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Early signsChildren with DMDD haven’t developed the critical skills that involve regulating emotions. Their behavior is considered inappropriate for their age. These children have chronic, severe irritability and emotional dysregulation.
Families observe that the child has difficulties in getting along with people at school and at home. It is not easy for them to participate in family activities due to their low frustration tolerance. Explosive Temper Outbursts The characteristics of these outbursts are severe and extreme irritability. The child becomes angry, grouchy and cranky. So severe are these episodes that the terms that should be used are rages or meltdowns. If rages can last for hours, the criteria of severe, extremely impairing irritability can be considered met. Some examples of these rages are hitting, kicking, spitting and needing restrain. Children can tantrum for hours and the family and pets can feel threatened and hurt. For example, as reported by the mother of a 7 year-old: “He had major, major raging cycles. I’m talking raging violently, throwing things, attacking me, throwing a chair out the window, going through a knife drawer saying he was going to kill me. I couldn’t go to the bathroom, for fear he would hurt himself or me.” (Papolos & Papolos, 2007, p. 14). |