What Do People with Intermittent Explosive Disorder Work on in Therapy?

Ever get angry? Who doesn’t? We all experience feelings of anger on occasion. For some people, however, irritability can escalate into rage or even violence. And it can happen in an instant. Anger that quickly gets out of control may be a sign of intermittent explosive disorder (IED), a mental health disorder. Talk about an ironic acronym, IED also stands for “improvised explosive device,” which is something that can detonate without warning and cause great harm. It’s similar to the way a person can explode in anger and cause lasting emotional (or physical) damage to anyone in their vicinity. IED can destroy relationships and kill careers.

If you can’t control your aggressive impulses, you may want to consider seeking professional help. Psychotherapy can be an important aspect of an IED treatment plan. Before you can work on gaining control of anger and aggression, you need to address any underlying issues that may be causing it.

ADDRESS POSSIBLE CAUSES OF INTERMITTENT EXPLOSIVE DISORDER

Researchers have spent decades looking into potential causes of and contributors to IED. Understanding what might be contributing to your anger issues and treating them is one of the keys to healing. Some of the most common treatable issues related to IED are emotional trauma, head injuries, other mental health conditions, and issues with brain chemistry.

Emotional trauma

One of the main findings from years of research into the causes of IED is that experiencing trauma is a common denominator among people with the condition. For example, a 2012 study in Psychiatric Research that looked at data on 5,575 individuals found that IED is associated with increased exposure to trauma, especially childhood trauma. Adverse childhood experiences that can contribute to IED include emotional or physical neglect, sexual or physical abuse, living with someone with an addiction or mental illness, and more.

Healing strategies: A non-invasive therapy that can aid in overcoming emotional trauma is called EMDR, which stands for eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. This can be an important piece of the puzzle in understanding and coping with anger issues.

Head injuries

At Amen Clinics, which has built the world’s largest database of functional brain scans related to behavior, it has become clear that head injuries increase the risk of anger issues and IED. In a 2018 study in The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, researchers looked at the relationship between mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) and IED. Among 1,634 individuals involved in the analysis, those with IED were more likely to have experienced a mTBI compared with healthy controls and those with other psychiatric disorders. On SPECT scans at Amen Clinics, damage to the temporal lobes (located on either side of the temples behind the eyes) is often associated with anger, aggression, and violence.

Healing strategies: If your brain is injured, it makes it difficult to follow through on anger management techniques. To enhance brain function, put the brain in a healing environment with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), eating a healthy diet, eliminating environmental toxins, and avoiding alcohol and drugs.

History of mental health disorders

People with ADD/ADHD, borderline personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, and other psychiatric conditions are at increased risk of IED.

Healing strategies: Seeking treatment for these mental health problems can help make it easier to follow anger management strategies.

Brain chemistry issues

Some research suggests that abnormal levels of neurochemicals may play a role in IED. Specifically, low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin have been cited as a possible contributor to the condition.

Healing strategies: To boost serotonin naturally, eat a diet that is lower in protein and higher in complex carbohydrates. Natural supplements such as saffron and 5-HTP also increase the feel-good neurotransmitter.

PSYCHOTHERAPY STRATEGIES FOR INTERMITTENT EXPLOSIVE DISORDER

In addition to addressing any underlying causes of IED, a comprehensive treatment plan for IED will usually include psychotherapy and anger management. A number of techniques may be helpful, such as:

• Cognitive restructuring: Learning to change the way you think about frustrating and stressful situations that typically trigger aggression can be beneficial.
• Relaxation strategies: Engaging in a relaxation practice that includes deep breathing exercises, yoga, self-hypnosis, or guided imagery can help keep you calm when your blood starts to boil.
• Coping skills: Therapists can help you develop a toolkit of coping strategies to help you deal more effectively with situations that typically set you off.
• Group therapy: In a 2018 study, researchers concluded that “structured cognitive behavioral group therapy, with a focus on anger management and cognitive coping, may be a promising approach to the treatment of IED.”

Intermittent explosive disorder, head injuries, and other mental health issues can’t wait. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, clinical evaluations, and therapy for adults, teens, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here.