Frustration is a universal emotion that we all feel, like other negative emotions, such as fear and sadness, is necessary because it is an indicator that something is not working and that it must be changed, like the rest of the emotions, this can lead us to behave aggressively.
However, at this stage it is necessary to identify, in the emotional state of frustration, the degree of intensity with which it manifests itself and the way it is controlled, some people experience a disproportionate frustration with what triggers it and, in addition, respond excessively, with outbursts of anger and aggression: they suffer what is called an intermittent explosive disorder.
- “Anger is an acid that can do more damage to the container containing it than to what is thrown to it.
- -Seneca-.
It is a disorder in which impulse control and emotional control are affected, in addition, it can be said that it is characterized by two fundamental factors.
Not knowing how to deal with anger has devastating consequences on the lives of those with anger and its surroundings, because controlling aggressive impulses is a fundamental thing to living in society.
Most people with this disorder have problems in their personal relationships, whether family, loving or friendship, living near a person with this disorder is practically in a state of constant tension: it is impossible to predict when it will explode, which means that people around them and like him end up walking away for fear of explosions and their consequences.
This disorder also affects the working life of those who suffer from it, since the person does not know how to control his appearance, nor avoid the frustrating situations that we all live in the professional sphere, such as discussions with colleagues or criticisms of superiors, these will eventually trigger an excess of anger, sooner or later, leading to a bad professional environment. You will most likely be fired if the situation is common.
Some research shows that explosions of aggression are the result of Serotonin deficiency in the brain, as well as damage to the prefrontal cortex, the prefrontal cortex is precisely the part of the brain that is linked to impulse control and is in charge of higher thinking.
While this leads us to think about biological causes, another aspect to note is that most people with this disorder lived in environments where one or more people had tantrums, which leads us to think that in addition to a biological predisposition, learning us having as a child is very important to control emotions.
If a child grows up perceiving excessive anger and violence as valuable tools to achieve his goals, it is to be expected that these behaviors will continue over time and feed. Children need to witness examples of healthy conflict resolution. and handling frustration, where patience and dialogue prevail.
In addition, it is important to help children understand and manage their frustration, especially if they tend to complain about nonsense, seeking professional help if necessary, in this way we will avoid many future problems.
It is never too late to learn more about our own emotions and how to manage them, through cognitive behavioral therapy it is possible for these people to identify the first signs of anger so that they can stop it before it develops and cause serious harm. To put an end to this, several alternatives are proposed, such as getting out of the frustration-generating situation. This output can be mental (distracting) or physical.
Other aspects that help are the practice of relaxation techniques that reduce the overall state of anxiety and try to decrease the overall tone of activation by directing this energy through the practice of a sport, in some cases drugs that balance Serotonin can also be of great help.
The important thing is that by realizing that there is a problem and seeking help, you can learn to manage your anger and improve your own life and that of those around you. situations, whatever they are.
“When I walked through the door of my freedom, I knew that if I did not abandon all anger, hatred, and resentment, I would remain a prisoner. -Nelson Mandela-
Do you know anyone who has an intermittent explosive disorder or do you think you’ll have it yourself, how does this affect your daily life?