Question, my husband and I are seperated. He often has huge explosions, verbal, and physical. One time he put an ax through a computer and car window, etc. Obviously some of these behaviors are learned..his mom is a psycho, control freak, however, he has acute add/adhd. One doctor said bipolar. He is now taking drugs of which I do not know the names. At one time it was wellbutrin, lithium, and xanax, now it's something else. I love my husband dearly but I also love myself and my children and do not want to endanger us. Does ADD?ADHD cuase violent behavior??Is it treatable with drugs..have you ever heard of these things before...or is this just another excuse? :yawn: :eek:

Yes AD/HD can cause violent, impulsive behaviors, but so can bipolar, and many other biological and psychological conditions. It sound like some of his problems are gentically inherited. He needs to get help both biologically and psychologically from professionals in order to get to the root of his problems.

The real question is what makes you STILL 'attracted' to someone with such violent behaviors ? Did you grow up in a physically, emotionally and psychologically abusive house-hold ?

ADHD generally DOES NOT cause violent behaviors. The violent behaviors are usually there because of co-occuring conditions. ADHD people can have impulsive reactions, such as a child being teased may hit whoever was teasing them but anything more than that would be a seperate or co-occuring disorder. Violence IS a part of bipolar disorder. During mania and mixed episodes many people become psychotic and violent.

ADHD generally DOES NOT cause violent behaviors. The violent behaviors are usually there because of co-occuring conditions. ADHD people can have impulsive reactions, such as a child being teased may hit whoever was teasing them but anything more than that would be a seperate or co-occuring disorder. Violence IS a part of bipolar disorder. During mania and mixed episodes many people become psychotic and violent.


Biologically unexplained anger is typically seen from deficits within the left temporal lobe and I do agree that the probability of someone with pure AD/HD to be violent is small; however, violence has shown a strong connection to abnormal functioning within the prefrontal cortex, even though many conditions are in relation with the PFC, it does and has had a correlation with AD/HD.

Usually it is the more severe problems that cause violence, and not pure ADHD. Good point about the temporal lobe though, I consider temporal lobe ADD to be more than just regular ADD though.

Thanks so much for pointing this out Free Spirit it's sad how many people equate (or even worse - EXCUSE) violent and aggressive behaviour with "That's AD/HD doing this" :(

Let's not forget that sometimes in some people "coming down" from stimulants can also cause behavioral changes such as anger or violence.
Barb

Evil flower..
I understand what your are saying about violent tempers.. I have a Husband the same way.. He has never used and axe .. but he has a very short fuse.. He cannot controll his self .. I think his problems a much deeper than I will ever know..
But punching a wall or taking your own glasses from your nose and tearing the wires to shreds is not uncommon for him to do.I am so scared dealing with his temper and our sons grades.. He is failing school again. And how my Husband deals with this dissappointment is not a pretty sight.For a grown Man to stand there and pull out his own hair because he is so mad....and lose contoll..
But whats worse is he sees no problems with his self..Hes not the one with the problem.. Is this how sane people act?

I totally agree with your post.....It has something in common..

Me nor my 11 year old Daughter are that way.......I love him.. But my Kids come first... and I will soon have to show him that.. If it continues...
Life is to short..............

Good Luck to you...


Bren

Bren,

If your son truly has AD/HD then he 'got' it from either you or your husband. AD/HD is a genetic disorder an it sounds like your husband is the one who has AD/HD, along with other conditions/problems.

It is very common for someone with AD/HD to be in constant denial and think "everyone else is the problem" and not them..