Can OCD Make You Angry?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has been associated with anger, but the connection is complicated. Thus, while people with OCD may be more likely to have anger episodes, it is not that people with OCD are necessarily more aggressive or angry. 

This article talks about the link between OCD and anger, the underlying causes of anger episodes in people with OCD, and how to manage anger with consideration of those underlying causes.

OCD and Anger: What's the Link?

Some studies have found a link between OCD and anger in that anger episodes may be more common among people with OCD, but other factors like anxiety modify the link. So, while there may be a link, anger is not necessarily an OCD thing. 

For example, one study that looked at anger rumination (tendency to dwell on frustrating experiences and to recall past anger experiences) and OCD found that while people with OCD and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) showed greater anger rumination than people without these conditions, people with OCD or GAD did not significantly differ in levels of anger rumination. 

Furthermore, the expression of anger may result from challenges with regulating emotions in and of itself. Research has shown that higher levels of anger and suppression may be correlated with OCD, but it is not clear-cut. There are factors such as nonacceptance of negative emotions, dysfunctional beliefs, and maladaptive emotion regulation strategies that may be involved. 

In addition, medication may be at play in the relationship between OCD and anger. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are antidepressants commonly prescribed for people with OCD. SSRIs, which increase serotonin in the brain, have been shown to have an antiaggression effect.

Causes of Anger Episodes in People With OCD

There is no hard-and-fast cause of anger episodes in people living with OCD. Several studies have noted that people with OCD self-report more anger and a tendency to suppress that anger than people without OCD. However, one study that used a way to measure implicit aggression among people with OCD found, contrary to their expectations, a more peaceful implicit self-concept than health controls. More research is needed to better understand self-concept around anger and aggression among people with OCD. 

One hypothesis is that an inflated sense of responsibility, such as regarding their safety and the safety of others, can cause someone to become frustrated and angry when they can't control the situation. So, paradoxically, the anger may be stemming from a place of wanting to do no harm or ensure no harm is done to others.

Other factors that may be present include frustration when loved ones don't accommodate compulsive behaviors and prolonged stress and anger at having to cope with OCD.

Signs of Anger Episodes in People With OCD

On the outside, anger episodes in people with OCD don’t look any different from those of people without OCD. Anger episodes may include:

• Yelling
• Saying hurtful things
• Swearing
• Throwing things
• Being aggressive 
• Hurting yourself or others

On the inside, however, people with OCD may suffer more from anger as they are more likely to direct their anger inward. This can escalate into serious negative emotions and behaviors, including:

• Thoughts of self-harm or suicide
• Thoughts of hating yourself and feeling worthless
• Withdrawing from friends and family

Angry outbursts can happen to anyone, regardless of whether you have OCD or not. However, having OCD can make the experience of those episodes worse. This is because anger can cause shame since anger goes against the high moral standards most people with OCD hold for themselves.

Shame can also result from the hurt people with OCD feel they have inflicted on others, which conflicts with their intense sense of responsibility for causing no harm to others. Anger episodes can’t always be predicted, but the stress of living with OCD can be helped.

Anger Management

The first step in managing anger with OCD is to understand what the triggers are. For example:

• Does the anger come from the unending frustration of repeatedly trying to get rid of intrusive thoughts without success?
• Is the intensity of the anger related to efforts to suppress unacceptable emotions?
• Could the anger relate to frustrations at not being able to perform a compulsion "perfectly"?

Recognizing and better understanding the underlying causes and dynamics involved in excessive anger in OCD is important, particularly given how prone to intense self-judgment those with OCD can be.

Next, managing OCD will help manage anger. OCD treatment, such as medication and therapy, can significantly help people manage OCD symptoms and thus live with less distress on a day-to-day basis.

While medication alone can be helpful, certain psychotherapy approaches such as exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy have been shown to have a long-lasting positive effect on OCD symptoms. Other psychotherapy approaches can help one work on a healthier self-concept, emotional regulation, and acceptance, all of which can help manage anxiety and stress before it turns to anger.

Stress management techniques can help manage anger, regardless of whether someone has OCD or not, but they may be particularly helpful for those living with OCD. Some examples include:

• Breathing exercises
• Yoga
• Exercise
• Journaling

When to See a Healthcare Provider

Regardless of whether someone experiences excessive anger with OCD, getting help from a healthcare provider or mental health professional is important for managing OCD symptoms. Sometimes, talking with a healthcare provider is the first step to seeking mental health treatment.

You don’t need to wait until things feel really bad before seeking help. If you are wondering whether you have OCD or if you have been diagnosed but are struggling with management, talk to your healthcare provider or therapist. It’s OK to feel angry when living with OCD, and it’s normal. Professional help can help you manage anger that stems from the frustration of living with OCD.

Summary

OCD has been linked with anger, but the relationship is complex. Underlying factors such as anxiety, depression, a lack of control over OCD symptoms and holding yourself to impeccably high standards can lead to anger.

Managing OCD is a crucial step to managing anger from living with OCD. OCD treatment and stress management can help with the distress that comes with OCD symptoms as well as help one work on a healthier self-concept, both of which can lead to less anger and better ways to cope.

A Word From Verywell

Living with OCD can be challenging, with or without experiencing anger on top of OCD symptoms. However, anger is a normal reaction to the challenges of living with OCD on a daily basis.

The lack of control you may feel when dealing with intrusive thoughts and subsequent compulsions can be extremely frustrating and exhausting. So, of course anger can surface. It is important to remember anger is not unique to OCD.

And just because anger episodes may accompany OCD, it does not make someone living with OCD an angry person. Also, OCD does not make someone violent. Destigmatizing OCD and educating friends and family about what it’s like to live with OCD can help others understand how anger can be a natural consequence of dealing with OCD on a daily basis. Know that no one living with OCD is alone in how they are feeling. And help is out there.