Living with chronic irritability as an adult can feel exhausting and confusing, especially if you don’t know why you feel the way you do.
Sometimes, these patterns have their roots in childhood mood disorders, such as disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD). While this condition may begin as a child, if left untreated, it can cause ripples that affect your life as an adult.
With the right support, people with DMDD-related challenges can learn to regulate emotions, improve relationships, and regain a sense of control.
A mental health professional is best placed to offer personalized guidance, but this article can also help. In it, we cover:
While everyone feels irritable occasionally, DMDD is defined by the severity, frequency, and age-appropriateness of the outbursts. Without disruptive mood dysregulation disorder treatment, symptoms may continue to affect a person throughout adulthood.
The following paragraphs highlight the differences between “normal” responses to frustration, DMDD, and bipolar disorder.
DMDD Vs. “Normal” Reactions to Frustration
We all react to stress differently, and frustration can be expressed in many ways. Still, there are certain age-appropriate reactions to frustration, such as:
A child arguing about doing their homework
In contrast, someone with DMDD feels unable to tolerate frustration at any level. A child may hit another person or scream, while an adult may experience a background level of anger or tension that feels impossible to escape.3,4
DMDD vs Bipolar Disorder
A common confusion is sometimes the distinction between DMDD and bipolar disorder, as both conditions involve mood challenges. And, while certain symptoms may overlap, the support and treatment options vary between the two and depend on receiving an accurate diagnosis.
Bipolar disorder is a lifelong mood disorder that can cause intense shifts in a person’s mood, energy levels, thoughts, and behavior. These shifts can last for days, weeks, or months, and are known as “episodes.” The hallmark of bipolar disorder is a person having manic or hypomanic episodes – elevated, excited, or irritable mood along with increased energy or motivation – which come and go.2,5
DMDD, on the other hand, doesn’t come in episodes, nor does it bring elevated or excited moods. A child with DMDD may instead feel constantly irritable or angry, even when they aren’t experiencing full-blown outbursts. Without appropriate pediatric mood disorder treatment, these feelings and behaviors may follow a child into adulthood, evolving into depression or anxiety instead.2,5
Knowing the difference between DMDD and other mood disorders is helpful, but recognizing the specific signs in your own life is often the next step toward seeking help. The following section outlines the common DMDD symptoms to watch for.
AMFM is here to help you or your loved one take the next steps towards an improved mental well-being.
Having frequent and severe temper tantrums or outbursts (such as shouting, screaming, hitting, or kicking)
In adulthood, the most common lingering effects of DMDD often look like:
Constant irritability or background anger
If these symptoms feel familiar, you may be living with the long-term effects of untreated DMDD. In this case, you are not “overreacting” on purpose; you are struggling with an underlying emotional difficulty that deserves support.
Understanding symptoms is an important first step toward recovery, but a common question people ask is “Why did I develop DMDD?” Therefore, exploring the causes and risk factors can shed light on this and help guide effective disruptive mood dysregulation disorder treatment.
It is thought that these risk factors may be broken down into:5,7
Biological factors: Differences in brain chemistry related to mood and impulse control can affect emotional regulation
Understanding these contributing factors can encourage people to seek the support they need. Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder treatment can help people better manage their emotions and frustration, leading to a calmer and more fulfilling life.
Before diving into treatment options, it’s important to grasp the real-life impact that living with untreated DMDD can have on a person’s life. Therefore, the next section takes a closer look at its effects on daily life and functioning.
Over time, relationships may feel strained due to untreated DMDD symptoms. Whether these connections are romantic, platonic, or family, other people may feel confused, hurt, or even scared by sudden outbursts or withdrawal from a person with DMDD.
In work and professional settings, chronic irritability and a low frustration tolerance might interfere with career progression or job stability. Every day work stress, such as deadlines, feedback, or unexpected changes to workflow, may feel overwhelming, which in turn might lead to burnout, conflict, or job-hopping.
Another thing to consider is the emotional weight of living with DMDD. In adults, this disorder can contribute to low self-esteem, anxiety, or depressive conditions, which can result in a life lived in a near-constant state of tension.2,8 Even the smallest of stressors could then trigger disproportionate emotional responses and make life feel unpredictable.
It’s important to remember that untreated DMDD doesn’t mean you are failing – it means there are emotional regulation difficulties that have not yet been addressed. Understanding the far-reaching effects of DMDD in your life can be a great motivator for change, and it’s vital to remember that effective treatments and support are available.
This leads to the most important question for many adults: What does effective disruptive mood dysregulation disorder treatment actually involve?
A Mission For Michael (AMFM) provides treatment for adults experiencing various conditions. DMDD support is a phone call away – call 866-478-4383 to learn about our current treatment options.
See our residences in Southern California’s Orange County & San Diego County.
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Treatment for DMDD in adults focuses on helping people better regulate their emotions, reduce their irritability, and learn how to respond more flexibly to stressful situations. Effective treatment is currently based on what has been helpful for other disorders with similar symptoms, such as ADHD and anxiety, which include psychotherapy and medication management.3
However, treatment plans are always tailored to a person’s specific symptoms and needs, including options such as therapy and medications.3 These approaches are explored in more detail in the following sections.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT teaches coping skills for controlling anger, helps you learn how to tolerate frustration, and allows you to identify and change distorted thoughts or beliefs that contribute to outbursts.
These types of emotional regulation therapy are often effective because they can treat the underlying emotional difficulties driving DMDD as well as anxiety and depression. They encourage people to pause, self-soothe, and respond rather than react to situations, building a sense of control.
For instance, symptoms of anxiety or depression may be alleviated through antidepressants, while stimulant medications used for ADHD treatment may reduce symptoms of irritability or impulsivity. However, it’s important to remember that all medications have side effects, and close monitoring is required when you are prescribed a new medication.3,5
Inpatient treatment for DMDD may be an appropriate option if symptoms severely impair your ability to function or cause safety concerns. Residential treatment offers a highly structured environment with round-the-clock care, intensive therapeutic support, and medication management, all designed to help you heal in a comfortable setting.
For many adults, residential settings provide the opportunity to recover from mental health challenges away from daily stressors. The environment in itself, along with the strong focus on healing, can create the foundation needed for long-term recovery.
Healing from the ongoing effects of childhood DMDD is possible with the right professional support and treatment. Reaching out for help can often be the turning point where meaningful change begins.
Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder can have a lasting impact if left untreated, which is why reaching out for support is so important. With therapy, medication management, or residential programs, the cycle of irritability and shame can be broken.
Here at AMFM, we specialize in helping adults heal from the long-term effects of DMDD in a compassionate, clinically grounded setting. We believe healing isn’t about eliminating emotions; it’s about learning how to experience them without becoming overwhelmed. This is why our residential programs provide a safe haven for you to receive the support needed to heal at a pace that feels manageable for you.
Contact us today if you’re ready to move toward improved mental well-being. We will support you every step of the way on your recovery journey from DMDD.
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At AMFM, we strive to provide the most up-to-date and accurate medical information based on current best practices, evolving information, and our team’s approach to care. Our aim is that our readers can make informed decisions about their healthcare.
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