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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Greg on July 24, 2000, at 9:00:37
Hi all,
I posted a thread a few weeks back about some real bad depression I was having (the train incident). I've been feeling a little better, but still off balance. I have been experiencing periods of rage, anger and intense mood swings. Yesterday I spent an hour in my garage hitting the punching bag (the big bag), to the point where my knuckles were bleeding. I got a weird sensation of satisfaction from this, although this am I'm simply feeling pain. I'm snapping at people, getting angry over things I shouldn't be, feeling socially anxious and my tolerance is at an all time low.
I see my pdoc at 3:15pm (Cailfornia time) today. I'd like to discuss a change in meds and possibly a return to therapy for awhile anyway. I know some of you deal with these problems and would like to have some suggestions to talk over with my doc.
I am currently taking Prozac (20mgs twice daily), Xanax (1/2 to 1mg as needed), and Ambien (10mgs at bedtime) for insomnia. I've taken Effexor, Wellbutrin, and Neurontin as well.
This is getting out of control for me and I don't like it, and I definitely don't like me! My friends and family aren't exactly thrilled either... Mood swings are the worst, one minute happy as a clam, the next, the devil in blue jeans and tennis shoes! I am however getting very good at apologizing to people....Any help and suggestions you can give me would, as always, be appreciated.
HELP!
Greg
Posted by Seamus2 on July 24, 2000, at 9:52:18
In reply to Rage, Anger, and those damn Mood Swings - Help!, posted by Greg on July 24, 2000, at 9:00:37
My frustration tolerance diminshes to zero after drinking more than a cup of strong coffee and the effect lasts six hours or more.
Have you tried eliminating caffeine from your diet?
Seamus
Posted by ChrisK on July 24, 2000, at 9:59:18
In reply to Rage, Anger, and those damn Mood Swings - Help!, posted by Greg on July 24, 2000, at 9:00:37
Greg,
I would guess that the best place to start would be the mood stabilizers like Depakote or Lithium. Some people react very well to them, although I didn't.
Sometimes people react better to the atypical anti-psychotics like Risperdal or Zyprexa or Seraquel. Although my problem wasn't with rage, it was all about impulsive, obtrusive thoughts that got in the way of functioning properly. Zyprexa ended up being a great calming agent for me. It stabilzed my thought patterns better than the traditional mood stabilizers.
You may want to talk to your doc about both options and it sounds like the return to some talk therapy may be a good option also.
Good Luck,
Chris
Posted by yona on July 24, 2000, at 16:27:36
In reply to Re: Rage, Anger, and those damn Mood Swings - Help!, posted by ChrisK on July 24, 2000, at 9:59:18
hi greg. just a few comments about my own raging stuff... maybe something will ring a bell, maybe not. paxil basically made it very difficult for me to get myself in a rage for the 5 years that i was on it. i did during the same time do quite a bit of therapy around how to have non-toxic anger and that helped too. now that i am on serzone i noticed i get pissed off in a nano-second about 2x/day (which isn't much compared to before meds but alot compared to the past 5 years). i found out though that my basic technique of not feeding the rage with more raging thoughts came in rather handy. i caught myself before i knocked someone's head off and was able to chill out. at least that first time it took about 20 minutes for the andrenalin in my system to return to normal. today when i had a mini rage attack it took about 1 minute. anyways, my thoughts on your questions are: ask something to keep the seritonin (can't spell) up so that when the rage attacks come you can negotiate them better...it's much easier when the you know that the adrenalin is gunna wear off pretty quick and that all you have to do is wait to return to your senses.
a few thoughts. have a successful pdoc appt. yo
Posted by Rach on July 24, 2000, at 20:47:59
In reply to Re: Rage, Anger, and those damn Mood Swings - Help!, posted by yona on July 24, 2000, at 16:27:36
Hi Greg,
Not much advice from me on this subject, just support, acceptance, hope and hugs. I'm positive you have the strength to work through it, and we're always here for you.
Big HUGS!
Rach
Posted by Nibor on July 24, 2000, at 21:37:50
In reply to Rage, Anger, and those damn Mood Swings - Help!, posted by Greg on July 24, 2000, at 9:00:37
> Hi all,
>
> I posted a thread a few weeks back about some real bad depression I was having (the train incident). I've been feeling a little better, but still off balance. I have been experiencing periods of rage, anger and intense mood swings. Yesterday I spent an hour in my garage hitting the punching bag (the big bag), to the point where my knuckles were bleeding. I got a weird sensation of satisfaction from this, although this am I'm simply feeling pain. I'm snapping at people, getting angry over things I shouldn't be, feeling socially anxious and my tolerance is at an all time low.> This is getting out of control for me and I don't like it, and I definitely don't like me! My friends and family aren't exactly thrilled either... Mood swings are the worst, one minute happy as a clam, the next, the devil in blue jeans and tennis shoes! I am however getting very good at apologizing to people....Any help and suggestions you can give me would, as always, be appreciated.
>
> HELP!
>
> GregHello, Greg
I'm new here, so I hope you don't mind my jumping in. Something interesting I was told: New studies have shown that punching a pillow or throwing things or other such actions do not release anger but actually intensify it. I know that type of action is often recommended, but apparently calming activities are what "they" say does more good.
Anyway, below is something from the Undoing Depression website about anger. (There is more on the site on Mood Changes and so on.)"Anger is a particular trouble spot for many people. We are often aware of a feeling of estrangement from the world, our noses pushed up against the glass watching real life behind the window, and a consequent bitterness, hurt, or resentment is always lurking in the background. At the same time we may feel it is our own fault we feel this way; after all, we could just jump into the midst of life if we chose. So there is a background of anger in our lives, which we may recognize yet feel we are not entitled to. And this anger and self-blame feeds on itself in a vicious circle, so it is often nearly impossible to be sure that we are justified in feeling the depth of anger we experience in any particular situation. We second-guess ourselves constantly. Our guilt makes us self-sacrificing: we will absorb ill treatment from others as if it is our due, but eventually we will get pushed too far and explode in a tirade of anger that unloads all the steam we have built up. Then we scare others, and feel out of control.
"It's important to remember that anger, like all other emotions, is neither good nor bad in itself; it's just an innate response we have. Anger can be used for many worthwhile purposes. It's the fuel that feeds our desire for justice, what makes us want to see wrongs put right. What is scary is that it feels like it can run away with us. But I don't think that is nearly as true as most of us tell ourselves. The spouse abuser says: "I lost it, I snapped, I couldn't control myself." But the fact is that he did control himself. He didn't beat his wife to death (we hope), he beat her until he felt he'd taught her a lesson, then he stopped. His anger wasn't in control, he was using it. All of us have the capacity to control our anger, to use it to our own purposes.
"Anger can't be escaped, but we can tame it, live with it and make it safe, even use it for productive ends. Practicing assertive communication and behavior can help make sure that anger is constructively expressed and doesn't hurt people important to us. And as we develop assertive skills, we find that we feel less aggrieved and isolated, and thus have less to be angry about."
ttyl,
Nibor
Posted by shar on July 24, 2000, at 22:23:07
In reply to Re: Rage, Anger, and those damn Mood Swings - Help!, posted by Nibor on July 24, 2000, at 21:37:50
Greg,
I'm not much help in the mood swing department; I just jump to bipolar. I deal with depression and some anxiety stuff (and addiction issues) mainly.I don't recall reading about the train situation. Maybe before I got here. I used to have rage reactions to things, before meds, and some during meds. For me it was usually something that had happened that I couldn't fight against.
Anyhow, I hope your session was a success and that you will be feeling better soon!
Shar
> > Hi all,
> >
> > I posted a thread a few weeks back about some real bad depression I was having (the train incident). I've been feeling a little better, but still off balance. I have been experiencing periods of rage, anger and intense mood swings. Yesterday I spent an hour in my garage hitting the punching bag (the big bag), to the point where my knuckles were bleeding. I got a weird sensation of satisfaction from this, although this am I'm simply feeling pain. I'm snapping at people, getting angry over things I shouldn't be, feeling socially anxious and my tolerance is at an all time low.
>
> > This is getting out of control for me and I don't like it, and I definitely don't like me! My friends and family aren't exactly thrilled either... Mood swings are the worst, one minute happy as a clam, the next, the devil in blue jeans and tennis shoes! I am however getting very good at apologizing to people....Any help and suggestions you can give me would, as always, be appreciated.
> >
> > HELP!
> >
> > Greg
Posted by Cass on July 24, 2000, at 22:38:50
In reply to Rage, Anger, and those damn Mood Swings - Help!, posted by Greg on July 24, 2000, at 9:00:37
Hi Greg,
I've been having problems with rage and anger, too, although I think the sources of our problems are different. I posted a thread partly entitled, "...feeling awful". I got an especially helpful response from Janice, but the others were nice too. If any of your rage comes from being victimized in the past, you might want to read the responses I got. I hope your therapy helps. I'm still not in the best frame of mind myself, but understanding and sympathy from others sure does help. You've got mine.
Sincerely,
Cass
Posted by dj on July 24, 2000, at 23:42:03
In reply to Re: Rage, Anger, and those damn Mood Swings - Help!, posted by Nibor on July 24, 2000, at 21:37:50
> New studies have shown that punching a pillow or throwing things or other such actions do not release anger but actually intensify it. I know that type of action is often recommended, but apparently calming activities are what "they" say >does more good.
Whoever the 'they' are they are welcome to their theory, which I've seen no evidence to back up, though I've seen and heard that point of view mouthed by some. And though there is an element of truth to it, like many 'studies' it oversimplifies realities and misses the point.
The point being that physical exertion like hitting a punching bag or running or pumping weights or swimming or slamming a pillow or, whatever can help release the physical tension and muscle tightening that goes with the distress that can lead to displays of anger (and violence if expressed inappropriately). Meditaton, deep breathing, massage and forms of relaxation can also help one unwind those tensions.
However, sometimes you need to do the former, prior to the latter if you are really, really tight and tense. And that form of surface release may help one connect with the deeper source of anger/anxiety/fear once relaxed or exhausted and ready to deal with the issue at a deeper level. Eventually a hot bath and/or yoga and/or other forms of relaxation may suffice but sometimes you have to put that energy into motion (e-motion) before dealing with the underlying sources of angst.
That's my experience, at least.
Sante!
dj
Posted by Greg on July 25, 2000, at 11:24:34
In reply to Rage, Anger, and those damn Mood Swings - Help!, posted by Greg on July 24, 2000, at 9:00:37
> Hi all,
>
> I posted a thread a few weeks back about some real bad depression I was having (the train incident). I've been feeling a little better, but still off balance. I have been experiencing periods of rage, anger and intense mood swings. Yesterday I spent an hour in my garage hitting the punching bag (the big bag), to the point where my knuckles were bleeding. I got a weird sensation of satisfaction from this, although this am I'm simply feeling pain. I'm snapping at people, getting angry over things I shouldn't be, feeling socially anxious and my tolerance is at an all time low.
>
> I see my pdoc at 3:15pm (Cailfornia time) today. I'd like to discuss a change in meds and possibly a return to therapy for awhile anyway. I know some of you deal with these problems and would like to have some suggestions to talk over with my doc.
>
> I am currently taking Prozac (20mgs twice daily), Xanax (1/2 to 1mg as needed), and Ambien (10mgs at bedtime) for insomnia. I've taken Effexor, Wellbutrin, and Neurontin as well.
>
> This is getting out of control for me and I don't like it, and I definitely don't like me! My friends and family aren't exactly thrilled either... Mood swings are the worst, one minute happy as a clam, the next, the devil in blue jeans and tennis shoes! I am however getting very good at apologizing to people....Any help and suggestions you can give me would, as always, be appreciated.
>
> HELP!
>
> Greg
Posted by paul on July 27, 2000, at 0:14:10
In reply to Re: Rage, Anger, and those damn Mood Swings - Help!, posted by ChrisK on July 24, 2000, at 9:59:18
g-
one thing i've noticed about seroquel is that i don't bother storing up huge amounts of selfdestroying hatred/anger towards even the buttheads that may in some fashion deserve it. it's worked wonders for the mental noise/ruminations as well. REALLY helps w/sleep too. maybe worth a try??
p(c(l))
Posted by yona on July 27, 2000, at 6:22:02
In reply to Re: Rage, Anger, and those damn Mood Swings - Help!, posted by paul on July 27, 2000, at 0:14:10
could you tell me a little more about this seroquel stuff? is it an ssri? prescribed for depression? what is some of the other experience you are having on it? i am having a bit of a problem with the sleep thang of serzone.. esp every time i try to increase the doze (i am at 100mg/day which isn't anywhere near where i am supposed to get to).wondering if i should be thinking about other meds.. for instance seroquel. thanks for your response. yo
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