What am I supposed to do about an extremely angry child who has ADHD?
We’re in counseling but it’s not helping; the shrink can’t even figure out what to do with him.
Where do we go from here? Should we send him to an inpatient psychiatric unit to deal with rage problems? Or try outpatient anger management?
He’s punched walls and made his brothers cry; they would not tell us because they are scared of him.
I wish I had the perfect advice. All I have is more questions an a barrel of hugs.
How old is he? Eldest child? Can he explain later (Not in the moment, obviously) what makes him angry? Could it be noises, light, texture of clothes, colours, overwhelm that makes him angry? Is he getting help for the adhd? Is anger the symptom of something else? If it were me, and anger was just the symptom, anger management would piss me off no end…
I hope for easier times for your son, and from that, easier times for all.
Many more hugs.
I don’t have the answers you seek (wish I did) but I do have experience with an autistic child turned… I don’t know. I know what it feels like to have to turn yourself away for their own good. It’s hard and it’s ugly and it’s painful.
Dealing with an angry child is truly difficult and I’m so sorry you’re going through this. I, too, have a few questions. Is he often oppositional? Have you seen a psychiatrist and if so has s/he broached the subject of oppositional defiant disorder? My stepson was diagnosed with this and it requires a very different set of parenting skills. You might also look to see if there’s a Parent Project class being held near you. This helped us in dealing with our ODD child and has helped parents with other children. https://www.parentproject.com/upcomingclasses.mv
Parent Project Senior is aimed at changing adolescent destructive behaviors. Also if you or your children ever feel like you’re in danger, call the police. It will be the hardest thing you ever do, but making that call on my child helped turn an out of control teenager into a 24-year-old dental assistant who is kind and compassionate! I hope some of this helps.
It sucks. Plain and simple. Your child needs a round of testing to determine what can be done. I have two kids on the spectrum with ADHD, anxiety, and occasional explosive behaviors. Puberty was a total bitch and we made the choice to medicate. Not saying medication is the answer but testing may give you answers. Behavioral therapy in addition to talk therapy may help. My kids have had both. Pretty intense sometimes. Sometimes acting out happens when the vocabulary isn’t there to express feelings. Hang in there. Sending hugs and positive thoughts.