Dear Dr. G.,

My name is S. I am 16 years old and I think I may have a serious condition. I think I may have Intermittent Explosive Disorder. Anger has always run in my family,especially in my father. I've tried everything to try and reduce my anger. I've tried all sorts of things including counseling,journals,relaxation techniques,all sorts of things. But I still have...well, I guess you could call them tantrums. They're so extreme,though. I've hurt my siblings,my parents, and myself, physically and emotionally. It's creating so much stress. Our house is always tense and I feel like people have to walk on eggshells around me. Sometimes I'm rightfully upset andother times it's likeI just burst with angry feelings that have built up just because I was asked to take out the trash. I have always had sleeping issues so maybe I'm just tired.I also went through a bad depression from 7th-9th grade, but I just attributed it to the increased workload and social environment. I can't take the pain anymore. I want to be a normal girl,without everyone being afraid of me. I don't want to hurt them, well at the timeI do,but afterwards I feel so guilty about it I hurt myself as a consequence. Please help.