Sometimes my brain literally "glitches" when I'm mad

[Anonymous]

Does this happen to anyone else? Sometimes when I can feel anger rising, my brain does this weird thing where it's like a record scratch. Like I'm getting a jolt of electricity or something.

In a way it's good because it's a sign to step back from whatever I'm doing that is upsetting me and take a breath. But it's very strange and makes me wonder if there is something neurologically wrong with me.

Also it only started happening in my late 30s or so. I don't get made a lot so it's not that frequent, but when it happens, it freaks me out.

[Anonymous]

A long time ago at work (stressful place) I actually saw red when I was angry. I was able to calm down but I remember it vividly.

[Anonymous]

Adrenaline dump

[Anonymous]

I cannot catch my breath when I get suddenly angry. Which to me is a terrible sign of ill health, so I try to calm down as soon as I detect the feeling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Adrenaline dump

OP here. Can you expand on this? The strange thing for me is that I usually don't notice an increase in adrenaline when this happens. Like I don't notice my heart pounding or any sweating. Likely my heart rate is increasing but it's never enough to where I notice the signs of adrenaline in my body, until the record scratch. That's one of the more disconcerting things about it -- I will feel find and then my brain will glitch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I cannot catch my breath when I get suddenly angry. Which to me is a terrible sign of ill health, so I try to calm down as soon as I detect the feeling.

How does this manifest? Do you start coughing or gasping? This sounds like it could be a panic attach and it might be worth talking to a doctor about if it happens with any frequency. Not necessarily a sign of bad physical health -- could be a sign of anxiety that could be addressed with meds and/or cognitive behavioral therapy.

[Anonymous]

It happens to everybody and it’s why therapist say as soon as you get mad at say your spouse you should take a 30 minute break before making any decisions because your blood flow is literally not in your brain in the way it needs to be to make decisions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Adrenaline dump

OP here. Can you expand on this? The strange thing for me is that I usually don't notice an increase in adrenaline when this happens. Like I don't notice my heart pounding or any sweating. Likely my heart rate is increasing but it's never enough to where I notice the signs of adrenaline in my body, until the record scratch. That's one of the more disconcerting things about it -- I will feel find and then my brain will glitch.

It’s not adrenaline it’s cortisol.

I don’t know how often this happens to you, but if it happens a lot, you should google cortisol addiction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot catch my breath when I get suddenly angry. Which to me is a terrible sign of ill health, so I try to calm down as soon as I detect the feeling.

How does this manifest? Do you start coughing or gasping? This sounds like it could be a panic attach and it might be worth talking to a doctor about if it happens with any frequency. Not necessarily a sign of bad physical health -- could be a sign of anxiety that could be addressed with meds and/or cognitive behavioral therapy.

PP you replied. I am also prone to panic attacks when I'm anxious, but I hadn't realized that I could get a panic attack while being very angry. Thanks, PP. I've tried anti-anxiety meds already and they give me... more panic attacks. Sigh. Therapy helped a little bit, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Adrenaline dump

OP here. Can you expand on this? The strange thing for me is that I usually don't notice an increase in adrenaline when this happens. Like I don't notice my heart pounding or any sweating. Likely my heart rate is increasing but it's never enough to where I notice the signs of adrenaline in my body, until the record scratch. That's one of the more disconcerting things about it -- I will feel find and then my brain will glitch.

It’s not adrenaline it’s cortisol.

I don’t know how often this happens to you, but if it happens a lot, you should google cortisol addiction.

Ah, that makes more sense. Definitely does not happen frequently -- if it did I'd have already seen a doctor for it because it's so unsettling.

When I tried googling it, all I could find that sounded close is something called "brain zaps" that people get when they stop taking an SSRI. Except I've never been on an SSRI. But the description is exactly like what I feel when I get mad -- like a little electric shock to my brain, like it's shorting out.

[Anonymous]

You might need an SSRI

[Anonymous]

Yes, I get that and it does feel like the brain zaps I got many years ago when discontinuing an SSRI.