Post-traumatic embitterment disorder (medication for)

Let me begin by saying that anger management is not the problem - it's more part of the cause. If anything I control it too well and people always comment on how laid back and easy going I come across. The anger I feel is locked away and lingering and comes to me in bouts much like a depression. To be honest I don't ever remember losing my temper but I've always managed to keep it in and this is where it lingers.

All of my life I've had OCD and recently found online a diagnosis often linked to it called post-traumatic embitterment disorder PTED. This new condition describes me to a T where I have all the symptoms: intrusive memories of unjust events, lingering rage, ruminations of revenge and most of all being treatment resistant because remember "the world has to change not me". What would make me that bit harder to treat is that most of my bitter feelings are directed at cognitive behavioural therapy because I feel it has failed me so badly in the past. In fact I've even sent anonymous messages insulting my last therapist - a common trait with PTED. Because of this I would rather treat the symptoms than the cause as CBT would be very antagonising under the circumstances.

Has there ever been drugs to treat lingering anger like this? I really would prefer medication to counselling. My present medication for OCD prevents depression marvellously but is ineffective against this and my psychiatrist is only suggesting changing it for something very similar. For me, it is like taking tablets for a headache - treating the cause is unfeasible so why put up with the pain?

Hi, stillwaters! Please feel free to ask about this in more forums, you can put the same post in three different forums and Living with mental illness is the most popular one. I hope someone will be able to give you advice about the medication.
Do you think it might be possible that there are deeper issues that need addressing in therapy? Sorry if I misunderstood.

jasmin wrote:Do you think it might be possible that there are deeper issues that need addressing in therapy? Sorry if I misunderstood.

You're probably right, I'm sure there are deeper issues that need addressing in terms of therapy. In my case it's more to do with the therapists I've experienced, I can think of one who seemed to press all the wrong buttons by trivialising my anxiety and even suggesting that 'I didn't have a problem'. This really blew my mind.

It is also the methods used in CBT such as the tape recordings of fears, the anxiety ratings you have to list and this constant referal to "positive thinking" when there are subjects I really don't want to feel positive about. CBT seems to be very clumsy and can antagonise your griveances much like applying a feather to an itch. Also I don't like the way CB therapists always dismiss the notion of a chemical imbalance in the brain or the way that pills mask the problem when in actual fact I've found they UNMASK it especially in the case of depression. This is why I would like medication for what I am currently going through but I really doubt I will ever get it.

Maybe you will find a good med. I'm sure they do help and even do wonders, maybe CBT just isn't for everyone/any condition. How will you try to find something that works?

I just read your post, and i think i pretty much fit the criteria too. I've been through a lot of violence, and i just can't seem to let it go. I keep encountering the same situations over and over, and i have all of these revenge fantasies. I've written angry letters to a former therapist (although frankly, she may have deserved it; she was terrible).

I'm not sure why I'm posting, this isn't much help. Just a thank you for talking about it, though---it's helpful to identify it. I hope things go well, I don't know what else to say.

I really believe that this song and its words will enlighten. Tell us what it reminds you of and what you think.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCeIAqeWq3Q