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Summary
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A reader has recurring one- or two-week periods of intense upset, anger and feeling ignored every few months. They recognize that others may not be trying to hurt them but worry about their reactions and ask what could be happening.
The response suggests depression as one possible explanation for irritability and emotional changes while acknowledging that other causes may be involved.
It recommends evaluation by a psychologist or psychiatrist for an accurate diagnosis and suitable treatment, and expresses concern about managing anger before it escalates into harm.
Question
Reader · Identity withheldI go through stages every few months where I feel completely over emotional and really upset. I feel like all the people around me are actually trying to piss me off or upset me even though I know they aren’t because they couldn’t care less about how down I have been. I feel really left out and ignored.
\nI’m not an attention seeker, I really hate people like that, but I feel abandoned by those I thought would care.
\nSmall little things really bother me and make me so angry. I’m glad I have enough self control not to punch someone out for every small thing that sets me off.
\nThen, after all this emotion and upset for about a week or two, I’ll be fine again for another few months.
\nWhat is wrong with me?
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Answer
Allan Schwartz, Ph.D.There are a couple of comments that believe reveal some of what is going on with you. You stated that people couldn’t care less when you are down. The fact that you have episodes of being down for one to two weeks at a time, indicates that depression could very well be what is making you feel miserable.
\nDepression can be episodic so that, as you say, you experience these problems every couple of months. Irritability, anger and depression are often rooted in feelings of helplessness and helplessness about life. This mixture of feelings define depression.
\nPeople tend to believe that depression means feeling low, sad, morose. Actually, anger is an important part of the picture of depression.
\nThat is why arguing over things small and large occurs. By the way, we need to add anxiety into the “soup” and then we truly have depression. An additional ingredient in your case is your thought that everyhone around you is trying to make you upset.
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There are other possible things that could be happening to cause you all of this unhappiness. That is why you really need to consult a psychologist or psychiatrist in order to get an accurate diagnosis.
Then you will be given a recommendation for what to do next. That could be psychotherapy alone, medication with psychotherapy or medication alone, although the las is unlikely since it’s the combination of therapy and medicine that works best.
\nI do want to express my concern to you about this comment that you wrote:
\n“I’m glad I have enough self control not to punch someone out for every small thing that sets me off.”
\nMy concern is that, if you do not seek help, your emotions might one day boil over to an extent that you take a swing at someone. People get into fights when enough stress builds so that they stop being able to control their anger.
\nBest of Luck
Subject matter expert
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Integrative mental health care
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