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Symptoms of intermittent explosive disorder (IED) include frequent, abrupt, verbally or physically abusive outbursts that are out of proportion to the event that sets them off. IED usually first manifests during adolescence, but symptoms can last throughout maturity. It is most prevalent in those under the age of 40.
The disorder may have disastrous effects on relationships and jobs. But fortunately, it is very curable. There are also ways for those close to the person with the disorder to help de-escalate IED episodes while they are receiving therapy.
Symptoms of Intermittent Explosive Disorder
A case example will give you a closer look at how intermittent explosive disorder can manifest. Rose is a business executive, and her husband insisted that she meet with a psychiatrist to help with her anger issues. Her husband told the mental health professional that Rose is impossible to live with.
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While she has always had an ill temper, she has lately been getting very agitated and frustrated. Her tempered outbursts are also becoming more frequent and intense. When her husband came home late from the office, Rose decided to go into attack mode and curse him till he cried. Like Rose, if you have intermittent explosive disorder, here are some symptoms you may observe:
1) Low Threshold for Irritation
Frustration tolerance is defined as the capacity to manage and overcome difficult situations and ideas. Having a low threshold for frustration tolerance indicates you might not react at all to those stressful situations. You're frustrated because you feel as though your needs haven't been satisfied, so you need to let off a flash of fury to feel better. Low levels of frustration tolerance are frequent in both adults and children, and can manifest in the same way.
2) Extreme Rage
If you show indicators of extreme rage, you may be diagnosed with intermittent explosive disorder. It's vital to first comprehend the anger before moving on. The truth is that everyone gets angry, and to varied degrees. You could be somewhat irritated that you have to wait in a grocery store line for more than a few minutes, or you could engage in a heated argument with your spouse.
Anger can be brought on by personal issues such as problematic relationships, disillusionment, frightful occurrences, or unpleasant memories. Hormonal fluctuations and unresolved childhood trauma can both exacerbate anger.
3) Loss of Control
Similar to mood changes preceding an episode, a person with intermittent explosive disorder may notice feeling completely out of control of his or her situation and emotions before exploding into physical or verbal violence.
Aggressive rage is frequently experienced and displayed by people who are aware of their feelings but don't completely understand why they are furious. And as was already said in this article, the violent outburst was probably caused by a lack of expertise or an inability to manage those deeper underlying emotions. A person with intermittent explosive disorder will most likely act violently when they feel out of control or overwhelmed.
4) Guilt
The surge of shame and remorse you may experience after an episode, no matter how minor or significant, is another clear symptom that you may have IED. While some specialists attribute rage problems to hereditary factors and neurological flaws, they are also frequently brought on by childhood trauma, such as neglect, rejection, abuse, or abandonment.
People have a hard time making the link between previous experiences and the rage they're feeling now since those feelings are so frequently suppressed and buried. They are just being human and acting badly because they don't know how to cope in a healthy way. Their violent behavior does not make them horrible people.
Treating Intermittent Explosive Disorder
Treatment for intermittent explosive disorder includes prescription medications, especially SSRIs like fluoxetine and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
Medication for intermittent explosive disorder: Mood stabilizers, antidepressants, and anti-anxiety drugs are frequently used for intermittent explosive disorder. The drug with the most science behind it for treating IED is fluoxetine, an antidepressant known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).
Anger, automatic thoughts, and impulsive conduct have been proven to decrease with cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT), which includes relaxation training, coping skills training, and cognitive restructuring.
It would also be beneficial to limit exposure to such situations whenever feasible if you or a loved one with IED are able to recognize potential stressors in their surroundings.
Tell your loved one that you support his or her decision to seek treatment and educate yourself on the coping mechanisms covered in therapy. To aid your loved ones in gaining these coping mechanisms, practice them together. A person with intermittent explosive disorder can learn to manage and control their impulsive aggression over time.
Janvi Kapur is a counselor with a Master's degree in applied psychology with a specialization in clinical psychology.
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