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Depression & Anger: Connections & Treatments

Published: January 23, 2023 Updated: March 8, 2023
Published: 01/23/2023 Updated: 03/08/2023
Headshot of Nicole Arzt, LMFT
Written by:

Nicole Arzt

LMFT
Headshot of Dr. Kristen Fuller, MD
Reviewed by:

Kristen Fuller

MD
  • What Is Depression?Depression
  • What Is Anger?Anger
  • Why Does Depression Sometimes Present as Anger?Presentation
  • Does Depression Cause Anger?Depression Causing Anger
  • What Causes Anger With Depression?Causes of Anger
  • Treatment for Angry DepressionTreatment
  • Dealing With Anger & DepressionCoping
  • Final Thoughts on Depression & AngerConclusion
  • Additional ResourcesResources
  • Depression and Anger InfographicsInfographics
Headshot of Nicole Arzt, LMFT
Written by:

Nicole Arzt

LMFT
Headshot of Dr. Kristen Fuller, MD
Reviewed by:

Kristen Fuller

MD

Depression and anger are closely connected. In fact, irritability, frustration, and anger outbursts are common symptoms of depression. Likewise, depression may trigger feelings of anger with yourself or others. Depression and persistent anger may also correspond with issues related to emotional regulation and impulse control. Identifying and treating these symptoms can make a significant difference in how you feel.

Feelings of depression and anger can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to face them alone. BetterHelp has over 20,000 licensed therapists who provide convenient and affordable online therapy. BetterHelp starts at $60 per week. Complete a brief questionnaire and get matched with the right therapist for you.

Choosing Therapy partners with leading mental health companies and is compensated for marketing by BetterHelp

Visit BetterHelp

What Is Depression?

Depression can range in severity, and there are numerous types of depression that are diagnosed based on the frequency, intensity, and specific kinds of symptoms someone is having.

Common depression symptoms include:

  • Persistent sadness or low mood throughout the day
  • Feeling worthless or helpless in most situations
  • Experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-harm
  • Difficulties with concentration
  • Losing interest in enjoyable hobbies and meaningful relationships
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Significant changes in appetite or weight
  • Unexplained aches, pains, or other physical tension
  • Feeling excessively restless
  • Increased irritability
  • Having low energy throughout the day

What Is Anger?

Anger is a reactionary emotion. It’s important to remember that there are different types of anger.1 For example, some people become violent when they feel angry. In those cases, the anger is apparent and dangerous. Other times, anger may be more covert. For example, instead of shouting at someone, you might respond with a passive-aggressive reply or gossip behind their back.

Here are several common symptoms of anger:2

  • Racing thoughts
  • Explosiveness
  • Impulsive behavior (shouting, making threats, hurting people you love)
  • Feeling like you can’t control your emotions or reactions
  • Headaches
  • Persistent irritation towards other people
  • Elevated blood pressure
  • Chronic muscle tension or tightness
  • Memory problems
  • Hostile thoughts
  • Extreme thoughts about justice or revenge

Is Anger a Sign of Depression?

Anger can be a noteworthy sign of depression, especially in males and teenage patients. Many people in those populations feel more comfortable displaying anger and hostility vs. appearing sad or tearful.

What Do Depression & Anger Outbursts Look Like?

The anger outbursts linked to depression can seem odd and unexpected. Often, they come without warning and can involve a mix of feelings and emotions.

Angry depression outbursts could look like:

  • Short but intense anger
  • Irrational thought processes
  • Jumping to conclusions that do not make sense
  • Displays of anger mixed with or followed by sadness, shame, or guilt
  • Blaming another person or a group of people for the feelings or situation
  • Lack of insight regarding the source of anger

Why Does Depression Sometimes Present as Anger?

Anger typically arises in response to a real or perceived threat. Whether it’s being rejected, disrespected, or betrayed, these experiences trigger a sense of powerlessness that can quickly spiral into anger. Experiencing multiple episodes without learning how to cope appropriately may reinforce depression.

Research suggests that anger may play an influential role in depression. In fact, some clinicians postulate that depression is simply “anger directed inwards.” Today, many theorists and mental health professionals argue that subsequent challenges associated with coping with anger may trigger the onset and maintenance of depression.3

Does Depression Cause Anger?

People with depression symptoms often exhibit symptoms of overt or suppressed anger.4 For one, their depression may make them feel upset with themselves. In addition, depression can make it challenging to cope and reconcile anger. If you lack the energy or motivation to use healthy coping skills, difficult emotions can quickly compound and become overwhelming.

However, in mental health, it’s far too simplistic to assume that one condition causes another symptom or issue. Instead, it’s better to assume that there is likely a correlation, and many confounding variables may contribute to this relationship. In this case, depression may trigger more anger, and unresolved anger might exacerbate depression.

What Causes Anger With Depression?

Anger and depression don’t always come from a single source. Numerous experiences or variables can contribute to how you feel, including brain chemistry, gender, lifestyle habits, life stressors, history of trauma, and co-occurring conditions.

Here are different causes of anger with depression:

Brain Chemistry

From a neurological perspective, certain chemical imbalances can trigger mental health problems. For instance, research shows that the hippocampus, the part of the brain associated with learning and memory, might be smaller in people with depression.

Subsequently, the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, glutamate, and GABA are all associated with mental health. If they have communication problems, it can impact how you feel.

Gender

In many cases, it’s more socially acceptable for a man to be aggressive vs. tearful. As we know, young men are praised to “act tough” and be strong.5 Women are typically socialized to avoid anger, although crying tends to be safer. Therefore, men who showcase anger may really be struggling with depression. Furthermore, women who present with depressive symptoms may have serious cases of suppressed anger.

Poor Lifestyle Habits & Lack of Support

From a sociocultural perspective, environmental factors may contribute to anger and depression. For example, poor lifestyle habits like substance use, overworking, inadequate nutrition, and a limited support system may exacerbate mental health problems.6

Life Stressors

Many people experience elevated mental health issues during transitional times. For example, you may feel heightened emotions during significant milestones like changing careers, entering or exiting a relationship, having a baby, or enduring a specific loss.

History of Trauma

Furthermore, a history of trauma can undoubtedly trigger more anger and depression. This is especially true when the trauma is unresolved or a source of guilt and shame.

Co-occurring Conditions

Depression frequently occurs with other mental health conditions, and these combinations may trigger more anger. Depression & anxiety and substance use disorders are connected strongly to expressions of irritability, anger, and aggression.

Feelings of depression and anger can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to face them alone. BetterHelp has over 20,000 licensed therapists who provide convenient and affordable online therapy. BetterHelp starts at $60 per week. Complete a brief questionnaire and get matched with the right therapist for you.

Choosing Therapy partners with leading mental health companies and is compensated for marketing by BetterHelp

Visit BetterHelp

Treatment for Angry Depression

While angry depression can feel overwhelming and difficult to control, there are many treatment options that can help change the way you feel, like therapy, anger management, and medication.

Here are different forms of treatment for angry depression:

Therapy

Working with a professional therapist can help you learn more about your mental health triggers and develop healthier coping tools to manage distress. When searching for a therapist in an online therapist directory, consider searching for a provider who specializes in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).

CBT for anger helps people effectively manage emotions by examining the relationship between problematic thoughts and behaviors. Learning how to challenge and change these thoughts can improve how you feel.

Medication For Anger & Depression

Medication for depression and medication for anger can also help reduce the severity of your symptoms. SSRIs such as Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa, and Prozac (Fluoxetine) help balance the neurotransmitters impacting your emotions and mood. As a result, these antidepressants may boost your overall mood and help you feel less reactive to stressful situations.

Brain Stimulation Therapies

Therapies like electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and others work by stimulating the brain without therapy or medications. The goal here is to limit depression, which in turn, lowers the unhealthy expression of anger.7

Anger Management Techniques

Anger management is a form of therapy often offered in a group setting with other people who struggle with anger. The treatment will focus on identifying the triggers of anger, the thoughts and feelings these triggers create, and healthier reactions that lead to more positive results.

Dealing With Anger & Depression

Lifestyle changes can also help lessen or eliminate symptoms of anger and depression. Consider reflecting on your daily routine. Do you take adequate time to care for your physical and emotional well-being? Are you getting enough sleep and exercising regularly? If not, focusing on optimizing your routine may be the first step.

Here are ways to deal with anger and depression:

Identify & Understand Triggers

You can never hope to improve your anger until you can understand it. Take time when you are calm to think about your anger, when it emerges, what makes it better, and what makes it worse. Without knowing where you’re starting, you cannot get to your destination.

Explore Healthy Outlets

If left to grow and fester, anger will come out in negative ways, so develop healthy coping mechanisms to let out your anger. Walking, swimming, boxing, and other physical activities are great options, but you could also paint, dance, yell, or any other expressive outlet.

Develop Self Compassion

Feeling shameful, guilty, critical, or disappointed in yourself will not shrink anger. Knowing how to love yourself and how to forgive yourself for the mistakes of the past is vital. Meditation for anger can be a great way to develop more self-compassion.

Accept Others

After you accept yourself, you’ll need to accept others. Of course, people can be frustrating as they make mistakes, annoy you, and disrupt your plans, but you cannot control them. Accept their actions and embrace your differences.

Find an Early Warning System

Once you become skilled at tracking your anger, you can start warning other people of your state. Advising them to steer clear for a few minutes can go a long way to reduce outbursts and hurt feelings. You protect yourself by protecting them.

Final Thoughts on Depression & Anger

Depression and anger can feel frustrating if they are chronic and interfering with your quality of life. However, if these symptoms continue to cause you distress, don’t hesitate to reach out for support. Talking about your feelings and learning new ways to manage them can help you feel better in your daily life.

Additional Resources

Education is just the first step on our path to improved mental health and emotional wellness. To help our readers take the next step in their journey, Choosing Therapy has partnered with leaders in mental health and wellness. Choosing Therapy may be compensated for marketing by the companies mentioned below.

Talk Therapy 

Online-Therapy.com – Get support and guidance from a licensed therapist. Online-Therapy.com provides 45 minute weekly video sessions and unlimited text messaging with your therapist for only $64/week. Get Started

Online Psychiatry

Hims / Hers – If you’re living with anxiety or depression, finding the right medication match may make all the difference. Get FDA approved medication prescribed by your dedicated Hims / Hers Healthcare Provider and delivered right to your door. Plans start at $25 per month (first month). Get Started

Depression Newsletter

A free newsletter from Choosing Therapy for those impacted by depression. Get helpful tips and the latest information. Sign Up

Learn Anti-Stress & Relaxation Techniques

Mindfulness.com – Change your life by practicing mindfulness. In a few minutes a day, you can start developing mindfulness and meditation skills. Free Trial

Choosing Therapy Directory 

You can search for therapists by specialty,  experience, insurance, or price, and location. Find a therapist today.

Choosing Therapy partners with leading mental health companies and is compensated for marketing by Online-Therapy, Hims / Hers, and Mindfulness.com

For Further Reading

  • Mental Health America
  • National Alliance on Mental Health
  • MentalHealth.gov

Depression and Anger Infographics

Symptoms of Anger and Depression Connection Between Depression and Anger Treatment for Depression and Anger

6 sources

Choosing Therapy strives to provide our readers with mental health content that is accurate and actionable. We have high standards for what can be cited within our articles. Acceptable sources include government agencies, universities and colleges, scholarly journals, industry and professional associations, and other high-integrity sources of mental health journalism. Learn more by reviewing our full editorial policy.

  • Understanding the Types of Anger (2021, March). ResearchGate. Retrieved from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/350235712_Understanding_the_Types_of_Anger.

  • How to recognize and deal with anger (2012). American Psychological Association. Retrieved from: https://www.apa.org/topics/anger/recognize.

  • Anger and depression. (2018, January). Cambridge University Press. Retrieved from: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/advances-in-psychiatric-treatment/article/anger-and-depression/E8606D1796679107A5F3037466C1DDA8.

  • Depression is More Than Just Sadness: A Case of Excessive Anger and Its Management in Depression (2014, Jan-Mar). Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3959025/

  • How Women Can Use Their Anger for Good (2018, October). Greater Good Science Center. Retrieved from: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_women_can_use_their_anger_for_good.

  • Environmental Connections: A Deeper Look into Mental Illness (2007, August). Environmental Health Perspectives. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1940091/.

update history

We regularly update the articles on ChoosingTherapy.com to ensure we continue to reflect scientific consensus on the topics we cover, to incorporate new research into our articles, and to better answer our audience’s questions. When our content undergoes a significant revision, we summarize the changes that were made and the date on which they occurred. We also record the authors and medical reviewers who contributed to previous versions of the article. Read more about our editorial policies here.

  • Originally Published: September 22, 2021
    Original Author: Nicole Arzt, LMFT
    Original Reviewer: Kristen Fuller, MD

  • Updated: March 31, 2022
    Author: No Change
    Reviewer: No Change
    Primary Changes: Updated for readability and clarity. Reviewed and added relevant resources. Added “Is Anger a Sign of Depression?”, “What Do Depression and Anger Outbursts Look Like?”; Revised “What Causes Anger With Depression?” and “Treatment for Angry Depression”. New material written by Eric Patterson, LPC, and reviewed by Dena Westphalen, PharmD.

  • Updated: January 23, 2023
    Author: No Change
    Reviewer: No Change
    Primary Changes: Updated for readability and clarity. Reviewed and added relevant resources.

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Headshot of Nicole Arzt, LMFT
Written by:

Nicole Arzt

LMFT
Headshot of Dr. Kristen Fuller, MD
Reviewed by:

Kristen Fuller

MD
  • What Is Depression?Depression
  • What Is Anger?Anger
  • Why Does Depression Sometimes Present as Anger?Presentation
  • Does Depression Cause Anger?Depression Causing Anger
  • What Causes Anger With Depression?Causes of Anger
  • Treatment for Angry DepressionTreatment
  • Dealing With Anger & DepressionCoping
  • Final Thoughts on Depression & AngerConclusion
  • Additional ResourcesResources
  • Depression and Anger InfographicsInfographics
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