Anger explosions: attacks that lead to serious disorders

Almost everyone has had angry outbursts at some point in their lives. They are those moments when we lose control and rage takes over our thoughts, our language and our actions. There is a temporary loss of consciousness and the only thing that is fixed in our mind is the attack: an uncontrollable desire to do harm.

In explosions of anger the brain turns off and the beast that we all have inside turns on. It is a wild facet that we never completely give up. However, many of us manage to temper those instincts furious and only rarely come to light under truly extreme conditions. Others, however, take the beast out for a walk every time they have a setback.

The question that animates this reflection is the following: are these explosions of anger simply a trait of the temperament that some people have? It is true that there are innate ways of being that are more given to exalted emotions. But, to what extent is that normal And at what point does it become the symptom of a disorder?

explosions of anger

Anger arises from two basic sources. One is fear, in any of its forms: simple fear, anxiety, anguish, panic, etc. The other is frustrationalso in any of its forms: not feeling comfortable with yourself, not achieving your goals or desires, things not being the way you want, etc.

When a person feels anger frequently, the usual thing is that there are beliefs erroneous assumptions that lead you to interpret reality in a frightening or frustrating way. These are some of those mistaken beliefs:

Others can easily hurt me. It leads to angry reactions to any sign of disapproval or rejection.Others have to act for my well-being and my wishes. It leads to intolerance towards the actions of others, when they contravene what we want, think or feel.There should be no obstacles to achieving what I want.. The appearance of any barrier unleashes rage and, sometimes, explosions of anger.Others must read my thoughts and be aware of my feelings. If they do not understand instantly or if they do not take into account our emotional state, we assume it as an attack.I cannot, nor should I, admit that I feel frustration. This one is for the weak. I always have to appear strong, even if I accumulate excessive anxiety.

The cycle of anger

Anger explosions are the result of accumulated anxieties or fears. They begin to incubate when we do not pay attention to small discomforts that little by little become frequent. It all starts with a slight discomfort with oneself, with someone in particular, or with the world in general. This is not processed, but rather let it pass.

Over time, the person detects this discomfort and points it out, but does not express it or manage it. You are left with the idea that this will fizzle out or that you should just move on. But since the annoying reality does not change, the first symptoms of anger appear. Acid criticism, sarcasm or small expressions of rejection.

Despite this, the affected person continues to try not to pay too much attention to the uncomfortable situation. He tries to turn his back on her, ignore her, or move away from it. At any moment there is some trigger that triggers the explosion of anger and that is when all the anger comes out uncontrolled, giving rise to new cycles of conflict and anger.

Intermittent explosive disorder

Intermittent explosive disorder is a mental condition in which there are frequent expressions of extreme anger, in response to situations that do not justify these explosions of anger. From a psychiatric point of view, it is classified as an impulse control disorder. Kleptomania, gambling addiction and pyromania, among others, belong to this same group.

Those who suffer from this disorder have brief episodes of anger, in which they experience a feeling of release and/or pleasure when having explosions of anger.. However, a few minutes later they feel remorse. The usual thing is that they destroy objects or physically attack people. The precipitating factor is usually something unimportant. Additionally, they are generally people with high levels of anxiety.

Due to the above, If a person has frequent outbursts of anger for inconsequential reasons and becomes violent, it is clear that he or she needs professional help.. It is not a temperament issue, but a problem that goes deeper and needs proper attention before it reaches more serious consequences.

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