My son has ADHD and CAPD (central auditory processing disorder). He also seems to have a lot of rage. He takes 10mg ritalin 3 x a day, which definitly helps him at school. He's now a scolar since he started meds 1 year ago. It's this rage thing I can't seem to understand or get under control! When he gets mad he sometimes hits his sisters, he throws things, bangs walls, stomps around, punches the couch, takes swings at me (from a distance!), breaks toys, rips the covers and sheets off his bed, etc.

Does anyone know what I can do about this? He was the same way before the meds and I thought the meds would help him control himself but they haven't done anything for this part of him! I don't know what to do about it!

Could he have another thing wrong with him? I know there are all kinds of things out there, ex: OCD, bipolar, ODD, etc but does he fit any of this or are there more things I don't know about?

He NEVER acts this way at school, at scouts, at swimming, at grandma's, at friends' houses,etc.

I'm at my wits end with him, please help! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif

mommyof5

My nephew went throught ADHD bipolar the whole nine yards. They tested him and tested him for years. Tried different meds but he was just explosive at times. Finally a specialist at childrens hospital diagnosed him with Explosive Anger Disorder. Changed his meds and he is now a straight A student with no blowups at all. He is a normal 10 yr old boy now and a joy to be around. So if his meds are not working especially at that high a dosage I would keep on till I found out what was really wrong. Basically my nephews was a defeciency. Could be as simple as that with your child. Wish we would of known sooner, they flunked this child twice and labeled him a bad child..He had to got through alot for nothing. I hope your son gets what he needs..Good luck!!

Katiepops,
I'm sorry to hear your nephew had to go through all that "Explosive Anger Disorder" SOUNDS like a good title for what my son does, I'll have to look it up.

I just want to make sure everyone understands that he doesn't just explode for NO reason - there's always a reason. It could be the slightest little thing - like stubbing your toe and he explodes.

I'm also wondering about genetics??? His biological father was the same way but worse, and he was verbally and physically abusive to me also. I sometimes went in the bathroom with the kids to hide until he calmed down. He would throw tools when working on cars when a bolt wouldn't come off easily. One time he was mad and ripped a door out of the doorframe hinges and all, then threw it down a flight of stairs, went downstairs and stomped on it until it was destroyed! I know this is NOT normal behavior and I see it in my son which scares me, he is such a sweet kid. And as I said before he doesn't display this behavior outside the home, but neither did his biological father! His biological father left April 04,1997 just after my son turned 3. The only memory my son can clearly tell me is the time his biological father slammed my sons door wide open and made a big hole in the wall from the doorknob scaring my son to death, all because my son wouldn't go to sleep! I don't think it could be learned behavior because we haven't seen hide nor hair of him since 6 years ago!

mommyof5 http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif

I know it sounds so bizarre but in reality guess it is real. It sounds possible for your son to have it that is what the blow ups frequent. Almost always something small such as a stubbed toe etc.. and they are now linking it to adulthood such as abuse cases in marriages. It is a chemical imbalance in the brain and it is treated similar to Adhd etc... but it takes awhile to get it leveled out. The best of luck to you. I know where you are at, our whole family had to live with our"angry" child for 10 years before we got relief but thank God we finally got it. Oh yeah meant to add about your ex husband that is is weird how genetics work and I do mean genetics. I believe you because my son has never been around his biological father since 1 yr of age and he has certain temperments even his actions such as his walk or his facial expressions. So I am a firm believer in genetics and not inherited by habit you have something there. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wink.gif

[This message has been edited by Katiepops (edited 04-30-2003).]

easy for me to say, but, try to find out if he has been or is being sexually molested. do it NOW!

My 11 year old nephew would throw fits like this all his life. His mother thought he would eventually outgrow it, but he didn't. Finally he was suspended from school for a few days, because he threatened a teacher. His mother took him to a psychiatrist, and she was shocked by what he told her, that the boy suffers from depression! The doctor said that depression in kids is different than in adults, and often the only way to express it is through anger! He's taking effexor now, and doing much better. Good luck with your son.

mommyof5
i just read your story and i know what your
going through i have a nine year old son that is adhd,bi-polar,odd and i have had my share of problems with him, he has been hospilized for his behavior, he killed my cat when he was five he caught my house on fire he hits his sister and is very sneaky i dont trust him at all he lies all the time, he was on ritalin and many others but we put him on concerta and it has worked wonders he still has his days but he has turned around and i think he too got it from his father we are no longer together since my son was 11 months old, he was very violent with me he beat me and there were many times my son and i hide in the closent just so he would not find me and hurt me,he was very angery person very mean.today he does not pay support and he does not call my son and i have a restaining order for the rest of my life.well i hope this will help you that you are not the only one that has a problem like yours.

I would not go labeling your son with any diseases such as bipolar or depression. What he really needs is a lot of discipline and a lot of love, hugging, and you listening to him and spending a lot of time with him. There is no use treating him like an adult because he is not an adult. He might have brain damage or be having an adverse affect from the drugs that he is taking. A cognitive/behavioral therapist might help your child. Also if it gets worse then take him to a neurologist and get tests done. Please be careful in giving your child more medication. I really am afraid for his health. A Jungian trained therapist might help with his problems too. Just be careful and don't take him to a psychiatrist.

my son was tols by a doctor that he is bi-polar and adhd and odd by a doctor that deals with children like him he has been special schools, and nothing has ever worked until the meds. so unless you have ever had to deal with a child with such problems then you cant say dont put your child on meds.my son is very much loved and has the proper disaplining.

Every child is different. And regardless if the child is on medication and doing just fine. He always needs to be loved unconditionally in ways that he wants to be loved. Love is something that is so beautiful, powerful and healing and hopefully good parents like you will always feel the need to express it and believe in it.

Bipolar is a rough condition. I've worked with an adolecent whom had bipolar. And the lithium sure did calm her down. But my conclusions where that even though her moods were balanced. Her self esteem was not up to par and that affected her social life.

I don't understand what is going on here. I do think we can inherit vulnerabilites from our family, such as a vulnerability to depression or anger. I see no excuse for such out of control rage. Would he respond this way if there were consequences? Such as no Nintendo or other games, or staying in his room for a couple of hours or the rest of the evening. What about a timeout when he flares up? Make him go to his room, with no games or computer until he has settled down.

Does he respond to sitting him down and talking to him about what just took place? Try and find out what is setting him off in his thinking.

Perseverer...

I sought this forum (Anger Management) due to "issues" with my own 9 year old (perhaps because she is a girl, the behaviors are considerably different).

My "gut level" feeling is: The presence of an over-whelming IMPULSE, which is difficult to supress ~ One whose synaptic rapidity almost supercedes conscious inhibition. And one that builds on its own, as if aligning more of one's mind into a "rage" state...

I was diagnosed bi-polar 5 years ago. Having been raised strictly, I learned to inhibit my "flarings" - yet often felt like a pressure cooker ready to explode.

Now, I have a child who might be having similar issues.

The medications truly mess up one's cognitive function, and can effect balance, gross motor abilities AND therefore effect one's self esteem !!!

I do NOT favor ANY psychotropic meds.

However, IF an individual will benefit MORE (than the counter-balancing side effects), then medication ought to be considered - when (as stated) the behaviors are so extreme.

NO amount of "conditioning" will temper the initial "spark"... and it only takes tiny fractions of a second for the brain to cascade the response...

Yes, you can be trained, or train yourself to NOT act out - ONCE YOUR "CONSCIOUS" MIND HAS KICKED IN - but in the extreme cases, a little numbing of the brain's normal (or ab-normal) firing sequences might be called for... It's kind of like getting a few extra seconds to hit the brakes in a panic situation (if that analogy makes any sense).

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Ex-Pharmaceutical Guinea Pig...

[This message has been edited by Ben There (edited 09-12-2003).]

Ben There,

I don't know much about this type of disorder. But...

quote:
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He NEVER acts this way at school, at scouts, at swimming, at grandma's, at friends' houses,etc.
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With this sentence I thought about people who suffer from depression and because they want to be liked by their co-workers or friends, the only time they express anger is with the ones they love and who love them. This indicates to me that the child has some control over his actions. That said, I don't know anything about this type of disorder.