The explosive personality: would you know how to recognize it?

Aggression has many forms and not all of them have to do only with physical and instrumental violence. There are many people who explode into fits of anger without really knowing why. They are individuals with poor impulse control who can be our co-workers or even a very problematic family member. Complicated and often even hostile presences…

The term “intermittent explosive disorder” (IED) may not be familiar to everyone.. However, statistical data tells us that this condition would have an incidence of 7% in the population. The figure is high and it is because, on average, it appears together with clinical realities such as borderline personality disorder or bipolar disorder. Also in people who consume substances.

The challenge is that, many times, it is assumed that this behavioral aggressiveness is simply a type of character. We tell ourselves that “Juan has always had problems controlling impulses, like his father,” or “Elena has always been very extreme in the way she acts and reacts.” The way of being is confused with the pathology and this can be a great risk.

Explosive personality is a psychological disorder that causes great suffering in the environment.. Also in the patient himself, who, unable to control his own outbreaks of anger, remains trapped in deep feelings of guilt and sadness. Recognizing the characteristics that this condition sculpts can be of great help to us.

There are people who explode in unpredictable attacks of anger, shouting and even violence. These are situations that cannot be prevented.

This is explosive personality (intermittent explosive disorder)

Explosive personality can manifest itself in childhood, but it is around the age of 14 when it becomes evident.. In these cases, we have adolescents who show serious interpersonal difficulties and very poor social skills. We insist that we are not dealing with a way of being, a temperamental or character trait.

People who explode from time to time with maladjusted and aggressive behaviors show intermittent explosive disorder (IED). He DSM 5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)s) classifies it within impulse control disorders. Thus, while it is true that certain social relationships can cause us some problems or challenges, conflict with those who show this psychiatric condition is constant.

For example, families with a child who has always shown great aggression know this. It is also understood by those who live with a partner who is intimidating, with little financial control and who often resorts to physical or verbal violence. We are facing highly problematic and also dangerous individuals. Both for themselves and for others.

Let’s see how to identify the explosive personality.

1. Changeable people who seem to have multiple personalities

Explosive personality has nothing to do with dissociative identity disorder. That is, we are not dealing with someone with multiple personalities (but almost). Because if there is something that catches our attention, it is his changes in his way of being and acting. They are authentic Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, being able to be very kind at one moment and threatening at the end.

This behavioral uncertainty and not knowing how they can react plunge the environment into persistent anxiety.

2. Anger attacks arise without any clear trigger

Research from the University of Chicago points out that reactions of anger, aggression and violence do not always have clear triggers. As indicated in their own work, This impulsive behavior is not premeditated, but rather is due to neurological factors.

It is often speculated that intermittent explosive disorder (IED) It can be related to early childhood trauma and attachment problems.

Yelling, insults and contempt are common in explosive personalities.

3. Constant need to be in control

The explosive personality feels, needs and obsesses about having control of every situation. This is how you can show others that you are capable and competent. However, the more he tries to demonstrate resolve, the more his patience fails and he relapses into impulsiveness.

Likewise, the frustration they experience when they see that everything ends up slipping out of their hands and control increases their aggressiveness even more. Behavioral and verbal violence becomes that catharsis mechanism with which to release your negativity.

It should be noted, however, that The violence that demonstrates the explosive personality is not instrumental. That is, he does not seek to cause harm, but rather these reactions are a product of his altered state of mind.

4. The explosive personality and communication via WhatsApp

We know that communication with an individual defined by an explosive personality is complex and violent. However, nowadays and given that interaction frequently occurs on a digital level, it is important to refer to this channel. As curious as it may seem to us, this is where intermittent explosive disorder is most visible.

The person with this condition shows a chaotic, erratic, changing and threatening interaction. They can send us friendly messages, but if we do not respond immediately (for example), they lose patience and do not hesitate to resort to insults. Likewise, it is also common for them to send disturbing audios, with messages and comments that we do not fully understand.

How is this impulse disorder treated?

Intermittent explosive disorder is approached based on the individual diagnosis of each patient. As we have pointed out, this condition usually appears together with bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder or even is associated with substance addiction.

Most of the time we find people with deep depression, family uprooting and a clear inability to maintain a job. In these cases, Cognitive behavioral therapy can be useful to reduce anger outbreaks and increase control over behavior.

The main objective is to get them to acquire skills to regulate their emotions and behavior, thus improving their skills to relate to others.

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