difficulty controling anger

[MiaF]

My son is 9-years-old and has been diagnosed with ADHD.  He still has trouble controlling his anger.  If asked he knows the right way to react, but fails to do so.  He will sream and cry for as much as asn hour or more. I have tried to get help from the schools and outside resources.  He currently takes vyvanse which has helped with the ADHD.  I just dont know what to do anymore to help him. My next step is to have him see a psychiatrist.  If that doesnt work i dont know what else to do. What could be making it so difficult for him to control his anger?

[margypops]

this is a new one on the ADD ADHD forum ' Adhd/Bipolar 5 yyr old   by mommy92004 April 7th 2010   you may find it interesting my original post said it 'could' be ..so check out all avenues, including the supplements .,If you want expert advice we have an expert/doctor forum l. .good luck

[margypops]

Here is one you may wish to read on that forum the thread is called  'Got yvyanse Good Get Rid of it'  posted by Pillsnthrills ...you wont have to look very far .

[margypops]

It is a good idea to look at the ADD and the ADHD forum for your self I will admit that you may have to look through and scroll but you will find some posts of parents with many concerns about the meds.this is my opinion I stick to it ...

[benjimom]

http://add.about.com/od/childrenandteens/a/anger-children.htm

I saw this article, it might be helfpul.  

[benjimom]

Yes, see a psychiatrist.  Be calm and firm when you deal with him, don't let him see you getting upset .  Is he defiant a lot?  Investigate things at school, is there seomthing bothering him that he is not talking about.  Boys often do not talk, it's really TOUGH!!  

[Sandman2]

  I have been on the the ADHD forum for over 3 years and have seen very few cases of meds causing the anger.  The anger was usually there before the meds started.  In, "The ADD/ ADhD Answer book." , by Susan Ashley - she says that, "They negotiate, argue, and throw tantrums to get what they want and have stamina that wears most parents out."  Essentially, anger is quite common.
  Couple of things.  He is really still quite young and doesn't yet have the full maturation to control his anger - heck some adults still can't.
   I would think by now that his anger is a kind of learned response - almost like a habitual reaction and as such is much harder to break.  It won't happen overnight.  While the meds are probably helping, it still like having to break a habit.  It takes constant reinforcement and practice to do so.  The Pill can work wonders, but its not magic.  There is a lot of other stuff that you have to do beside making sure he is taking the med.
   That is why I do think that seeing a psyc is a good idea.  You need ways to help him.  He needs way to help himself.  Don't make this just a one meeting thing.  Do find a psyc that specializes in ADHD kids.  You might also want to buy the book that I mentioned above.  It has a lot of good stuff in it that will help you now and in the future.  Good Luck!

[specialmom]

Hi.  My son has sensory integration disorder which looks very much like ADHD as both affect the nervous system.  One of the hallmark signs of sensory integration disorder is issues with regulation or modulation as they call it.  This means that the ability to self soothe and calm down is impeded.  Once my son gets upset, he reacts in a big way and it lasts a long time.  Medication does not work for sensory integration disorder but instead we do occupational therapy and lots of things at home to help keep him regulated.  Behavioral strategies have really helped.  For example, a stress thermometer is a very useful tool.  You draw a picture of a thermometer and color the bottom portion green.  This is when your son is feeling just right with no issues.  The next portion he would color yellow and this is when he is becoming agitated and starting to get upset or sad.  The next section is orange and this is when he is visibly upset and doing things that would indicate as such.  The last section is red and this is the full on tantrum and out of control, over the top behavior.  You talk to your son about how each section of the thermometer feels inside and what he may be doing on the outside.  Green, he is smiling, breathing normally, relaxed, etc.  Yellow, he may start to grimmace, his voice may get a little louder, his fists may be clenched, etc.  Then you talk about what he can do when he is yellow to calm himself back down to stay green.  Then talk about orange and red.  Ideas would be to have a calm down or peace spot that he can go to try to self soothe, he could count to 10, he could take deep breaths, he could open and close his fist really hard, he could square breath (in for four, hold for four, out for four, hold for four), and most importantly, he can use his words to express what is wrong.  At first you will prompt him with things like--------  you look like you are getting yellow.  What can we do to calm down and be green?  Then do it.  The goal is to have him recognize this within himself and stop the process of escalating anger.  My son is 6 and this has worked really well.  That is just one idea of something we do.  I wish you luck!!  Hard work being a parent.

[margypops]

It could be the meds in some children side efects like anger happen with thses meds, I would ask the doctor about the dosage or if he needs a change , it has been shown by experts that a  Multiple food supplement with anti oxidants Vit C and B Complex can be a help. If you check out the ADD and the ADHD forum you will see many posts with the same problems parents have ,of anger very often caused by strong meds ..good Luck