Outbursts Of Anger: Temper Or Upset?

Almost everyone has had outbursts of anger at some time in their life. They are those moments when we lose control and anger takes over our thoughts, our language and our actions. There is a temporary loss of consciousness and the only thing that is fixed in our mind is the attack: an irrepressible desire to hurt.

In the explosions of anger the brain is turned off and the beast that we all carry inside is turned on. It’s a wild side that we never quite give up on. However, many of us manage to temper those raging instincts and they only rarely come to light in truly extreme conditions. Others, on the other hand, take the beast for a walk every time they have a setback.

The question that animates this reflection is the following: Are these outbursts of anger simply a trait of the temperament that some people have? It is true that there are innate ways of being that are more given to exalted emotions. But, to what extent is this normal and at what point does it become a symptom of a disorder?

The outbursts of anger

Anger stems from two basic sources. One is fear, in any of its forms: simple fear, anxiety, anguish, panic, etc. The other is frustration, also in any of its forms: not feeling comfortable with oneself, not achieving goals or desires, that things are not as one wants, etc.

When a person feels anger frequently, it is usual that there are erroneous beliefs that lead him to interpret reality in a frightening or frustrating way. Here are some of those misleading beliefs:

• Others can easily hurt me. It leads to angry reactions to any sign of disapproval or rejection.
• Others have to act for my well-being and my wishes. It leads to intolerances towards the actions of others, when they contravene what we want, think or feel.
• There should be no obstacles to achieve what I want. The appearance of a barrier unleashes anger and, sometimes, outbursts of anger.
• Others should read my thoughts and be aware of my feelings. If they do not understand instantly or if they do not take into account our emotional state, we assume it as an attack.
• I cannot, nor should I, admit that I am frustrated. This is for the weak. I always have to be strong, even if I accumulate excess anxiety in this way.

The cycle of anger

Outbursts of anger are the result of accumulated anxieties or fears. They begin to incubate when we do not attend to small annoyances that little by little become frequent. It all starts with mild discomfort with oneself, with someone in particular, or with the world in general. This is not processed, but is allowed to pass.

Over time, the person detects this discomfort and specifies it, but does not express it or manage it. You are left with the idea that this will be diluted or that you should just move on. But since the reality that bothers does not change, the first symptoms of anger appear. Acid criticism, sarcasm or small expressions of rejection.

Despite this, the affected person continues to try not to pay too much attention to the uncomfortable situation. Try to turn your back on it, ignore it, or move away from it. At any moment there is a trigger that triggers the explosion of anger and that is when all the anger goes out of control, giving rise to new cycles of conflict and anger.

Intermittent explosive disorder

Intermittent explosive disorder is a mental condition in which there are frequent expressions of extreme anger, in response to situations that do not justify those outbursts of anger. From a psychiatric point of view, it is classified as an impulse control disorder. This same group includes kleptomania, gambling and pyromania, among others.

People with this disorder have brief bouts of anger, in which they experience a sense of release and / or pleasure from having outbursts of anger. However, a few minutes later they feel remorse. The usual thing is that they destroy objects or physically attack people. The precipitating factor is usually something of no consequence. In addition, they are generally people with high levels of anxiety.

Therefore, if a person has frequent outbursts of anger for inconsequential reasons and becomes violent, it is clear that they need professional help. It is not a matter of temperament, but a problem that goes beyond that and needs proper attention, before it reaches more serious consequences.