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Anger can be normal. What’s terrifying is when the anger shows up like a switch flip, blows past logic, and leaves damage behind. We dig into Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED), a DSM-5 diagnosis defined by repeated episodes of impulsive aggression, and we unpack why it can look like “a bad temper” while actually behaving more like a nervous system alarm that won’t shut off.

We talk through what IED tends to sound and feel like in real life: screaming over something minor, punching walls, breaking objects, or snapping at people you love. We also spend time on the aftermath that almost nobody sees, the shame, regret, and embarrassment that can hit once the episode ends. That guilt can quietly fuel the next blowup, creating a brutal loop that hurts confidence and relationships.

From there we explore likely contributors: genetics, brain chemistry and serotonin, and the brain’s threat system, including the amygdala and the frontal cortex’s role in impulse control. We connect the dots on how trauma, unpredictable caregiving, and growing up around yelling or violence can train the brain to detect danger everywhere, even in everyday stress like criticism, disagreement, or frustration. We also share personal perspective on what it’s like to live around these episodes and why “just calm down” usually fails in the moment.

We close with hope and practical next steps: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), stress management, sleep, exercise, reducing alcohol, relaxation skills, mindfulness, and when appropriate, medication support. Part two is coming with even more specific tools you can try and share. If this helps, subscribe, share it with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

Recorded 06-29-26

FIND ME:
My Website: https://motorcityhypnotist.com/podcast
My social media links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motorcityhypnotist/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCjjLNcNvSYzfeX0uHqe3gA
Twitter: https://twitter.com/motorcityhypno
Instagram: motorcityhypno
FREE HYPNOSIS GUIDE
https://detroithypnotist.convertri.com/podcast-free-hypnosis-guide
Please also subscribe to the show and leave a review.
(Stay with me as later in the podcast, I’ll be giving away a free gift to all listeners!)

Change your thinking, change your life!
Laugh hard, run fast, be kind.
David R. Wright MA, LPC, CHT
The Motor City Hypnotist

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Anger can show up in an instant, but the damage can last for days, years, or an entire relationship. We pick up our conversation on intermittent explosive disorder (IED) with the part people crave most: how recovery works when it feels like your reactions are faster than your thinking.

We get practical about what “taking back control” really means, starting with neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to build new pathways through repetition. We walk through how to identify triggers, why tiny moments can set off huge explosions, and how an anger journal can reveal patterns you can actually change. From there, we break down therapy approaches that teach real skills, not just talk, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).

We also dig into hypnosis as a tool for emotional regulation, stress reduction, and rehearsing healthier responses, kind of like how athletes use focus and visualization to perform under pressure. Then we zoom out to the relationship side: how outbursts erode trust, what a real apology sounds like, and how supporters can set boundaries while still encouraging treatment. We close with clear warning signs that mean it’s time to seek help immediately, plus a quick community note you won’t want to miss.

If this hit close to home, share it with someone who needs hope and a plan. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us what coping skill you want to build first.

Recorded 06-29-26

FIND ME:
My Website: https://motorcityhypnotist.com/podcast
My social media links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motorcityhypnotist/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCjjLNcNvSYzfeX0uHqe3gA
Twitter: https://twitter.com/motorcityhypno
Instagram: motorcityhypno
FREE HYPNOSIS GUIDE
https://detroithypnotist.convertri.com/podcast-free-hypnosis-guide
Please also subscribe to the show and leave a review.
(Stay with me as later in the podcast, I’ll be giving away a free gift to all listeners!)

Change your thinking, change your life!
Laugh hard, run fast, be kind.
David R. Wright MA, LPC, CHT
The Motor City Hypnotist

Send us Fan Mail

Defiance can look like disrespect, but up close it often looks like a teen who is flooded, stuck, and missing a few key skills. We wrap up our oppositional defiant disorder series by getting very practical about what helps and what makes things worse. If your home feels like it’s stuck in a loop of blowups, cooldowns, and broken promises, we talk through the exact patterns that keep that cycle alive and the small changes that start to break it.

We dig into why escalation is so destructive: yelling, shaming, and punishments delivered in anger don’t create compliance, they create bigger reactions. We also spend time on one of the most common traps for families dealing with ODD in teens, inconsistent discipline. When expectations shift based on a parent’s stress level, a teen experiences rules as unpredictable, which invites more conflict. Our fix is simple but not easy: write down expectations and consequences ahead of time and treat it like a shared agreement, so nothing turns into a surprise “because I said so” battle.

From there, we lay out protective factors backed by research: warm stable relationships, predictable routines, emotional coaching, and positive reinforcement that competes with the constant negative feedback many kids hear at school and at home. We also talk about school support like IEP plans, and what progress really looks like with oppositional defiant disorder: fewer explosions, better communication, stronger relationships, and steady gains over time. We end with a powerful reframe that changes everything, moving from “What’s wrong with this child?” to “What skills or support does this child need?” If you find this helpful, subscribe, share it with a parent who needs it, and leave a review so more families can find the show.

Recorded 06-22-26

FIND ME:
My Website: https://motorcityhypnotist.com/podcast
My social media links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motorcityhypnotist/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCjjLNcNvSYzfeX0uHqe3gA
Twitter: https://twitter.com/motorcityhypno
Instagram: motorcityhypno
FREE HYPNOSIS GUIDE
https://detroithypnotist.convertri.com/podcast-free-hypnosis-guide
Please also subscribe to the show and leave a review.
(Stay with me as later in the podcast, I’ll be giving away a free gift to all listeners!)

Change your thinking, change your life!
Laugh hard, run fast, be kind.
David R. Wright MA, LPC, CHT
The Motor City Hypnotist