Quite often I feel very depressed and alone in the decisions I make. I get really angry every day at things that don't mean anything. Many people have told me that my anger gets out of hand and I should go to counseling. I've wondered a few times whether I suffer from depression or some other mental disorder. What do you think?

--Sara

It's true that depression and anger have often been linked in the psychological literature. Some refer to depression as "anger turned inward." I've seen the feelings you've described in others. Many depressed individuals alternate between feeling angry at themselves and getting angry at other people.

People who are not necessarily depressed but are in some sort of emotional pain also may lash out verbally at others. It's the emotional equivalent of the wounded animal that strikes out at the person who's trying to help it.

I can't give you a diagnosis -- saying whether you might suffer from depression or some other psychological or emotional problem -- without learning more from you and doing a complete assessment. But it sounds to me like you might benefit from consulting a psychologist or some other licensed mental health professional.

You may be able to get a referral for a qualified therapist from a friend or family member, or ask your physician who he or she would recommend. You don't have to commit to counseling right off the bat (unless, of course, you want to). Consider first meeting two or three times with a therapist -- giving yourself and the therapist enough time to get to know each other -- to discuss what's going on with you and whether and how counseling might help. Then you can decide what course of action you want to take.