Anger and ADHD

by A. Grano 

Most people are familiar with the characteristic symptoms of ADHD, such as hyperactivity, distractibility and impulsiveness. However, lesser discussed and equally problematic symptoms can also include aggression behavior or anger outbursts. Combined with the unpredictable nature typical of someone with ADHD, a hostile outburst could potentially hurt the sufferer as well as others around him or her, or lead to other unfavorable consequences.

Help for relieving aggression and anger

• Get moving. Experts highly recommend exercise to help alleviate aggression and anger. Physical activity not only provides a distraction, but exerts pent-up energy while releasing ‘feel-good’ endorphins, which can settle mood.  Team-building sports can also strengthen relationships with peers.
• Force a time-out. Learning to control impulsivity is a big challenge for those with ADHD, but simply pausing and counting slowly to 10 allows time to cool down and rationally respond.
• Talk it out. Children especially have difficulty moderating their emotions, and sometimes getting them to articulate the cause(s) of their frustration can greatly diffuse hostility. Child behaviorists even suggest letting them explore their creative side by venting their emotions into artwork, such as painting a picture of how a situation is making a child feel. Taking this a step further and asking a child to express the intent of the picture verbally can reinforce the goal of the activity.
• Go natural. Homeopathic ingredients, such as Arsen iod (30C), are helpful to promote balance during temper outbursts, plus helps suppress annoyance when confronted with trying and frustrating circumstances.
• Get adequate sleep. A tired child is much more likely to be a cranky, uncooperative child! Help your child establish a healthy sleep routine.

When to seek additional help

About 40 percent of children with ADHD also develop oppositional defiant disorder, which is classified by chronic aggression, recurrent outbursts, and deliberate misbehavior, such as ignoring requests to settle down and instead inciting the situation by acting out even more.
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