Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by a loop of intrusive, unpleasant thoughts (obsessions), and repetitive actions (compulsions). Patients with OCD may experience a variety of symptoms. OCD symptoms that you or a loved one may experience include rage or angry outbursts. Anger is a common emotion that everyone has and people with OCD might get irritated with their unwanted thoughts and their actions. This can make them angry and aggressive in nature. Try taking help from Online Counselor for anger issues driven by obsessive and compulsive thoughts.
But extreme rage, especially when it manifests as aggression, can be upsetting for OCD sufferers and those close to them. The good news is that you can definitely regulate uncontrollable anger in constructive ways, and you can help a loved one by doing so as well.
Causes of anger in patients with Obsessive Compulsive disorder
Some common reasons might be:
- family members not accepting and supporting compulsive habits, which can also cause intense anxiety, fear, and worry
- Others might not understand what it feels like to have OCD
- Disruptions that hinder rituals from being performed perfectly and on time
- Annoyance with having OCD
- Being forced to control my emotions
- Adverse effects of the medicine
- There are prolonged levels of stress and anxiety which makes the person irritable.
OCD is characterized by a sense of perpetual uncertainty, which is one of its key features. Compulsions are frequently used to feel in control of one’s obsessions and potential ominous events, although they typically only provide short-term solace. Understandably, it may be very irritating to feel that you have no control over your life and that bad things are always waiting all around the corner.
What does an anger episode look like?
A person with OCD, whether an adult or kid, may:
- Scream or shout
- Curse
- Can make remarks which are hurtful
- Can harm others or themselves
- Can throw things
Inward they may feel:
- Thoughts of suicide or harming themselves
- There might be a feeling of worthlessness
- They can withdraw themselves from others
Can we manage anger in obsessive-compulsive disorder?
Anger or rage can be frightening for someone with OCD, and it may make them or their loved ones feel unsafe. Screaming, hitting, throwing things, hurting oneself or others, and other behaviors are examples of these fights. Although it’s simple to comprehend why these rage outbursts happen, it’s more difficult to feel like they can be controlled.
Consider these questions to gain a deeper understanding of the connection between your OCD and anger:
- When do I become the most frustrated every day?
- When do I get frustrated the least?
- What irritated me with someone or something in the past week or month?
- Any early indicators that my anger was growing?
- What feelings, such as loneliness, shame, or sadness, might be underlying my anger?
- How did my anger connect to my repeating ideas or actions?
To reduce anger you can go for the following practices:
- Get OCD therapy. Once your symptoms are adequately handled, your anger may lessen. Take a therapy session for your OCD from an Online Counselor. It will help you manage your anger.
- Identify the exact things that are making you angry and come up with answers for each one.
- Discover your own early warning signs so you can start relaxing before your anger becomes out of control.
- Use a meditation app to calm down and train your awareness.
- Make yoga a daily habit by watching this 20-minute yoga for anxiety video, for example.
- Decide what helpful methods you’d desire support from others.
- Regularly record your emotions in a journal.
- Take a time-out after having an outburst by leaving the room until you have cooled off.
- Examine taking a course in anger control.
There are also some actions that might help your loved ones in managing their anger with obsessive-compulsive disorder. They are:
- Recognize that their anger is justified and that having OCD makes life challenging.
- Do not scold or blame them for feeling frustrated or pressure them to stop being angry.
- Recognize their advancements, no matter how minor or small they are.
- Encourage them gently to engage in relaxation techniques that you can also attempt together.
- Check in frequently to see how they’re doing, and encourage them to express their frustrations.
- Without judging them or interrupting them and without getting angry, listen carefully to what they have to say.
- Do not compare their development from day to day or with that of other OCD sufferers.
- Learn the ways you can control your anger and frustration as well.
- You can also go for family therapy
- Identify the things which make them safe