How Anger Disorder Tests Can Help You Regain Control

Do you often become angry and lose your cool, only to regret it later? Do you experience episodes of intense and irrational anger that seem to come out of nowhere? Are you worried about what you might do when you become overwhelmed? Despite these concerns, do you continue to struggle with anger issues and outbursts? 

If these examples sound familiar, it may be a sign that you have an anger disorder. If you're worried that your anger has taken over your life, a mental health professional can administer an anger disorder test and gather information to determine whether you merely have too much on your plate or if you qualify to be diagnosed with an anger disorder or other mental health condition.

Many people avoid seeking help when they're battling their anger. This avoidance may be driven by embarrassment, fear of judgment, or denial. Regardless of the reason, it’s important to remember that reaching out for help when you need it is a sign of strength, not weakness. The sooner you seek support and guidance, the sooner you can learn techniques for managing anger in a healthy, constructive way.

How is an anger disorder diagnosed?

Testing for an anger disorder is not like having a blood test or an MRI, and it’s a far cry from some of the free anger “tests” you may encounter on the internet. It may even appear different from some other mental health tests commonly administered in clinical settings, such as a memory test for a person demonstrating symptoms of dementia. 

An anger disorder test involves being formally evaluated by a doctor, who will start by interviewing you about your concerns and history. They may use the Multidimensional Anger Test and Multidimensional Anger Inventory, the Novaco Anger Scale and Provocation Inventory (NAS-PI), or another anger test and clinical anger scale. Your doctor may want to rule out other mental or physical health conditions, so they may perform a physical exam and run blood tests for research purposes. Your medical records may also be considered to help form a complete picture of your behavior and symptoms.

Your doctor may follow the guidelines laid out in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-V) to reach a diagnosis. If you do qualify for a diagnosis of an anger disorder, there are many treatments available to help you effectively manage your symptoms and prevent them from damaging your relationships and other areas of your life.

Is anger a symptom of a mental health disorder?

Many people become angry from time to time. Anger can be a healthy emotion and a valuable part of human existence. Anger can alert us to the presence of a challenge or remind us to communicate our needs. Anger can seem problematic, though, when society often emphasizes feeling only positive emotions. While it's important to seek happiness and feel gratitude, it can be equally important to experience the full spectrum of human emotions – including anger. 

Anger can become a challenge when the person experiencing it reacts in a way that is verbally, emotionally, or physically damaging to themselves or others. If you find yourself blowing up over small things, lashing out with cruel words you later regret, or even becoming physically abusive in your relationships, your anger may have reached the level of an anger disorder. People with an anger disorder may not be able to control their anger episodes, leading to violent outbursts and aggressive behavior. These symptoms can significantly impact the person's relationships, ability to keep a job, and overall mental health. Frequent and uncontrollable anger can also take a toll on a person’s physical health, potentially leading to high blood pressure and cardiovascular concerns. 

What is intermittent explosive disorder?

One of the most common types of anger disorder is intermittent explosive disorder (IED). IED is an impulse-control disorder and can be identified by aggressive behavior, hostility, and sudden eruptions of extreme anger. Episodes may seem unprovoked or greatly out of proportion to the apparent cause of the anger. People with IED describe feeling a loss of control during their angry outbursts.

While people with IED often have a hostile attitude in general, their explosive episodes may occur without warning and end just as abruptly. The individual affected may not realize that their tension is building, or they may be aware that they are losing control but still be unable to stop it. A person with IED may lash out verbally, shouting or threatening others, or their angry episode may escalate to physical violence or property damage.

Symptoms of Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED) include:

• Physical and verbal aggression
• Anger that is disproportionate to the situation
• Outbursts with very little provocation
• Low tolerance for frustration
• Feeling out of control or detached during episodes
• Anger that significantly interferes with school, work, or relationships

IED usually emerges during the teen years and worsens over time. It may start as temper tantrums or arguments over seemingly inconsequential matters. The affected person may become more aggressive, hostile, and unstable the longer the condition develops, and episodes may increase in intensity and lead to violence. 

What started as minor fights can become violent outbursts and physical altercations that may put the person's loved ones, friends, or coworkers in danger. Teens and adults showing symptoms of IED may act out aggressively, committing road rage, screaming, punching holes in walls, throwing objects, and striking other people.

Often, the individual voices regret over these episodes once they cool down and regain control. This remorse can be genuine at the time but may not prevent a reoccurrence. If left unchecked, IEDs can lead to serious consequences, including domestic violence and incarceration. 

IED increases the risk of developing additional mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The risk of developing a co-occurring mental health condition can increase the longer IED goes undiagnosed.

What causes an anger disorder?

Cases of IED have been on the rise in recent years, especially among teens, but research to pinpoint the cause of anger disorders is still in the early stages. The prevailing theory is that anger disorders are caused by a variety of factors, including genetics, environmental stimuli, and emotional influences. People with IEDs often have experiences of prior trauma that can lead them to be unable to express their anger and frustration in a healthy way. People who were subject to physical abuse and other forms of violence as children may develop IED as teens and adults, as they internalize negative patterns of reacting to anger. However, only a small portion of this population typically develops IEDs.

Some evidence suggests that the brains of people who demonstrate impulsive aggression may process the neurotransmitter serotonin in a different way. Serotonin is usually responsible for managing inhibition and controlling aggressive behavior, among other tasks. Some limited studies and anger tests have shown that the prefrontal cortex in the brains of people with IEDs may behave abnormally as a result.

What treatments are available?

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can teach you techniques and skills for dealing with anger no matter what situation you're facing. You can learn to identify triggers and patterns that lead to your anger flaring and develop alternate, healthier coping and anger management strategies. Once you better understand which situations are more likely to lead to an anger outburst, you can either avoid them or be more aware of the risk, making you better prepared. A therapist can also teach you effective communication skills to help you voice your frustrations and concerns in a productive way.

Learning to manage your anger is like developing any new skill. It takes time and determination. Changing your ingrained patterns can be difficult, especially at first. It will likely take more than one visit with a mental health professional to get your anger problems under control. During treatment, you'll learn different anger management exercises that can be very effective in helping you manage your symptoms and prevent you from lashing out. These exercises can include breathing techniques, progressive muscle relaxation, and mindfulness exercises that can calm your body's physiological response, lower your stress, and help you become more aware of your emotions. Having an anger management technique ready when you recognize a trigger can help you maintain control.

Ongoing stress can make managing IED and other anger disorders more difficult. While not all sources of stress can be eliminated, it's vital to take steps to lower your stress in any way you can. Self-care is an important part of treatment for anger management and can include regular exercise, abstaining from alcohol and illegal substances, and getting enough sleep at night.

If you are struggling with substance use, contact the SAMHSA National Helpline at (800) 662-4357 to receive support and resources. Support is available 24/7.

Some people find that speaking about their struggles with others who know what they're experiencing and feel the same way can be beneficial. An anger management support group can allow participants to vent and receive support from others who know firsthand what it is like to have difficulty controlling your anger. Other people may be more comfortable turning to an anger management hotline. For some, it may be especially helpful to seek out a mental health therapist online to receive discreet support when they need it most.

It's important to find a therapist who you're comfortable with, one who makes you feel heard and not judged. It can be difficult at first to explore emotions that you might have kept quiet about for fear of shame or judgment. However, with time, you may find that opening up becomes easier.

Online therapy with BetterHelp

With BetterHelp, you don’t need to sit in traffic or take time out of your workday to speak with a mental health professional. This makes it more affordable because it removes the expense of commuting. You can connect with a licensed therapist from the convenience and comfort of your own home, which may also put you more at ease during a session. 

The effectiveness of online therapy 

Research shows that online therapy platforms are useful in helping to develop an overall anger management strategy to keep symptoms under control. One case study examined the effects of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and videoconferencing specifically, on an individual experiencing intermittent explosive disorder.

Researchers found that this form of online therapy was successful in regulating the participant’s emotions, decreasing anger, and increasing positivity and self-esteem. This finding is in line with a large body of evidence that suggests that online therapy resources can decrease symptoms in people experiencing unwanted anger, severe or otherwise, just like traditional clinical settings do. 

Therapist reviews

“Sylvia has been working with me for a couple of weeks now. She brings an air of calm to a place where I find myself upset, angry, and frustrated. I have been able to open up further in just a couple of weeks with Sylvia than I have done previously. Sylvia listens intently and takes time to acknowledge, note, and be able to repeat back what is between you. There is no feeling of being just another ‘case’. I completely trust Sylvia’s expertise as she has shown over and over through our communication how safe I am with her discussing all my thoughts and feelings in a place of no judgment. Sylvia can show understanding and encouragement without being forceful or invasive. I certainly have a high level of respect and would recommend Sylvia.”

“Shawn has helped me gain a positive perspective on my life and change my focus from shortcomings or failures to my strengths and achievements. He examined my problems carefully and provided worksheets to help me identify my goals and triggers for my anger issues. This greatly helped me to increase self-awareness.”