Are Anxious Individuals More Likely to Lash Out in Anger?

If you know someone who seems anxious a lot, you might not necessarily think that person is going to get angry and lash out. In fact, you may think that such a person would go out of their way to avoid confrontations. While some anxiety-prone individuals are averse to conflict, the condition can cause others to be more violent than you might imagine.

You can always give someone an anxiety test if they seem more anxious than usual. Such a test can help determine whether such a person has reached a point where they need to seek medical help from a qualified professional.

Let’s take a moment to explore the relationship between anxiety and anger a little bit more.

Anxiety Means You’re Afraid of Something

Let’s envision a scenario for a moment. You have a friend or family member. You love and care about this person. Lately, though, they seem anxious.

This anxiety manifests itself in this person being afraid to leave the house. They might talk about what’s making them anxious, or perhaps they’re keeping it to themselves. Either way, they may leave the house, but they do so only with feelings of great trepidation.

In such a situation, the person who’s experiencing feelings of anxiety is presumably afraid about something or nervous about it. Maybe their fear is rational, or perhaps it’s not. Either way, though, if someone is scared of something, they’re more inclined to act erratically, not less.

If an Anxious Person Feels Pressure, Their Response Can Be Unpredictable

It’s true that someone who is dealing with a lot of pervasive feelings of anxiety could shrink away from danger if they think they’re threatened. It’s just as possible, though, that they could lash out. If they believe that what they’re afraid of is about to occur, that can trigger a powerful fight or flight response.

The anxious individual responding with violence is just as likely as them fleeing the scene. Even if that seems out of character for them, if they are worried enough about something, don’t be surprised if such an action is the result.

You Need to Be Gentle with Someone Dealing with Anxiety

If you discover that someone you know and care about is dealing with anxiety, you need to approach the situation delicately. First, you need to determine how bad the anxiety is. Nearly everyone has a little anxiety about something. That’s a natural part of life, but most people don’t let those feelings get so bad that they control them or significantly change their behavior.

If you learn that this person is so anxious about something that it’s impacting how they live, you might be able to suggest that they see a doctor or a trustworthy mental health professional. Talking to a qualified therapist about what is bothering them could help them.

Until they are willing to seek treatment, though, their anxiety is likely to continue plaguing them. They could react violently if they feel like they are under enough pressure.