Anxiety is a complicated mental health disorder that can be expressed in many different ways. In some cases, it’s been found that an individual experiencing anxiety may also experience angry outbursts or anger issues. Both anger and anxiety can be triggered by physical distress or a perceived threat, whether real or imagined, and can send the body into a state of dysregulation.
When a person experiences anger, it often stems from a place of underlying anxiety or fear. Much like how someone might shut down when exposed to a perceived threat, intense anger outbursts can occur, and can be treated much like an anxiety attack–by recognizing stressors, utilizing grounding strategies for emotional regulation, or breathing exercises to help return the nervous system to a comfortable state.
If you or a loved one are struggling with anger outbursts and anxiety, mental health treatment, in addition to practices of mindfulness in daily life, can help. Call our compassionate care team today to learn more about how to manage anger outbursts while living with anxiety.
There are a number of studies on whether or not anxiety causes anger outbursts, and results are varied. One study deduced that there are unique relationships between multiple anxiety disorders and various indices of anger experience and expression that are not better accounted for by psychiatric comorbidity.1
Another study focused on relationships between anger and anxiety severity in adolescents. In self reports, trait anger was significantly related to physical symptoms of anxiety and harm avoidance; however, youth report of anger symptoms was not related to parent or clinician report of youth anxiety severity.2 Another adolescent study found that adolescents with a lifetime anxiety disorder had a higher prevalence of a lifetime anger attacks (68.5%) and intermittent explosive disorder (IED) (22.9%) than adolescents without a lifetime anxiety disorder (48.6 and 7.8%, respectively), especially social phobia and panic disorders.3 Though it’s not clear whether or not anxiety and anger have a causal relationship, the two do co-occur and can have an impact on everyday life.
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If a loved one or a patient is experiencing feelings of anger, it may be more difficult to find compassion for these anger attacks. However, it’s important to remember that these emotions are likely rooted in emotional dysregulation, or suppressed anger from past experiences. While anger attacks and anger outbursts may seem less manageable than the usual symptoms of anxiety, they’re no less real or valid.
There are a variety of breathing techniques and deep breathing exercises that are helpful when your anxiety symptoms feel overwhelming or out of control. One simple deep breathing exercise is to use a count to five as you breathe in, hold it for four counts, then release it for five counts, and repeat until you begin to feel yourself relax.
Physical stimulation can help you to jump start your body out of the fight-or-flight physical response of anxiety, while also calming the body’s feelings of intense anger. Taking a cold shower, splashing your face with cold water, tasting sour candy, going for a run (and other types of physical activity) are all ways to trick your body into remembering that it is in a safe place, and to return to the present moment with greater clarity.
Wellness activities like yoga, journaling, making playlists, art therapy and more can help build the mind-body connection through a more holistic healing process.
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An estimated 31.1% of U.S. adults experience any anxiety disorder at some time in their lives, and approximately 31.9% of adolescents struggle with any anxiety disorder.6 Anxiety is an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes like increased blood pressure and increased heart rate; it’s considered a future-oriented, long-acting response broadly focused on a diffuse threat.7 Anxiety can manifest in a variety of ways, from anxiety attacks, enacting the fight-or-flight response, to raised heart rates and cortisol (a stress hormone).
Because anxiety activates the fight-or-flight response in the nervous systems, the physical symptoms of anxiety may feel life-threatening in the moment. If you’re experiencing common and frequent anxiety symptoms, mental health treatment may be helpful to provide you with a proper treatment plan. If you or your loved one are struggling with anxiety and looking for effective treatment, don’t hesitate to reach out to AMFM Mental Health Treatment to begin your mental health recovery process today.
A Mission For Michael (AMFM) provides treatment for adults experiencing various conditions. Anxiety support is a phone call away – call 866-478-4383 to learn about our current treatment options.
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In a mental health treatment center, the day-to-day may vary depending upon your diagnoses and personalized treatment plan, but it will often consist of some combination of individual therapy sessions, group therapy sessions, psychiatry services, and more. AMFM Mental Health Treatment combines holistic and evidence-based mental health services in order to help each person overcome their particular obstacles and mental health conditions with a fresh toolkit of skills.
Group therapy sessions can be used to help provide structured times to help you understand that you are not alone in your struggles, offering peer support, and the reminder that others are also walking through these challenges. At the same time, groups provide guidance from qualified mental health professionals, with suggestions and communication from psychologists with specialized backgrounds. These groups can span a variety of backgrounds, including but not limited to art therapy, somatic therapy, and narrative therapy.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a form of therapy that’s focused on restructuring and reprogramming maladaptive and negative thought processes. Psychologists are trained to help adults and young adults change their cognitive and emotional processes in order to outgrow maladaptive coping mechanisms.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is most commonly referred to as “talk therapy,” and is designed to help process emotions. Qualified professionals offer psychological therapy to move forward with healthy ways of engaging in interpersonal relationships and alleviating physical and emotional distress.
EMDR Therapy is a renowned method of reprocessing most often used in trauma therapy. By activating the prefrontal cortex through a series of bilateral stimulation, qualified mental health professionals can lead you through traumatic experiences, helping you to alleviate the distress symptomized by trauma.
AMFM Mental Health Treatment offers family therapy through virtual family support groups that provide a dedicated time for family members to engage in supportive and constructive interactions, fostering stronger relationships, and enhancing the overall treatment experience. Recovery takes a village, and it’s often helpful for family members to be involved in behavioral growth.
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Why anxiety can lead to anger. Priory. (n.d.). https://www.priorygroup.com/blog/why-anxiety-can-lead-to-anger
Walsh, L. M., Benjamin Wolk, C., Becker-Haimes, E. M., Jensen-Doss, A., & Beidas, R. S. (2017). The Relationship Between Anger and Anxiety Symptoms in Youth With Anxiety Disorders. Journal of Child and Adolescent Counseling, 4(2), 117–133. https://doi.org/10.1080/23727810.2017.1381930
Anxious and aggressive: The co‐occurrence of IED with anxiety disorders… (n.d.-a). https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/da.22428
Sahu A, Gupta P, Chatterjee B. Depression is More Than Just Sadness: A Case of Excessive Anger and Its Management in Depression. Indian J Psychol Med. 2014 Jan;36(1):77-9. doi: 10.4103/0253-7176.127259. PMID: 24701016; PMCID: PMC3959025.
Smith, Sara. “BHP Blog – Behavioral Health Partners (BHP).” BHP Blog – Behavioral Health Partners (BHP) – University of Rochester Medical Center, 10 April 2018, https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/behavioral-health-partners/bhp-blog/april-2018/5-4-3-2-1-coping-technique-for-anxiety. Accessed 9 April 2025.
“Any Anxiety Disorder – National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).” National Institute of Mental Health, https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-anxiety-disorder. Accessed 8 April 2025.https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-anxiety-disorder
“Anxiety.” American Psychological Association, https://www.apa.org/topics/anxiety. Accessed 8 April 2025. https://www.apa.org/topics/anxiety#:~:text=Anxiety%20is%20an%20emotion%20characterized,the%20APA%20Dictionary%20of%20Psychology
