Mental Illness: Dealing with Intermittent Explosive Disorder

Have you ever been driving in your car and all of a sudden, out of nowhere, someone stops their car, gets out of it and runs up to your car yelling and screaming obscenities? They may also be clenching their fists and posturing as if they are going to hall off and hit you. When something like this happens to you, and the other person's provocation seems like it is because you were slow to take off at a green light, then you may have been part of a behaviors associated with the mental illness called Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED).

Characteristics of the Mental Illness of Intermittent Explosive Disorder

The mental illness diagnosis of Intermittent Explosive Disorder falls under the category of impulse control disorders. It is characterized by recurring incidences of aggression and vicious behaviors that are excessive in proportion to the incident that set them off. Intermittent explosive behavior looks like road rage, domestic violence and abuse. The temper tantrums can include breaking objects by throwing them or in other ways.

Persons with the mental illness of Intermittent Explosive Disorder are quite capable and highly likely to attack whoever made them angry and or their belongings. This attack can cause bodily harm as well damaging possessions. One of the key elements, in diagnosing Intermittent Explosive Disorder, is the signs of remorse, regret and embarrassment that the person feels after the episode is over.

The Course of the Mental Illness Intermittent Explosive Disorder Episode

Someone who is going through an Intermittent Explosive Disorder episode, can be raging and storming from 10 to 20 minutes. During the course of the episode, they will be extremely violent causing injuries to others and destruction to property. It is fairly common for the episodes, related to the mental illness of Intermittent Explosive Disorder, to occur in clusters. Yet again, there may be weeks or months in between episodes.

Precursor Behaviors of an Intermittent Explosive Episode

The mental illness Intermittent Explosive Disorder episode sometimes has signs that start to present before an episode takes place. These signs include such behaviors as irritability, enhanced energy level, feelings of rage, a tingling sensation, body tremors, heart palpitations, tightness in the chest and a sense of building pressure in the head.

Cause of Intermittent Explosive Disorder

As with many other mental illnesses, the cause of Intermittent Explosive Disorder in not understood. It is suspected that the disorder is affected by environmental as well as biological variables. Intermittent Explosive Disorder is likely to run in families where violent and abusive behaviors were a way of life. It is common to see children, who grew up around someone with the mental illness of Intermittent Explosive Disorder, to manifest the same behaviors as they mature. It is suspected that there may be a difference in the way serotonin (a chemical in the brain) works in persons who have Intermittent Explosive Disorder. Additionally, it has been found that a higher level of testosterone is associated with Intermittent Explosive Disorder.

Summary Intermittent Explosive Disorder

There is one thing that is consistently about being around a person with the mental illness of Intermittent Explosive Disorder - being near them is stressful, unpredictable and can be dangerous. If you know of someone who flies into rages with seemingly little provocation, they may be exhibiting Intermittent Explosive Disorder and you might want to consider ways to protect yourself and anyone who can be hurt during an outburst.

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