Berserkers

[IrishBerserker]

I feel that most people don't understand what it truly means to go "BERSERK".

People use the phrase to identify a time when they "lost their cool".

Going Berserk isn't "lossing your cool". Its becoming so overcome by rage and hate that you can't control yourself. Whether it be through a Trance, a Herb, or a Biological/Nerological condition isn't the point. The point is people don't seem to understand it.

I've "gone Berserk". It is not something I like but it happens. It usually happens during Fights, Strenuous Activities or just as a result of bottled up emotions culminating in a very violent outbust. (during which I've hurt people I care about)

The vikings had the Berserkergang, the Irish had an equivilent, as do most peoples of the world.

I want to know if anyone else on the Escapist has berserkergang and if so how do you control it.

I've tried:
Pills (didn't work to well)
Anger Management (Made me Angrier)
Music (Helps Ignore people but still get mad and i can't have it all the time)
Banging my head of a wall/Door/Tree (works the best but makes me look crazy & makes my head hurt)

 

[RavingPenguin]

I have and I hate it. Losing control of your thoughts, emotions, and actions is not something anyone enjoys. I see it as an extension of my brains survival instinct, as it only happens in times of extreme duress. I would say not many here have experienced the sensation, though.

 

[Bofus Teefus]

My love for you is like a truck.

Sure, I'll own up to having a berserkergang, although we decided to break up the word, so the name of ours is The Berserker Gang. Using mind control (to answer your question), I send my minions of The Berserker Gang out into public to just sort of go berserk. You know, they knock over lemonade stands, kick tires, flail about, and just go generally berserk. I've got to keep somewhat close to them, as my mind control gets a bit touch and go at about 100 meters, so if you do see members of The Berserker Gang doing my bidding, look around and wave if you see me.

On topic - I see what you've listed, and those are all good things to try. Not everyone will respond to the same things, though. Some others to try are meditation or yoga. A good therapist will have more ideas.

 

[NeutralDrow]

...no, can't say I have. I hear "Berserk" and I immediately think of this guy:

Spoiler

the Irish had an equivilent

Warp spasm?

 

[RavingPenguin]

...no, can't say I have. I hear "Berserk" and I immediately think of this guy:

Spoiler

Is that a picture of Guts? Your image is a dud.

 

[Valate_v1legacy]

Hmmm, the head hitting thing doesnt work for me... Pills make me even more restless, anger management... Makes me want to go on a wake of mass destruction... (Oh wait, I'm like that all the Ronald McGoddamned time.) Music enhances my 'fits', the only thing that keeps me going: "One day, thier fates will lie in my hands"

... Develop a narcissistic state of mind, but don't actually convince people to follow you. Self-righeousness is a useful tool in *ahem* not running around trying to kill people.

 

[zana bonanza]

My younger brother has pissed me so much before that I just started mindlessly beating him. (Or attempting to, as I'm not very strong and it probably didn't hurt much.) Then I would scream, storm off into my room, and cry until I got it out of my system.

I haven't really done that in a long time, though. I'm more maniac-depressive, so when I lose it, I usually just cry and sleep a lot.

It helps to have an outlet, I'd say. Instead of banging your head against the wall, go for a run. Get a punching bag. Wear yourself out and benefit from some extra exercise.

 

[NeutralDrow]

...no, can't say I have. I hear "Berserk" and I immediately think of this guy:

Spoiler

Is that a picture of Guts? Your image is a dud.

Gah. Photobucket's useless.

Spoiler: Imageshack to the rescue!

 

[UltraParanoia]

I've actually blacked* out at times and had my friends tell me I beat the shit out of someone.

So I have to keep my anger in check. A lot.
Unfortunately, I was born without much control over my emotions, so I had to work on not losing it. I've done a decent job so far, I can tell because I'm not in jail for assault or murder.


*blacking out might not be the best term for it, but it's the only one I can think of right now.

 

[RavingPenguin]

Gah. Photobucket's useless.

Spoiler: Imageshack to the rescue!

Ah, Fate Stay Night. I hadn't thought of that berserker, still its pretty cool.

 

[US Crash Fire]

Try Aikido.
You get to work out you anger and frustration physically and train your mind in self control.
So even if you do get in a fight, you don't go berserk and you are able to control yourself.

 

[The_Healer]

Nope, I have a rather good harness on my emotions...
Including anger.

But sounds like er... fun?

 

[IrishBerserker]

My younger brother has pissed me so much before that I just started mindlessly beating him. (Or attempting to, as I'm not very strong and it probably didn't hurt much.) Then I would scream, storm off into my room, and cry until I got it out of my system.

I haven't really done that in a long time, though. I'm more maniac-depressive, so when I lose it, I usually just cry and sleep a lot.

It helps to have an outlet, I'd say. Instead of banging your head against the wall, go for a run. Get a punching bag. Wear yourself out and benefit from some extra exercise.

I've had tears too. For me their more of a way to get rid of the adrenalaine.

Excersise dosen't work. I just wind up tackleing the bag, breaking something, accidently hurting myself by hitting too hard or Hitting my head of the wall to calm down.

the Irish had an equivilent

Warp spasm?

Yeah. Cú Chulainn was who I was refering too.

I've actually blacked* out at times and had my friends tell me I beat the shit out of someone.

Same thing. Can't remember but apperantly I choked a guy, his feet off the ground, for almost a minute.

 

[RavingPenguin]

snip

Good lord man. I've been through much the same thing black outs, blind furry, and so on. You sound like you have it much worse though. I dont have to smash my head against a wall to calm down, though if I hit the point your talking about I'm not rational enough to do so. I have to sit down and meditate before I hit that point.

EDIT: sorry fucked up my quote.

 

[Iron Mal]

While everyone has aggressive outbursts a 'real' berserker in my opinion is someone who is susceptable to unusually violent outbursts (that being they can have moments where even by their standards they have well and truely gone into a fit of rage).

With that said it could be noted as something that varies from person to person (if someone who is usually violent anyway goes berserk then who's to say that there's a difference? If someone who is normally passive, quiet and reserved suddenly starts trying to strangle you then it's very apparant what's happened).

Like the OP said, 'real' cases of berserkers are rare.

 

[inhuMANATEE]

two words: fight club

 

[Mstrswrd]

I've gone almost to that point many times, but only actually truly gone berserk once. I nearly killed the guy who made me snap, and the only reason I didn't was because he had a friend that threw me down a hallway, and then they both got the hell out of there. Without a focus to, well, focus on, I calmed down.

Don't worry. I didn't start that fight. I was just retaliating. Retaliating with excessive force, yes, but still retaliating.

 

[IrishBerserker]

normally passive, quiet and reserved

Thats pretty much me.

 

[somerandomguy76]

I'm pretty sure the term is derived from berserkergang (there's an umlaut in there somewhere) which was the uncontrollable rage that sometimes overcame Viking warriors in the heat of battle. Those taken by it were reportedly oblivious to wounds and possessed superhuman strength and quickness. It's one of the reasons Vikings were some of the most feared fighters of the medieval world.

So yeah... going "berserk" is nothing to underestimate.

Edit: Oh... well. It seems I should have read the whole OP first. Stupid stupid me. I guess all I have to say is that I too have anger issues but I'm generally able to keep them under control, except in moments of extreme competition.