Anger As A Vehicle To Overcoming Depression

[falling_wave]

I had a very difficult weekend these past few days. I think loss was triggering for me and depression came in so fast and strong I could barely focus on what to do next. Long story short I called my T which I very rarely do and she called right back on a Sunday. I am so thankful because she was incredibly helpful in the short time we spoke. I cried and told her about the depth of my pain and her listening was one of the most important parts. She worked with me to write down some positives in my situation which shifted my mind set a bit but most interestingly she mentioned that I should work on getting angry about how people treat me that is not my fault. She specified that I shouldn't become destructive or anything but that anger is an active emotion versus depression. Anger if directed in positive directions will bring a person out of depression if they use it to do positive things. I was really at the lowest point I have been in several years so we talked about the possibility of hospitalization but it was getting a little bit angry that enabled me to do things to help myself and avoid having to go that route. Has anyone had experience with this?

 

[Seasounds]

Yes, working with anger in different ways, has done exactly what you said it could do. I was terrified at first, because it triggered memories of being yelled at. Fortunately, I had a therapist who helped me walk through the fire.

 

[asldjfasldjf]

I don't remember where I saw this, so what I'm about to say has no proof to back it up, but I read somewhere that, physically, depression is inhibition. It's turning inwards and/or incompletely acting on instinct. So anger, which is an emotion that instinctively helps protects us, is kind of the opposite of anger. Anger is most importantly self-protective. When viewing anger as a healthy defense (like inflammation in an active immune system), it's a little easier to swallow. Like inflammation, a reasonable amount and duration is healthy, only chronic anger and hostility is a problem.

 

[Friday]

Yep. That's generally how I do it. In no small part because I've spent a million years learning to control my anger, but sadness is beyond my ken.

 

[Spiderallis]

Anger is definitely a route out of depression. Sometimes I tell myself I'm working on this and getting better out of spite. I'm going to be okay just to prove them wrong. Every improvement is a middle finger in the face of those who harmed me.

Do you like angry music? It helps me to put on loud music and shout along. I do it in my car sometimes so I can pretend that no one knows I've been yelling expletives for twenty minutes between primal screams. I'm not good at anger, wasn't permitted to express that one so I need tricks to help me remember how to be angry.

 

[Go Hungry]

Yes, anger can be used to great effect, as long as it doesn't develop into Rage. Capital R. Mine sometimes does, and is troublesome because it triggers a dissociation. But I think the key is keeping to anger that is rooted in the present, at least for me. I know that's kinda confusing. But being angry about my past never really got me anywhere, until it got so boring that I simply gave up on it. Meanwhile, anger based in the present allowed me to quit drinking without so much as one relapse. So it can be very very useful in making positive changes.

I guess the old adage is true. "Ride the beast, don't let it ride you."

 

[falling_wave]

I thinks it's anger about the present day situations and processing trauma at the same time. That is more in the moment while the processing reduces triggers and reactions. For example she wanted me to access anger about my closest friend holding something against me and ignoring contact despite many respects al requests to have a conversation. It triggered a terrible depression because my trauma made loss and emotional manipulation triggers. Too late to get angry about that though. I do listen to angry music in my car sometimes and that can help but mostly it's noticing that's I've done all I can and instead of it turning to grief, I miss her, I must not be worthy of her talking to me I say we have discussed what to do in these situatuons. She was the one who made me promise we would talk immediately when things come up, I see her laughing downstairs with her kids and her back turned to me like nothing is wrong and I can pull out some anger. When im in my room with my heart feeling like its caving in just because i need her to give me a date and time to address this but she ignores my text messages that makes me angry. That anger makes it easy for me to begin closing the relationship and moving on despite extreme grief about it and attachment to her.