Is it PPD if my only symptom is ANGER?

[loraxc]

I struggled some with mild PPD from about months 3-6 with my DD--crying a lot, felt awful about myself, low energy. I thought I was past it, but recently I am not so sure. I feel like I am ALWAYS getting angry with someone--if it's not my daughter or my husband, it's the cat, a family member, a telemarketer...I just seem to have all this irrational rage right below the surface, and it feels awful. I cannot identify any obvious rational sources of anger in my life--marriage is good, etc--and yet....It's bad. I want to slam doors, break things, etc, and none of that is like me. My husband is also concerned.

I don't cry much (pretty much only from shame after an angry outburst! and only sometimes) and when I am NOT feeling angry I don't feel gloomy or hopeless or anything. My energy levels are pretty good. My DD sleeps fairly well, so it isn't just sleep deprivation.

Is this a form of depression? I don't know what to think abou tmyself. I never suffered from depression or irrational rage pre-baby, so I don't "know" this in myself.

[TiredX2]

I think you should probably talk to a doctor about it.

With my PPD following DS (#2) the main symptom was anger (&anxiety), and it was only after dealing w/those that the more traditional depression symptoms came about.

Good luck!

[milk4two]

It definitely could be.

[MarineWife]

Anger is a secondary emotion, usually expressed as a defense mechanism because the real feelings are considered too dangerous. I would definitely see a psychiatrist about it.

[boston]

it sounds like depression to me. feeling lousy translates into a lot of different things for different people. some people lie in bed all day moping. some people carry on almost like normal but have a really short fuse. The bottom line is, somthing is making you feel crappy or you wouldnt be dealing with feelings of irrational anger. If there's nothing literally going on to cause it, (like a problem with your SO or some other situational cause) then it very well could be that you have depresson.

good luck. I've been there. & got through it.
I recommend giving medication a try, if a dr suggests it. I was very opposed to that, myself. And it just slowed my recovery way down until I finally tried some.