Anger - Intermittent Explosive Disorder & Domestic Violence

Intermittent Explosive Disorder -
If a person's aggressive outbursts result in any destruction of property, physical assaults on people or animals, or causing a death, then that person has a problem and should seek help immediately. This anger problem will result in legal and financial problems and destroyed relationships. Peace and true happiness are elusive. Friends, family, loved ones and even strangers are in danger.

Loss of control is the key factor. The individual loses control, resulting in aggressive acting out, either by yelling, assaulting others, or destroying property. The degree of behavior is always out of proportion to the stimulus. Typically, these individuals will not take responsibility for their loss of control, often blaming the victim, other circumstances in their life, or some third party as causing their loss of control. The inability to accept responsibility for the one's own actions helps to alleviate guilt. It also prevents the individual from seeing that there is a problem and making any changes. Both men and women can have this terrible problem.

Comedian Roger Heater suffers from IED. He now gives talks and is writing a book. He guest wrote his story for me. Please check out: Roger Heater's Story of IED.

Domestic Violence -
People with Intermittent Explosive Disorder often only lose control within the context of a close interpersonal relationship. Their self-control is better outside their own home and family. The diagnosis of Intermittent Explosive Disorder is almost always present in domestic violence situations, except when the violence occurs only in situations with substance abuse or intoxication. Sometimes, however, intoxication is also a form of not accepting blame and the individual may choose to become intoxicated prior to a confrontation and use their wasted state as an excuse for loss of control.

Individuals who only lose control within relationships often attach strong emotional ultimatums to those relationships. If a person believes that loss of a relationship would be unbearable, then they will stay in the abusive relationship, regardless of what logic says.

Perpetrators of domestic violence rarely receive adequate psychological treatment, because they are viewed as criminals, rather than individuals with psychological problems.

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