EXCLUSIVETherapist reveals signs you're not just irritable... you may have anger issues
- Therapist Billy Roberts said that prolonged anger may be a sign of bigger issues
- He said that undiagnosed ADHD and childhood trauma can cause anger issues
- It's better to avoid activities that ramp up anger, like punching a pillow
In a recent Instagram post, Justin Bieber opened up about some of the mental health issues he's been struggling with - particularly, anger issues.
This isn't the first time Justin's been forthcoming about his struggles - in a 2016 interview with GQ he admitted to taking Adderall, a drug usually prescribed to people with attention-deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD).
Billy Roberts, a licensed therapist who specializes in ADHD treatment, told the DailyMail.com that people with the disorder typically experience anger more frequently than those without it.
'Emotional regulation difficulties are a part of the ADHD brain,' he said.
'Additionally, they also struggle to regulate that anger and generally experience anger (and other emotions) more intensely than those without ADHD.'
He explained that learning to better manage anger can help individuals not get sidetracked by big emotions or say and do things they don't mean.
But how can you tell when your angry feelings are actual anger issues and not just passable moments of irritability?
Roberts explained that it depends on how often and intensely you have these feelings.
Therapist Billy Roberts focuses on ADHD treatments and said emotional regularities caused by the disorder can lead to anger issues
'When someone's anger is negatively impacting their lives (or the lives of others) over a prolonged period of time, then they have anger issues and it's not just a bad day,' he said.
Symptoms of anger issues typically include prolonged irritability, frequent and angry outbursts, difficulty letting go of grudgers, and even anxiety.
These issues don't usually stem from nowhere.
Roberts said that there are typically two risk factors for developing anger issues in adulthood - the first of which can be undiagnosed ADHD.
'Until diagnosed, many individuals with ADHD do not learn the right ADHD specific tools to help them better regulate their emotions,' he said.
Second, he said trauma can be a strong component of anger issues as well - especially trauma we experience in our childhood.
'Our emotional brain keeps score of tough stuff that's happened to us,' he said.
'Until processed in therapy, it lives within our body, and we are more likely to get triggered by events that remind our emotional brains of our past.'
Roberts explained that adult anger issues usually either stem from undiagnosed ADHD or childhood trauma (stock image)
As soon as you recognize that your anger feels uncontrollable or like a problem, Roberts said it's important to remember that there are ways to manage anger.
He said it's important to recognize the warning signs of your anger.
'Do you get overheated? Start getting tense? Are you experiencing tunnel vision?'
He explained that once you know exactly how your body feels when it's getting angry, you can learn to cope.
He explained that knowing which situations trigger your anger is essential for having a plan in place for how to better manager your anger when those situations arise.
'To cope in the moment, many individuals need to learn calming skills,' he said.
For this, he suggested meditation, mindfulness, and moving your body.
While people popularly recommend 'coping' mechanisms like punching a pillow, Roberts said these kinds of activities often end up ramping someone up - and should be avoided.
'Instead always find ways to calm yourself down,' he said.
