Does your child suffer from Anger Overload?

Dr. Tali Shenfield | July 1, 2013

We recommend an updated version of this article published in Sept. 2020: "Diagnosing And Treating Anger Issues In Children"  

Anger overload in children is an issue which has recently come to the attention of the psychological community. It is distinct from other psychological problems such as bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and opositional defiant disorder. While it can sometimes occur in conjunction with child ADHD or learning disabilities, it is considered to be a separate issue.

Anger overload consists of an intense livid reaction to some specific environmental stimuli such as teasing or criticism. The result is an intense bout of screaming, kicking, hitting or even biting. Usually the stimulus is quite minor compared to the reaction. A child may be set off by a disagreement over a game played with peers, or a parent refusing something that the child has been anticipating, or a teacher imposing a minor punishment. Other indications of Anger Overload are sassiness, disrespectful behavior, or continuous yelling when upset. In many cases, these same children can be quite calm, obedient and kind when not stimulated.

Anger overload is much more than simply anger. The child is completely consumed by angry feelings and thoughts. He or she does not respond to soothing words and tunes out much of the environment during such an outburst, which can last anywhere up to an hour.

Anger overload symptoms often appears in early childhood and those who suffer from it have a specific behavioral pattern. They are often more willing to take risks than their peers and they often play rough. While they will take risks in areas where they have confidence, they will try to avoid areas where they feel uncertain. They also seem to have strong egos and will get angry if pushed to perform in areas where they have poor confidence or ability, primarily because they don't want to be seen as inadequate.

Anger overload is different from bipolar disorder in that bipolar rages may go on for many hours, be considerably more intense, and occur several times a day. Destruction or physical harm often accompanies bipolar anger, while this is rarely the case in Anger Overload. Children with bipolar disorder also have other symptoms, such as hypersexuality and mania.

ADHD is also different from anger overload, although sometimes it is not easy to differentiate between the two. ADHD children are easily distracted, while children who suffer from anger overload are usually quite attentive when not angry. Hyperactive movements and impulsivity are common in children with ADHD, while those with anger overload only appear hyperactive and impulsive when angry. This is in sharp contrast to ADHD children who are impulsive much of the time.

While a child can have symptoms of both anger overload and ADHD, this is relatively rare. The strategies for managing one may not work on the other.

Anger overload also differs from Oppositional Defiant Disorder in that the child is not consistently defiant. His or her anger is triggered only by specific circumstances. Usually by a sense of inadequacy or failure at something important, like not winning a game, not getting that special toy, or being considered a failure at school.

One possible cause of anger overload is a feeling of helplessness or inadequacy in the face of overwhelming power. We adults forget that the world looks much bigger to children. We shouldn't make the mistake of thinking that they don't realize that they are at the bottom of the social order in relation to parents and other adults. What might be a casual reprimand or directive to us can seem to the child like an attempt at crushing them or destroying their initiative.

There are a number of behavioral modification techniques that may have a beneficial effect. It is important for the parents to learn to recognize when an angry outburst is building. A raised tone of voice, a tightening of the body, or a changed facial expression may all be indicators that the child is becoming upset. One useful technique is distraction- turning the child's attention to some interesting activity that contains a lot of action, such as playing Catch or riding a bicycle.

The means for behavior modification can also play an important role. The rewards and penalties should be brief and immediate. For example, you can use a color chart that tracks one or two behaviors that you want your child to demonstrate through the day to earn a reward. Select no more than two behaviors and go over what you want to see with your child. The basic idea is to provide an alternative behavior to rage.

Psychologists typically use social emotional testing to evaluate children with anger overload. A comprehensive social emotional assessment helps to uncover whether this behavior is rooted in emotional issues or psychiatric condition.

If you would like to read more on this topic, I can recommend a book "Anger Overload in Children: A Parent's Manual" by David Gottlieb.

For more information on ODD, ADHD, and other relevant conditions please visit our list of mental disorders page.

Image Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/palladius/3898408340

About Tali Shenfield

Dr. Tali Shenfield holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of Toronto and is a licensed school and clinical psychologist. She has taught at the University of Toronto and has worked at institutions including the Hospital for Sick Children, Hincks-Dellcrest Centre, TDSB, and YCDSB. Dr. Shenfield is the Founder and Clinical Director of Advanced Psychology Services.

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