Senile aggression: why does it occur, what to do with it?

The manifestation of aggression in a person is a sign of a psychological disorder, a nervous breakdown. This phenomenon usually manifests itself by causing physical or moral damage to others. Someone tries to refer to repeated signs of aggression on fatigue, irritability, or character traits. But in fact, this is a clear sign of an unhealthy nervous system. And here it is important to get qualified help from a specialist in a timely manner.

At the Korsakov Psychiatric Center in Moscow, they accurately determine the causes of aggressive behavior, draw up a detailed treatment plan, and monitor the recovery process.

general characteristics

From a practical point of view, aggressiveness is considered as a person’s increased readiness for aggressive behavior, which is not innate, but acquired in the process of social interaction.
According to qualitative characteristics, aggression is distinguished between constructive and destructive. The first is implemented in defensive actions, causing unintentional harm, allows you to adapt socially, overcome obstacles, and show leadership. The second is represented by unconstructive aggressive actions based on the intent to cause physical or psychological suffering to another. In terms of direction, aggressiveness can be oriented towards others and towards oneself. In accordance with this, heteroaggressive reactions are distinguished - insults, beatings, swearing and self-harming or auto-aggressive reactions. An extreme variant of self-aggression is suicide attempts. The most obvious hostile action is the use of physical force against another person. Other possible options are hostility, malice, negativism, irritation, touchiness, suspicion, and uttering threats. Aggression directed at oneself is accompanied by a feeling of guilt and self-deprecation.

How can you help a person who has angry outbursts without getting hurt?

If something like this happens to one of your loved ones, it’s certainly not easy, but don’t give up; If you approach the solution to the problem carefully, the result will surprise you. First of all, as in the case of children, it is necessary to avoid all kinds of irritants for a person, and then answer the question of why this happens, how it all started. Try to notice the intervals between outbursts of anger. A good solution would be to learn to control your respiratory system. As we have already said, attacks of aggression are accompanied by physiological manifestations, so breathing control is very important. Tell the person who is experiencing outbursts of uncontrollable aggression that you are ready to help him with it. If at the same time a person abuses alcohol, it is necessary to pay attention to this. It is recommended to take infusions of soothing herbs.

For a healthy person, it is useful to relieve aggression through physical exercise, but remember that alcohol and sports are not compatible. If you or your loved one has an alcohol addiction, or a habit of drinking alcohol on weekends, you need to seek help.

It is important to remember that all of the above tips will not get rid of attacks forever, but will only help dull them for a while. To completely get rid of uncontrollable attacks, you need to consult a psychotherapist. Most likely, the person will react strongly to such a proposal, so you will have to be patient and try to convince him. Tell him about medical care, show him our services, introduce him to our doctors. The main thing is to believe in yourself, then you will be able to help your loved one.

Our phone number is 627-16-16. Contact us!

Causes of aggressiveness

The development of aggressiveness as a personality trait is a complex process in which many factors are involved. Hostile behavior is formed gradually under the influence of family, peers, and the media. Children learn aggression through observation and testing: they see how hatred and hostility can be shown, evaluate what this leads to, and put the acquired knowledge into practice. If the experience of aggressive actions is positive, they become embedded in the character. The causes of aggressiveness in an adult are socio-psychological factors, mental illness, and states of alcohol and drug intoxication.

Psychosocial factors

Productive hostility allows you to achieve your goals, defend personal boundaries, and your own beliefs. It is opposed to the spinelessness inherent in most people. The severity and frequency of aggressiveness depend on individual characteristics, such as temperament and character, as well as on sociocultural conditions and random situational influences. Psychosocial causes are divided into several groups:

• Situational.
  Aggression is provoked by irritating external conditions and physiological states. Thus, people become more hot-tempered when they overheat, are in a stuffy room, or are exposed to noise or vibration for a long time. Self-control weakens in situations of stress, fatigue, pain, and sexual arousal.
• Behavioral.
  This group of factors includes any behavior that is regarded by others as unacceptable and causes a defensive response. For example, a child’s aggressiveness can be associated with aimless pastime, skipping classes, drinking alcohol - actions that cause condemnation from parents and teachers.
• Personal.
  People with sanguine and choleric temperament, with excitable and antisocial character traits are more likely to be aggressive. Hostile behavior is realized on the basis of emotional instability, irritability, and depression. Other personal reasons are an inadequate level of self-esteem, willingness to take risks, and envy.
• Microsocial.
  The microsocial environment is the family, school or work community. People who often observe violence or experience it themselves, and experience humiliation and insults are prone to demonstrating aggression. Therefore, a high level of hostility is determined among adolescents from disadvantaged families and among people working in law enforcement agencies.
• Macrosocial.
  Social, political and cultural factors can be considered as causes of aggression. A hostile mood is formed by the propaganda of negative events in the media, the demonstration of non-normative behavior by significant people (the leader of the country, ministers), and the elevation of violence to a cult. The provoking factor is often low socio-economic status and dependence on financial assistance from the state.

Mental disorders

Aggression is a fairly common behavioral and emotional phenomenon encountered in the practice of psychiatrists. Research and public interest in the problem of aggression in mental patients is associated with a high risk of them committing dangerous actions that are directed at loved ones, random people, or themselves. Bitterness, anger, and impulsivity are most characteristic of the following disorders:

• Depression.
  In depressed patients, aggression is often intrapunitive - directed at oneself. It manifests itself in self-deprecation, feelings of worthlessness, and guilt. The combination of severe depression and impulsiveness increases the risk of suicide attempts and self-harm. In relation to other people, aggression is realized through irritability, suspicion, and negativism.
• Dementia.
  Dementia patients lose self-control and do not take into account the rules of behavior accepted in society. They can insult and harm others without realizing the gravity of their actions. Aggression is often caused by fear, the inability to perform usual actions, loss of independence, and in severe cases, physical discomfort (hunger, fatigue) and the inability to ask for help.
• Schizophrenia.
  The leading causes of hostility in patients are delusional ideas about the evil intent of others, inadequacy of emotions, and disinhibition of drives. At the same time, they have no intention of harming another. Behavior is often based on distorted logic, aimed at getting rid of tension and fears. In the paranoid form of schizophrenia, patients can cause harm by complying with the demands of hallucinatory images or voices.
• Psychopathy.
  In psychiatric practice, personality disorders are a common cause of aggression. With explosive psychopathy, patients are prone to uncontrollable outbursts of anger and impulsive unintentional aggression. Key manifestations of epileptoid personality disorder are emotional viscosity, vindictiveness, and anger. Patients remain irritated for a long time, show selfishness, neglecting the interests of others. People with antisocial psychopathy have moral defects, do not experience respect, sympathy and love, and therefore show aggression without a sense of guilt.

Intoxication

Taking psychoactive substances reduces clarity of consciousness, impairs cognitive functions, and distorts perception. In a state of intoxication, behavior and emotions become inadequate: laughter, crying, anger, and fear arise for no reason. All these changes are due to the pharmacological effect of the drug taken (alcohol, drug) and the physiological characteristics of the body. After discontinuation of the substance, the condition gradually normalizes. Aggression can be triggered by the following substances:

• Alcohol.
  At the initial stage of intoxication, euphoria, a feeling of relaxation and lightness prevails. Then alcohol intoxication intensifies, behavior becomes defiant, and self-control decreases. Irritability, rudeness, and importunity increase. The person behaves aggressively, provokes conflicts, scandals, and fights. During this period, he becomes the most dangerous for himself and the people who are nearby.
• Cannabis preparations.
  With a small dose of the drug, there is a feeling of carelessness, lack of restraint, and increased talkativeness. Sensitivity to light, sounds, and smells increases. Increasing the dose leads to inhibition and lethargy or, conversely, to aggressiveness and unmotivated actions. In the second case, hyperactivity increases, hallucinations, groundless fears, and panic appear.
• Hallucinogens.
  Taking hallucinogenic substances is accompanied by a change in the perception of the outside world: a person begins to “hear colors”, “see sounds”, and loses the feeling of his own body. Hallucinations are often visual and provoke overexcitation and inappropriate strong emotions - fear, happiness, anger. Against the background of loss of self-control and altered emotional state, impulsive behavior arises, sometimes with elements of aggressiveness.
• Sedatives, hypnotics.
  Intoxication is manifested by an increase in lethargy, drowsiness, and incoordination of movements. Emotional reactions are labile, affect is disinhibited. The initial feeling of sympathy for the interlocutor easily turns into anger and aggression. Motor activity increases, movements become erratic and uncoordinated. Increases sexual desire and appetite.

Symptoms of BPD

The first signs of the disorder usually appear in adolescence; over the years, disease statistics decrease and in almost 50% of patients the condition improves within ten years after the first symptoms appear. There are almost three times more cases of disease among women than among men.

The cornerstone of the disease is an unstable emotional state, the impetus for which was an excessive reaction to external events and inhibition of return to the previous emotional state. Susceptibility to such impulsive transitions is observed among those who are prone to sudden changes in evaluating people, from idealization to disappointment. Patients with this disorder have extremely intense sensitivity, they can be overwhelmed with love, joy, they can experience unprecedented elation, but at the same time they are also overwhelmed by negative emotions: anger and anxiety, fear and guilt. The intensity of emotions is so great that a substitution of reactions occurs: patients grieve greatly instead of the usual sadness, feel shame and humiliation instead of awkwardness, panic instead of a little excitement, reach the point of insanity instead of indignation.

With borderline disorder, the threshold of sensitivity to unsuccessful developments of events and to receiving refusal is high. Trying to avoid strong negative emotions, people suffering from BPD harm themselves and hide their feelings. The inability to control one's reactions sometimes leads to suicide. Despite short-term feelings of elation and light fun, the patient most intensely manifests anger and dejection, rage and loss, alternating anxious and depressive moods.

Impulsive behavior

(abuse of alcohol and/or psychotropic substances, excessive consumption of food or eating disorders, uncontrolled spending of money, promiscuous sexual relations, dangerous driving, sudden dismissal, sudden end of a relationship) reflects impulsive emotions - this is how a person strives to get rid of the strongest mental pain and the problems that cause it. But after some time, pain comes from repentance, a feeling of guilt for one’s action and, as a response, a desire for a new impulsive act in order to alleviate the new pain. Over time, this behavior in some cases becomes an automatic reaction to the pain of a negative emotion.

Self-harm
is one of the main symptoms of borderline disorder and is present in 80% of cases. The most common type of cut is made to the body. Also included are bites, varying degrees of burns, bruising, and head-banging. It is worth noting that up to 70% of patients cause physical harm to themselves without the intention of committing suicide. Self-harm here acts more as a way to punish oneself or to distract from the pain caused by a negative emotion. This is an attempt to evoke ordinary feelings in a situation of withdrawal from social fulfillment and can be an expression of anger or anger at difficult life circumstances.

The risk of suicide in BPD is up to 10%.

There is proven evidence that men are at greater risk (twice as high) of committing suicide than women. Suicidal tendencies and suicide attempts in patients with borderline disorder may indicate their belief that by doing so they will make life easier for others, that everyone will feel better. Such patients are especially sensitive to how people treat them: they are overly happy and grateful for good treatment and, conversely, are overly sad or angry when they are offended or criticized. The range of feelings is vast and their change occurs very quickly. Sometimes the mere possibility that the right person may disappear from life or that one may lose his respect is enough, and the pendulum of feelings swings from love to hate, from reverence to disappointment. Such sentiments harm not only specific relationships, they affect relationships in the family, in society, and on self-esteem.

With borderline disorder, there is a tendency to perceive the world as a dangerous place full of malicious people. At the same time, there is boundless devotion in romantic relationships, based on fear. This is facilitated by dissatisfaction with the partner, conflicts in the family and physical violence, chronic stress, and unwanted pregnancies. To protect itself from intense emotions caused by painful life events, the mind shifts its attention away from those events or memories of them. Blocking negative emotions temporarily alleviates impulsive feelings, but at the same time dulls ordinary emotions, causing a person with borderline disorder to lose the ability to concentrate and react naturally in everyday life, which significantly complicates his position in society.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of aggression and its causes is carried out by a psychiatrist, psychotherapist, or clinical psychologist. Of particular interest are cases of determining the tendency to aggression during examinations, when the patient may have a desire to hide undesirable qualities. In such situations, in addition to standard diagnostic procedures, experimental methods are used, during which influences that provoke hostility are carried out. The following procedures are used as part of the baseline study:

• Survey.
  During the conversation, the doctor finds out the reasons for the aggressiveness, its duration, severity, and justification. Patients are not always critical of changes in their behavior, therefore, to obtain more objective information, a survey of relatives (accompanying persons) is carried out, and characteristics from school and place of work are requested.
• Observation.
  A tendency to aggressive reactions manifests itself during a medical consultation: patients are irritable, quick-tempered, and rude. They answer unpleasant questions with abuse, and easily move on to accusations, quarrels, and scandals. Observation in a hospital setting provides a more complete picture of patient behavior. As a rule, they show verbal and physical aggression and become instigators of quarrels with medical staff and other patients.
• Psychodiagnostic testing.
  Personality questionnaires make it possible to quantify the severity of aggressiveness, determine its position in the structure of character, and its combination with other qualities, for example, impulsiveness. The Bass-Darki test (Diagnostics of the state of aggression), A. Assinger test (assessment of aggressiveness in relationships) is used. Projective techniques are effective for identifying hidden aggression: the hand test, the Rosenzweig test.

Types of aggression

Treatment of aggression begins with determining the type of disorder. The following forms are distinguished:

• verbal (speech). Its goal is to cause mental harm to the victim: insult, humiliate, etc.;
• physical. Involves causing bodily harm to a person;
• active. The aggressor himself becomes the initiator of the negative situation;
• passive. A person suppresses his anger and shows aggressiveness in the form of refusal to perform certain actions;
• straight. The damage is done directly to the victim. This applies to both mental and physical effects;
• indirect. In this case, the damage is caused not to the victim, but to her loved ones or her property.

Treatment

Aggression should not be considered as an inevitable form of human response to conflicts, life difficulties and inconveniences. With timely, correct work on your personal qualities, you can learn to control manifestations of anger and hostility, preventing the development of their pathological forms. Symptomatic medical and psychological assistance consists of psychotherapeutic sessions, group trainings, and medication correction.

Individual psychotherapy

Conversations with a psychotherapist allow patients to understand the reasons for anger, irritability and hostility towards others. Methods of psychoanalysis, psychodrama, and cognitive psychotherapy are used. The result is an awareness of the problem, an understanding of how aggressiveness manifests itself in everyday life, how it affects the quality of relationships, and what methods will be used to correct it. The second stage of psychotherapy is aimed at mastering the skills of self-control, switching attention, and relaxation. Autogenic training, hypnosis, Gestalt therapy and art therapy techniques are used.

Group trainings

Social skills training is effective. Situations are modeled in which examples of adequate behavior are demonstrated, even if the other side provokes a conflict. In the form of role-playing games, methods of interpersonal interaction are practiced in various situations: everyday, professional, official. After each practical lesson, a process of reflection and feedback occurs, in which participants share opinions, experiences, and evaluate the result.

Drug therapy

Selection of drug treatment is necessary for severe forms of aggressiveness, when the patient’s behavior poses a threat to himself or others. Taking medications allows you to achieve compensation for your general condition, reduce the number of aggressive behavioral acts, and prevent their development in the future. The combined use of fast-acting benzodiazepines with antipsychotics is common. Pharmacological effects are explained by the ability of drugs to influence the level and ratio of neurotransmitters. In addition to the above medications, atypical neuroleptics, lithium salts, beta-blockers, and SSRIs can be prescribed.

Aggression in the elderly

In old age, degenerative changes occur not only in human physiology, but also in his psychological state. One of the symptoms of many aging diseases is aggression. In addition, this behavior is also due to a number of social factors:

• social degradation. When leaving work to retire or becoming infirm, a person ceases to feel his importance; on a subconscious level, the fear of being rejected, forgotten, and useless appears. In addition, without constant employment, memory is lost, mental acuity and clarity of thinking disappear;
• loneliness. The lack of proper attention from adult children and relatives has a negative impact;
• infectious diseases. Infection of brain cells can lead to noticeable changes in behavior patterns. In this case, treatment of senile aggression is carried out not only with psychotherapeutic methods, but also with medication.

Mood swings and cycles

Treatment of mood swings in women

To treat mood swings in women at different ages, you need to understand what exactly to treat, and this requires a detailed diagnosis. Arriving at an appointment at Marina Ryabus’s clinic, the patient talks with a doctor - gynecologist, endocrinologist, the doctor collects anamnesis, conducts an examination, ultrasound and other studies. Tests are prescribed, which you can take directly in our clinic. We work with proven laboratories, the best in Moscow, in terms of diagnostic expertise. Based on the results of research, disorders, imbalances, and pathologies are identified in the body. Treatment is prescribed based on the patient’s age, her reproductive plans, and concomitant diseases. For monitoring, you need to visit the clinic as prescribed by your doctor - usually once every few months.

To resolve issues related to sudden mood swings, we invite you to a consultation at our clinic. At the anti-aging medicine clinic of Marina Ryabus, obstetrician-gynecologist, oncologist Ekaterina Nikolaevna Kozlova and gynecologist-endocrinologist Irina Sergeevna Vyatkina are receiving appointments. Both doctors have extensive experience in prescribing complex laboratory diagnostics with detailed interpretation of results and subsequent prescription of therapy and supplementation.

To make an appointment, call: +7 (499) 588-81-47; . You can also contact the clinic administrators on WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber by phone: +7 (925) 397-71-30. To receive a call back from the clinic, fill out the feedback form on the website.

Marina Ryabus Clinic is a center for smart cosmetology, holistic approach and comprehensive anti-aging medicine. By joining us, you make a choice in favor of resource-restoring and organic-saving technologies!

Medical center rules

1. absolute confidentiality. Unlike government agencies, we are not required to disclose information about our patients and their illnesses. Under no circumstances will third parties gain access to the patient's medical history without his consent;
2. no power. Treatment is carried out without the use of physical or other coercive methods of influence on the patient. Experienced staff and qualified doctors perform their work with utmost sensitivity and respect;
3. only modern treatment methods at the level of world standards and effective drugs.

thanks to parents

— What determines the level of aggression?

— There are three factors here: genetics, upbringing and environment. If a person lives in the outback, where it is absolutely normal to fight wall to wall, girls pull each other by the hair, naturally, he will behave accordingly, otherwise he will be considered a weakling, and he himself will become an object of aggression.

Article on the topic

Fun factor. An expert on how to curb your appetite during stress

— Let’s say a person begins to notice increased aggressiveness in himself, and this lasts not a day, or two, but a month or more. What time period indicates that this is abnormal?

— If you have been constantly in an aggressive state for more than two months, then most likely something is going wrong and you need to contact a specialist. It is also very important to understand why you are on edge. Let’s say you’re going through a divorce, then the origins here are more or less clear, but when everything in your life seems good at first glance, and you want to quarrel with someone every day, it’s worth, again, turning to a psychologist.

— Is it necessary to suppress aggression?

— Suppression is harmful in principle, but if you do not suppress your desire, for example, to hit a woman in the subway who stepped on your foot, it will definitely not lead to anything good. Therefore, in this matter, I would recommend using common sense and simply not breaking the law. Aggression that does not harm you and others has a right to exist, just think, you will curse under your breath, the main thing is that no one gets hurt.

— And if you can’t curb aggression, where should you put it then?

- Sometimes it’s trite that you need to speak out among your surroundings, who will understand and support you, and not on the street, shocking strangers. If you know that you are aggressive, take up boxing or some martial arts.

- It always seemed to me that this was some kind of ineffective way...

— It’s a shame, look how many girls are now involved in MMA or other active sports. Believe me, this is not without reason, and it works.

Overcome anxiety. When can you handle it yourself, and when is it time to see a doctor? More details