That's always the trick, isn't it! I wish I had reliable methods, but it's often so hard to know when it might erupt - and once it starts, it's hard to settle it down in time to get things stabilized and prevent some stupid lashing out and/or moping. I often think I feel pretty content and stable and am generally an easy-going person who likes keeping the peace, but it occasionally flares up at some unexpected moment, even so. I have some techniques for preventing it when I'm generally feeling really down, though (not drinking a lot; various strategies for processing or, alternately, forcing myself not to focus on painful subjects and emotions [I dislike repression and like to know myself and the world around me, but sometimes living in a constant state of absolute truth makes me actually go a little bit insane, so I have to make the decision to temporarily not deal with it, at least until I can actually DO something to change a situation for the better]; physical releases). They work decently for keeping myself in check. But it's when I'm feeling alright and not expecting it that it can really get weird. I think I do need to work out some approaches for pulling myself down from downwards-spiral-self-destruct-insane mode once I feel myself starting, but it's hard to do so, because I feel truly without hope (and, therefore, at least emotionally prepared to destroy myself and all I care about) and sort of like I'm watching myself from outside in those moments.

Yikes, this all sounds quite melodramatic and makes me sound like a horrible monster. I've seen that I can become one, but I haven't done any harm to any other person (I've never acted violently except towards myself and, even then, only in slight ways) and I usually try very hard to be considerate and compassionate and nice/laid-back with the people around me. I just know that I sometimes werewolf out and it's scary - but, really, more than anything, it's petty and self-indulgent and counter-productive and inconsiderate to others.

Anyhow, I just seem to get on ramble, here! Conciseness is not one of my virtues, nor is clarity. This is all basically just reiterating what it's like to lose control, which - blah blah... That's already been established. But how does a person regain control if they feel it falling out of their grasp? I wish I had answers! Do any of you guys have similar issues with losing your self-control for moments of extreme anger (or sadness)? And, if so, how do you fight it once it's begun (or fight it in advance)? Repression, clearly, does not work (except, for me, in the cases of a resolved decision to temporarily repress because fixating is accomplishing nothing except getting me worked up). Probably trying to work through problems in reasonable ways and in times of emotional calm and stability is one strategy to avoid this sort of thing. But once the self-control is already escaping... I'm clueless.