Somewhat off-topic: Rageaholic

[Guest guest]

I'm watching an old episode of Intervention, and there is a " rageaholic " on the

show. They are calling this an addiction, and while I'm sure that has something

to do with it, this guy strikes me as massively NPD and frankly as a sociopath

or maybe pyschopath. I would not call this behavior an addiction. I mean,

addictions are usually referring to being addicted to a foreign substance,

whether food, booze, drugs, etc. This guy is also a drug user, but all I see is

NPD. I mean, I can see how you would be addicted to a natural feeling--like

runner's high and I suppose you could be addicted to the feeling that you get

when you rage in anger the way this guy does, but since this is naturally

occurring in the brain, I wonder if it's not more of a chemical disorder. I

don't know, just speculating aloud.

Especially with this particular case, they describe him behaving this way since

being a young child. How can a young child be addicted to rage?

Does anyone have any familiarity with this? Part of my curiosity stems from

watching the way nada rages and has raged my entire life. Is it possible that

BPDs are also " rageaholics " ?

[Guest guest]

RE your question about borderline pd: Two of the diagnostic traits of

borderline pd are:

6. Affective instability due to a marked reactivity of mood (e.g., intense

episodic dysphoria, irritability or anxiety usually lasting a few hours and only

rarely more than a few days). AKA: intense, rapid mood swings, an emotional

roller-coaster, being a " drama queen. "

8. Inappropriate anger or difficulty controlling anger (e.g., frequent displays

of temper, constant anger, recurrent physical fights). AKA: a hair-trigger

temper (like a human land-mine) or always being on " low boil " and looking to

pick a fight.

So, yes: frequent, intense anger or constant irritability can be an indicator of

bpd.

That is an interesting question: do those who fly into rages frequently get a

kind of " high " off the rage? And if so, is it addictive?

A young child can display rage as a " temper tantrum. " An 18-month-old toddler

can become frustrated easily and doesn't yet have the language skills to convey

clearly what he or she needs or feels, and the resulting frustration or hurt

feelings or anger can come out as a screaming, red-faced, limb-flailing tantrum.

Most young children cease having tantrums when they become more verbal at around

age 3; the tantrums begin to taper off and become less intense and frequent when

the child can express himself more easily with words.

A similar discussion came up at BpdFamily.com, also. Several members who have

younger siblings with diagnosed or undiagnosed bpd noted that as very young

children, their sib had a tendency to have extreme tantrums (head-banging,

fingernail-gouging, etc.) that continued well past the age of 3 or so. One

member noted that her dbpd sib stopped pitching tantrums so frequently at about

age 5, but continued to sometimes physically attack other children or adults.

And as the tantrums tapered off, the dbpd sib began to engage in more lying and

other manipulative behaviors.

So it would seem to me that *extreme*, *intense*, and *frequent* negative

behaviors are something to be aware of and look into with young children.

-Annie

>

> I'm watching an old episode of Intervention, and there is a " rageaholic " on

the show. They are calling this an addiction, and while I'm sure that has

something to do with it, this guy strikes me as massively NPD and frankly as a

sociopath or maybe pyschopath. I would not call this behavior an addiction. I

mean, addictions are usually referring to being addicted to a foreign substance,

whether food, booze, drugs, etc. This guy is also a drug user, but all I see is

NPD. I mean, I can see how you would be addicted to a natural feeling--like

runner's high and I suppose you could be addicted to the feeling that you get

when you rage in anger the way this guy does, but since this is naturally

occurring in the brain, I wonder if it's not more of a chemical disorder. I

don't know, just speculating aloud.

>

> Especially with this particular case, they describe him behaving this way

since being a young child. How can a young child be addicted to rage?

>

> Does anyone have any familiarity with this? Part of my curiosity stems from

watching the way nada rages and has raged my entire life. Is it possible that

BPDs are also " rageaholics " ?

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Annie. You always put these things into an interesting light. Before

when I mentioned NPD, I think I actually meant anti-social disorder. This

inappropriate behavior / always " looking to pick a fight would be considered

anti-social behavior, right?

[Guest guest]

I'm not sure, but I think the definition of " antisocial " behavior is illegal or

criminal activity: stealing and lying. So I guess physical assault and battery

would also be considered criminal activity.

But I think the main thrust of " antisocial " behaviors is illegal activity meant

to result in personal gain, personal satisfaction or have some benefit to the

perpetrator and requires active, deliberate and calculated planning as opposed

to a hair-trigger temper and chronic irritability, which can be

counter-productive to the pursuit of personal gain.

Threats of harm or death-threats can be used to manipulate/coerce someone to do

what you want them to do out of fear, but just suddenly triggering into a rage

and beating the crap out of someone doesn't necessarily result in a benefit for

the perp and could even be counter-productive, such as getting the perp

arrested. I suppose rage and violence could be a benefit in and of itself if

the perp is also a sadist who *enjoys* inflicting pain on others and bending

them to his or her will through sheer force.

-Annie/anuria

>

> Thanks, Annie. You always put these things into an interesting light. Before

when I mentioned NPD, I think I actually meant anti-social disorder. This

inappropriate behavior / always " looking to pick a fight would be considered

anti-social behavior, right?

>

>

>