Can I Take Medication for Anger Management?

While anger is considered a normal part of life, sometimes it can get out of control and cause significant problems. Instead of occasional feelings of anger, some people may find themselves angry much of the time, or so angry at times that they cannot control the way they feel. Those who struggle with these feelings are often encouraged to seek professional help, and may often benefit from learning to control their feelings. There is also medication for anger management that can help people with certain types of issues, but it is not considered the solution to all problems. Such medication is not specifically for the treatment of anger, but is designed to treat other conditions that may result in loss of control when a person is mad.

Making a decision to take medication for anger management often depends largely on the source of that anger. In those rare situations where a person has a significant physical issue contributing to the problem, such as brain damage or epilepsy, medication can be a great help in minimizing anger. Medications can also benefit those with bipolar disorder by bringing mood swings and strong feelings under control. Most often, though, anger problems are a matter of an individual's inability to cope with strong feelings, allowing those feelings to control behavior.

Sometimes the underlying causes of uncontrolled anger include feelings of sadness and depression, a low self-esteem or other emotional problems. In such cases the medication used to treat those specific problems can result in helping manage anger. Mood elevators and antidepressants may be used to help cope with these feelings. This often has the effect of helping a person to better handle the situations and the frustrations that can lead to anger.

In the short term, the use of medication for anger management may be useful to someone who is struggling to bring strong feelings under control. Sometimes, medication can help break old patterns while learning new ways of coping with anger. Medication for anger management is not generally seen as a long-term solution to anger management problems.

There may be alternative options for those dealing with anger management issues, rather than using medication. Some recommend developing a system to head off and control anger before it gets out of hand. Therapists can teach methods such as identifying triggers, promoting healthy responses to anger, and the use of techniques such as humor and relaxation to help minimize problems.