any other trusted adult and let them know about the extent of your anger and your need for help with this so that arrangements can be made for you to meet with a mental health professional right away.

If you live in northern New Jersey and need help finding a therapist you can call the Access Center from Atlantic Behavioral Health at 888-247-1400. Outside of this area you can log onto the US Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website for referrals in your area. You can also contact your insurance company to get a list of in-network mental health providers or check with your school social worker or psychologist to get a list of referrals in your area.

If you get to the point that you are afraid of your angry impulses then you need to seek help immediately. You can call 911 or go to your nearest hospital emergency room. In northern New Jersey you can also call the crisis hotline from Morristown Memorial hospital at 973-540-0100. Outside this area call the Suicide & Crisis Hotline, 1-800-999-9999, 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Signed: TeenHealthFX