THROWING A TANTRUM? THAT’S NOW A DISORDER

With cellphones, more and more adults are being caught on tape throwing temper-tantrums. They kick, scream, fall to the floor, and throw things – and it doesn’t take much to set them off. Could there be something more going on? Yes, says therapist Dr. Igor Galynker. These adults who throw these temper-tantrums could be suffering from a condition called Intermittent Explosive Disorder. Galynker said as many as one in 20 people now suffer from the disorder. “A person who has intermittent explosive disorder feels they don’t have control,” Galynker explained. Cursing at someone who cuts you off while driving is pretty typical, but chasing the car down and ramming it could be the behavior of someone suffering from the disorder. Those with the disorder may also experience a sense of relief after an episode, followed by remorse or embarrassment. Experts (* experts?) say treatment typically includes therapy and learning techniques to self-soothe. “There is definitely hope out there and help out there, if you reach out,” Kolodzinski said.
* What, no pill? Come on, pharmaceuticals, you’re falling behind!
* “Self-soothe”? I hope that doesn’t mean what I think it means.
* Intermittent Explosive Disorder? I had that that one time down in Mexico.
* “Intermittent Explosive Disorder,” or as we lay people call it, “bad self control.”
* Imagine if, every time you got angry, you had to grab your phone and send a tweetstorm to the world.