In the years following the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, media reports of veteran violence began accumulating. Formerly social and kind people returned from war angry, and often violent. Rates of domestic violence among former combatants surged. Some veterans killed their partners or families. Many people were shocked, but the truth is that research has long linked PTSD to feelings of anger, and even violent aggression. People with PTSD may be angry about the trauma they survived or feel helpless or out of control.
In the popular imagination, posttraumatic stress (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder. Many envision people who cannot leave their homes, who are easily triggered into fear or panic attacks. Anger, though, is a common symptom of PTSD—so common, in fact, that the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) specifically lists anger as a common emotional reaction among people with PTSD. Feelings of anger can make it difficult to get support from loved ones. A person who feels angry or out of control may feel guilty or ashamed, intensifying the isolation of experiencing trauma.
Even when loved ones want to be supportive, they may not fully understand the severity of the trauma, leaving trauma survivors feeling as if their suffering has been ignored or forgotten.
The Link Between Anger and PTSD
Trauma can be deeply isolating. Loved ones may not understand the trauma or may react inappropriately. For example, rape survivors frequently report being interrogated about their own behavior, while returning soldiers say that civilians are often eager to ask about violent combat experiences. Even when loved ones want to be supportive, they may not fully understand the severity of the trauma, leaving trauma survivors feeling as if their suffering has been ignored or forgotten. This can trigger anger, distrust of others, and related emotions.
Trauma itself may also cause feelings of anger. For example, a birthing person abused by a doctor may be angry both about the abuse and about losing a more positive birth experience. A child abuse survivor may have overwhelming feelings of anger directed at their abuser.
Sometimes a person’s feelings of anger are complicated. A returning solider might be angry about politicians who do not understand war, while also feeling proud about their service. An adult child abuse survivor may love their parents but be very angry about the abuse they suffered. These mixed emotions can make it difficult to manage feelings of anger and rage. In some cases, a person might feel like their anger is unacceptable or be unable to articulate why they feel angry or at whom.
How Anger Complicates PTSD Symptoms
Spending time with an angry person can be difficult. The friends and family of people struggling with PTSD-related anger may eventually grow tired of dealing with mood swings or angry outbursts. They may experience compassion fatigue or even end their relationship with their loved one. This can intensify feelings of alienation and anger.
People with anger from PTSD may feel both ashamed of their emotions and entitled to them. This challenging cocktail makes it difficult to talk about how they feel or to try new coping strategies. For example, when a person feels righteously indignant about being abused, they may not want to try meditation or other coping skills. After all, the thinking goes, they shouldn’t have to have experienced trauma, and shouldn’t be the one stuck coping with the after-effects. While these feelings make perfect sense, they can also be quite self-defeating.
Research has also uncovered a correlation between PTSD, anger, and other mental health conditions. A 2014 analysis, for example, found that 30.3% of people with intermittent explosive disorder (IED) also have PTSD, compared to 14.3% in the general population. When a person presents with a secondary condition, such as depression or IED, their PTSD may go unnoticed and untreated. This prolongs their suffering and may cause them to drop out of treatment, especially when they do not see results.
Other Symptoms That May Co-Occur with Anger
The hallmarks of PTSD include persistently reliving memories or experiences associated with the trauma, such as in dreams, flashbacks, or emotions during the day. People with PTSD also may avoid stimuli associated with the trauma, and experience depression, sadness, anxiety, and anger.
People who experience PTSD-related anger are more likely to experience certain other symptoms, such as:
- Relationship problems, including disruptions in marriages and relationships with children.
- Feelings of isolation, especially when a person with PTSD wants support but has difficulty controlling their anger around other people.
- Physical health problems related to anger, including headaches, chronic pain, and even cardiovascular health issues.
- Legal problems, particularly if they act out aggressively or self-medicate with illegal substances.
Getting Help for PTSD-Related Anger
PTSD can disrupt a person’s life and relationships. It can make them feel hopeless and even suicidal. But no one has to live with the aftereffects of trauma forever. PTSD is highly treatable. Some strategies that can help include:
- Therapy. Therapy gives an outlet and offers a compassionate ear. Certain types of therapy, including exposure therapy, can help with many symptoms of PTSD. Therapeutic methods that help a person better control their emotions, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may ease anger.
- Support groups. PTSD can be deeply isolating. Support groups, especially those that cater to people with similar experiences, offer reassurance, companionship, and practical support.
- Medication. No specific medication is approved for the treatment of PTSD, but certain drugs may help ease symptoms like anxiety and depression.
- Education. People who understand that their anger is a normal reaction to trauma, but also that this reaction is treatable, may feel more hopeful.
- Lifestyle changes. Some people find relief from exercise, a healthier diet, or pursuing a new hobby, especially when these choices restore a sense of agency.
- Social support. People with PTSD need support from loved ones. It’s especially important that loved ones not diminish their feelings, tell them how to feel, mock them for their emotions, or shame them for not healing fast enough.
- Complementary treatments. Massage, acupuncture, and other complementary therapies may help some people with PTSD. These modalities can be particularly effective at easing the physical symptoms of PTSD, such as chronic pain and sleep disturbances.
A person may have to experiment with treatment options or therapists before they find what works for them. This persistence can be challenging for someone who is already in pain. Friends and family should offer support, research treatment best practices, and remind their loved one that there is hope.
As with all mental health diagnoses, it is important to note that PTSD, even PTSD that causes intense anger, does not make violence inevitable. People with mental health conditions are far more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators. Stigmatizing mental health issues can deter treatment, especially when people are dismissed as violent or needlessly angry.
Find a compassionate therapist who understands the many complex emotions a person with PTSD faces here.
References:
- Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (U.S.). (2014). Trauma-informed care in behavioral health services. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (U.S.)
- Mental health myths and facts. (2017, August 29). Retrieved from https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/mental-health-myths-facts
- Morris, D. J. (2014, April 17). PTSD contributes to violence. Pretending it doesn’t is no way to support the troops. Slate. Retrieved from https://slate.com/technology/2014/04/ptsd-and-violence-by-veterans-increased-murder-rates-related-to-war-experience.html
- Reardon, A. F., Hein, C. L., Wolf, E. J., Prince, L. B., Ryabchenko, K., & Miller, M. W. (2014). Intermittent explosive disorder: Associations with PTSD and other Axis I disorders in a US military veteran sample. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 28(5), 488–494. doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2014.05.001
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