Intermittent Explosive Disorder Treatment

IED can be scary. Expressing your anxiety or trying to fight back when experiencing an active IED incidence, on the other hand, might sometimes unsettle the person even more. Calm and composure are required for effective de-escalation. Attempt to withdraw from your personal sentiments as much as possible during the incident. Acknowledge that the IED user’s behavior is out of their power.

IED patients may have extremely strong emotions, underdeveloped defense mechanisms (such as denial and projection), and inadequate reality checking. All of this can make dealing with them logically nearly impossible. As a result, you defuse. Here are a few specific de-escalation tactics that could be effective in dealing with someone who has an episode of an IED outburst:

• Instead of demeaning the person, use gentle wording.
• Stay near enough to create rapport without invading the person’s personal space.
• To reinforce the person’s sense of autonomy, use collaborative problem-solving techniques. “What could we do to rectify this?” for instance.
• Delivering ultimatums or engaging in power conflicts is not a good idea.
• Accept the person’s rage. They can express their emotions as long as they don’t hurt themselves or others.
• Suggestions for face-saving options to their rage, such as a cooling-off period
• Use effective listening abilities to demonstrate that you’re interested in what you’re hearing.
• Make compassionate statements, such as “It seems like you’re in a lot of pain.”
• Don’t rehash what occurred or who is to blame. Continue to think about potential solutions.
• Use a calming tone of voice and purposefully tranquil body language. Don’t add to the hysteria.
• When the person regains control, use positive reinforcement.
• If you feel intimidated, you should be more assertive. You may need to switch from a supportive to a controlling posture and/or retreat to a safe location.

An intimate partner of somebody with an IED  may be aware of the person’s emotional reactions and identify the warning indications of an impending outburst. Individuals with IED, for instance, may shiver, feel heaviness in their chest, or even become irritated. This does not, however, imply that a companion has the option of escaping the episode. They could even be the initial defense.

A loved one may see intense IED outbursts as emotional oppression. It’s possible that the person will become physically or verbally violent, which is never acceptable in a romantic relationship. Remove access to a weapon or dangerous items that the individual could use to harm oneself or others to keep yourself safe. Make a plan for how you’ll get out if you feel threatened.

Sadly, only a small percentage of IED patients receive treatment. They may never realize the damaging implications of out-of-control explosive events. If the person you love refuses to accept they have a problem and attempt to control their uncontrollable anger, you may have to protect yourselves by ending the relationship permanently.