Intermittent Explosive Disorder Treatment & Rehab Center in Fort Smith, Arkansas

Learn More About Intermittent Explosive Disorder Treatment at Valley Behavioral Health

Intermittent explosive disorder (IED) is an impulse-control disorder that involves sudden episodes of unwarranted angry outbursts. People with IED tend to experience chronic hostility and impulsivity that leads them to “explode” into rages without any justifiable provocation. This disorder can have severely negative effects on a person’s life, especially within his or her interpersonal relationships. It can also affect people’s ability to work and interact appropriately within society. But IED can be managed through proper rehab, and that rehab is available to you at Valley Behavioral Health System in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Valley Behavioral provides a wide array of rehab options for various different mental illnesses, including intermittent explosive disorder. We offer acute inpatient programs that can aid people in overcoming the extreme symptoms that define IED through a combination of different therapeutic techniques. Our treatment center is located on 57 acres in the Arkansas River Valley. We are the only facility in Arkansas that offers our patients the luxury of private rooms, adding to the comfort of one’s stay while receiving inpatient treatment. Our staff aims to provide every patient with individualized care that is designed specifically to meet his or her unique needs. The symptoms of IED do not have to continue to rule your life. At our behavioral health rehab center, we can give you the help that you need and deserve.

Helping a Loved One or Family Member Get Treatment for Intermittent Explosive Disorder

Watching a loved one acting out the symptoms of intermittent explosive disorder can be angering, frustrating, and even scary. You might find yourself feeling constantly on edge because you’re afraid that something you do or say could send your loved one into a rage. But you might also be questioning whether or not the way your loved one is acting is actually a disorder that needs treatment, or if it is just an aspect of his or her personality. Here are some examples of behaviors that individuals who do have IED may exhibit:

• Verbal aggressiveness
• Damaging property
• Sudden, unexpected, and unprovoked outbursts
• Extremely low frustration tolerance
• Extreme road rage
• Periods of emotional detachment
• Uncontrollable irritability
• Damaging property
• Threatening physical attacks against people and/or objects

If these are behaviors that you have noticed your loved one participating in, then it is quite likely that he or she is suffering from IED and it is time to approach him or her about getting help. The mere thought of broaching the topic of rehab may be frightening as due to the nature of the disorder itself you have no way of knowing how your loved one is going to react to the confrontation. It would be beneficial to educate yourself on the different aspects of the disorder prior to initiating the conversation with your loved one so that you are able to remain calm while expressing the reasoning behind why you want your loved one to get help. This can help give you the confidence that you need in order to deal with a potential angry outburst. It would also be beneficial to approach the topic in a way that does not seem accusatory by using “I” statements to express how his or her behavior makes you feel. This could decrease the likelihood of your loved one becoming overly defensive.

Why Consider Treatment for Intermittent Explosive Disorder at Valley Behavioral Health System in Fort Smith, Arkansas

If you are struggling with the frustrating symptoms of IED, you may be feeling as though you have absolutely no control over your emotions. Feeling this way can lead to feeling as though you are losing control over other aspects of your life as well. This loss of a sense of control can cause dysfunctions in the routines of your everyday life. You might be experiencing difficulty in the workplace and may be at risk of losing your job. You may even find that your friends and family have begun to push you away. While there is no cure for IED, you can gain control over the symptoms with proper rehab.

There are inpatient treatment programs designed specifically to meet the needs of people suffering from intermittent explosive disorder. When you enter an inpatient program, you are removing yourself from the stressful influences of the outside world. You can focus solely on healing. Your time in inpatient care is designed to be one of education, behavior modification, and personal growth. You will learn how to gain back control of your emotions so that you can start living a happy, healthy, and productive life.

Our Treatment Program’s Philosophy and Benefits

At our mental health rehab center, we make our patients the sole priority. We want to be held at the highest level of accountability so that we can make sure that all of our patients are receiving the excellent, life-changing rehab that they deserve. We have a team of caring staff who will provide a full continuum of care under the direct supervision of board-certified psychiatrists. Our team consists of therapists, social workers, psychiatric nurses, educational and recreational specialists, and other qualified mental health professionals who aim to provide you with the comfort of knowing that all of your needs will be taken care of.

Types of Intermittent Explosive Disorder Treatment Offered at Valley Behavioral Health System

When you arrive at our rehab center, you will participate in a comprehensive assessment so that we can learn all the pertinent information required for providing a recommendation for an appropriate level of care. Once you have been provided with the recommendation, you will meet with a team of care managers who will work with you in developing an individualized treatment plan that will guide you through the rehab process. At our behavioral health rehab center, we use a variety of therapeutic techniques that are tailored to meet the needs identified in your treatment plan. Examples of the therapeutic techniques used include:

Medication management: One aspect of successfully managing the symptoms of intermittent explosive disorder may come in the form of medication. At all times during the course of rehab, medication is closely monitored by our psychiatrists and medical professionals and will be altered if necessary.

Individual therapy: Individual therapy sessions are held in a confidential setting where you will meet on a one-to-one basis with a licensed therapist. These sessions are held at least once per week, but additional sessions can occur if you need or request them, or if your therapist believes that it would be a beneficial asset to your treatment plan.

Group therapy: Group therapy is another key component of the inpatient treatment process. These sessions are held on a daily basis where you will meet with other patients to discuss a variety of topics. Three days each week these groups are facilitated by licensed therapists, at which time they may choose to provide a more structured environment for the sessions. In addition to these group sessions, rehabilitation groups are held twice daily and recreational groups are held at a minimum of three days per week.

Family therapy: At Valley Behavioral Health System in Fort Smith, Arkansas, we recognize how crucial the role of family involvement is in order for any type of treatment to be successful. During inpatient treatment, family therapy sessions occur once each week. However, if you request additional sessions, they will be held at the discretion of your therapist, depending on whether or not he or she believes that it will benefit your rehab process. Family visitation time is made available twice per week during your stay, but family members are able to call you at any time.

Experiential therapy: In an attempt to incorporate all aspects of our patients’ well-being into the treatment process, we offer therapeutic recreational programs that are meant to assess, educate, and assist patients in striving to improve their physical lifestyle. Some of the individual activities involved in this program include arts and crafts, sports, games, and various relaxation activities.

Continuing Care and Levels of Treatment for Intermittent Explosive Disorder

Regardless of the reasons that you are being admitted to inpatient rehab, the discharge process begins at the time that you are admitted into the program. By doing this, we are able to ensure that once the discharge occurs a plan for continuing care is already in place. Our care coordinators are available to work with you in scheduling follow-up appointments with your therapist and psychiatrist based on the recommendations of the treatment team that worked with you during your stay. Stepping down from inpatient rehab can include beginning a partial hospitalization program (PHP), which meets 4 days per week, or an intensive outpatient program (IOP), which meets 3-5 times per week depending on your individual needs. These two programs are for adults only. Additional examples of aftercare plans can include traditional outpatient therapy and meetings with your psychiatrist for medication management.

You don’t have to be stuck living a life that you don’t want to live. You can change your future, and Valley Behavioral wants to help.