Warning Indicators Of Intermittent Explosive Disorder

Reactions Disproportionate to the Situation

Arguably, the main hallmark of intermittent explosive disorder is disproportionate reactions. When an individual express aggression or a lack of emotional regulation, but the reaction is proportional to the circumstances, a diagnosis of intermittent explosive disorder rarely fits. They may have another mental illness that causes trouble with healthy communication and emotional expression; many who grew up in volatile households don't learn how to cope with their feelings. But with intermittent explosive disorder, the reactions don't seem to make sense. They may leave onlookers puzzled and scrambling to catch up with the other person's thought processes. One example would be screaming, punching walls, and smashing mirrors and bottles because someone in the household forgot to put their laundry away. Another example might be a teasing remark the affected individual interprets as an insult and reacts to with extreme anger.