You sound like me - I get snappish and frustrated with everyone at times. :) It's part of the growing pains of recovery I think. But yes, I feel your pain. Annoying, isn't it? And then you end up getting frustrated with yourself and angry with yourself for getting angry, and it's a vicious cycle.

I find taking some time for myself, just alone, can help. Going to the gym, working out plugged into headphones with my favorite music where I don't have to talk to anyone, cleaning the house, even writing - doing something active, not sitting around simmering can help.

Good luck. :) This too, will pass.

Perfectly normal, Pam, during a crappy economic recession! Brings out the WORST, the SELFISHNESS in people! But there are good, caring people around too, Pam.

ANGER, directed appropriately, into a career or physical health (exercise) is an unstoppable force, one that brings powerful positive results. ANGER, directed IN-appropriately, only brings about misery. Look for someplace where the anger can be directed APPROPRIATELY. I see a gym with a punching bag that has your name on it!

I've been throwing myself into my work lately too, which is mostly positive, except when it's the people at work making me angry. :D

I actually welcome the anger - it's energizing and moves you to action, as opposed to the doldrums of a black depressive cloud that saps your energy!

I felt the need to come here once again and post...I was thinking about this a LOT today...a lot, a lot, a lot. I had a situation with my boss where he was inappropriately condescending to me. He's a bully, in plain English, and he picks on anyone and everyone. Unfortunately, he's not the first bully boss I've had.

Instead of letting his comments cripple me into a ball of self-doubt, I got ANGRY today. You know what? It's HEALTHY - it's your mind and body's way of saying, "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! I am not going to let you try and control me anymore!"

The only problem with anger I've found is having it pent up for so long, if someone pushes my buttons and brings me to a place where I feel cornered and threatened, it's like unleashing a dragon. My last boyfriend said some extremely disgusting and hurtful things about me, my body, and myself in general to a friend of mine. I emailed him probably the ugliest email I have ever sent in my life...to anyone. Now, in the grand scheme of things, he was really nothing, a short-lived relationship, barely a blip on the radar. The venom I spewed at him was sort of the equivalent of killing a fly with a bazooka - it was vile and hateful. I realized tonight while pondering on this subject at the gym while working out...by unleashing the dragon on him, I was sort of unleashing upon every male that has ever hurt me in my life. Saying all the mean, hurtful and hateful things that I always wanted to say to someone who hurt me, but never could, or never had the chance to, or never had the courage to.

I'm not saying this is good - it's more of a cautionary tale than anything. I don't really regret doing this to him currently - I am still angry. But part of me realizes that I WILL probably feel at least chagrin someday about it, and that being pushed to that breaking point sort of chips a little bit at your own soul. I don't like who I am when I get to that point. The key is NOT to get to that point.

Pick someone you're really angry at right now, a friend, a parent, a former lover. Anyone. Make it good; make it someone who has really hurt you that you're just furious about.

Write them a letter. Say in the letter all the vile, nasty, angry things you want to say. Keep the letter for as long as it makes you feel comfortable. When you feel ready to release the anger, burn the letter, or tear it up into pieces and flush it down the toilet.

I think you might find that exercise really cathartic - it's helped me.

Good luck - you really hit home with me with this post! :)

How do you release anger that is directed primarily at yourself without hurting yourself?

Wow. I struggle with this one too. I've engaged in a pattern of self-destructive behaviors my entire life, I've been a self-injurer since I was about 14, and I still do some stupid, reckless stuff.

I think it's important to get to the bottom of what you're angry with yourself about. What you're feeling might be actually a little closer to shame than anger. Were you taught your feelings were bad/invalid? Were you taught that expressing yourself was not acceptable/not OK? Have you been in relationships with people who have tried to change you/make you into someone that you're not? Have you been involved with anyone who ever made you feel dirty/ashamed about parts of yourself that you can not change?

I've experienced all of these. It's taken time, but sorting through those feelings to their roots has helped me with the self-anger/self-injury issues. I'm also currently on anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medication - not that I necessarily recommend it for everyone, but it's allowed me to see things a little more clearly from behind the cloud of depression and despair. Putting things where they belong, exploring the feelings of anger you have towards yourself is important. I don't know you, and I don't know where you're coming from, but I'd recommend something called mindfulness - which is being in the moment. Feeling your feelings. Letting them run through you like a river, like a current. And repeating to yourself that you are OK, you are in the moment, and you are fine just as you are. Be gentle with yourself, and forgive yourself. It's OK to be human. It's OK to make mistakes. It's OK to be the unique person you are.

I hope this helps - I know nothing of your situation, I can only speak from my own experience, and self-loathing/self-anger is something I am very familiar with.

What is normal?

I too find myself resenting everyone and snapping at people just because I am feeling depressed or anxious! I get frustrated when i speak and have to repeat myself to someone because they either did not hear me or were simply just not listening.

I know it is bad behavior on my part and I guess it is the whole "I am feeling sorry for myself" crap that I put myself through every single day!!!

It's like a pendulum - I swing back and forth between anger/snappiness/anxiety and despair. Got to find the middle ground!

my anger is usually expressed as resentment. i dont lash out very often and only do when really pushed over a long period of time or a very bad trigger. but think that when we wait till we blow up, its not good for me or anyone else. so i do try to say what i need or want before the boiling emotions cause me and other harm. i hate resentment and its defintion is the "refeeling of anger over and over". i am resentful alot and have to work on this almost non stop. i get very angry at work and at home when people wont stop talking to me about crap that i dont care about. i take my job seriously and dont want to do alot of small talk. just want to say" leave me alone" i am a health care provider and is like everyone that sees me want to talk about what is wrong with them or a family member or friend. just saying

I have a real problem with my anger. I am good until my final button is pushed then my tongue goes on a wild and crazy tear. I end up saying things that bother me about the person and mostly all of the time it is so hurtful. Its like I can't control my tongue once it starts. I am a very loving and giving person but have been told I become crazy when I get angry. How do I get my tongue to stop. I have lost some very important things in my life and nearly lost my job twice because of it. I just lost a relationship of 2 1/2 years because of my anger.