Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsADHD and AngerCommon TriggersManagementPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
ADHD and Anger
Common Triggers
Management
Prevention
ADHD and anger have long been recognized as linked, although anger is not listed as an “official” ADHD symptom.
Navigating an ADHD meltdown (yours or someone else’s) is challenging—anger generally occurs suddenly. However, recognizing possible triggers and developing management strategies can help prevent episodes or reduce their intensity.
Claudia Burlotti / Getty Images
The Relationship Between ADHD and Anger
Emotional dysregulation(difficulty managing emotions) is the inability to regulate the quality and intensity of emotions such as fear, anger, and sadness to produce an appropriate emotional response.
It is a major part of living with ADHD for both adults and children.
For example, one study reported that 65% of children with ADHD self-reported feeling quick to anger, as opposed to 3% of children without ADHD.Studies have also shown that significantly more adults with ADHD report feeling more impatient than those without ADHD.
Adults and children with ADHD are more likely to:
Emotional Dysregulation
Emotion dysregulation is a key part of living with ADHD for adults and children.Brain scans of people with ADHD have found that:
Impulse Control
Because ADHD affects impulse control, it can impact emotional responses like anger. This may include having difficulty with:
Overwhelm
Medications
A 2017 Yale review found the majority of ADHD medications do not increase irritability.However, amphetamine-derived medications (namely, Adderall) can increase the chances of irritability.
What Can Trigger Anger in People With ADHD?
For people with ADHD, situations that are uncomfortable for others can trigger anger. When possible, try to minimize situations that provoke anger until effective management techniques are in place.
Possible triggers may include:
Many techniques can help people with ADHD to manage anger, including:
Preventing Angry Outbursts
Strategies for preventing angry outbursts include:
In the Moment Meltdown ManagementStrategies to help manage meltdowns when they occur include:Identifying the trigger and naming the emotion(s) being experiencedSpeaking kindly (to yourself or someone else) to promote calmMoving away from the trigger, if possibleFocusing on breathing or other calming exercises (e.g., counting backward, mantra repetition)
In the Moment Meltdown Management
Strategies to help manage meltdowns when they occur include:Identifying the trigger and naming the emotion(s) being experiencedSpeaking kindly (to yourself or someone else) to promote calmMoving away from the trigger, if possibleFocusing on breathing or other calming exercises (e.g., counting backward, mantra repetition)
Strategies to help manage meltdowns when they occur include:
Summary
Certain ADHD symptoms may cause anger. Rejection, overstimulation, fatigue, frustration, and abrupt transitions may all trigger anger in a person living with ADHD. However, there are ways to manage it.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, getting enough sleep, exercising, and social skills therapy are all methods that can help with anger management. Counting, breathing, pinpointing triggers, and leaving a situation can help to prevent outbursts.
16 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Shaw P, Stringaris A, Nigg J, Leibenluft E.Emotion dysregulation in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.Am J Psychiatry. 2014;171(3):276-293. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2013.13070966CHADD.Understanding meltdowns: the ADHD volcano model.CHADD.What to do when ADHD and ODD co-occur.Karalunas SL, Gustafsson HC, Fair D, Musser ED, Nigg JT.Do we need an irritable subtype of ADHD? Replication and extension of a promising temperament profile approach to ADHD subtyping.Psychological Assessment. 2019;31(2):236-247. doi:10.1037/pas0000664Barkley RA.Chapter 3: emotional dysregulation is a core component of ADHD. In: Barkley, RA, ed.,Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Handbook for Diagnosis and Treatment.The Guilford Press; 2015:81-115.Yale School of Medicine.Research note: irritability and ADHD medications.Stuckelman ZD, Mulqueen JM, Ferracioli-Oda E, et al.Risk of irritability with psychostimulant treatment in children with ADHD: a meta-analysis.J Clin Psychiatry. 2017;78(06):e648-e655.Mitchell JT, McIntyre EM, English JS, Dennis MF, Beckham JC, Kollins SH.A pilot trial of mindfulness meditation training for adhd in adulthood: impact on core symptoms, executive functioning, and emotion dysregulation.J Atten Disord. 2017;21(13):1105-1120.Huguet A, Izaguirre Eguren J, Miguel-Ruiz D, Vall Vallés X, Alda JA.Deficient emotional self-regulation in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: mindfulness as a useful treatment modality.J Dev Behav Pediatr.2019;40(6):425-431.Saghir Z, Syeda JN, Muhammad AS, Balla Abdalla TH.The amygdala, sleep debt, sleep deprivation, and the emotion of anger: a possible connection?Cureus. 2018. doi:10.7759%2Fcureus.2912Edwards MK, Rhodes RE, Mann JR, Loprinzi PD.Effects of acute aerobic exercise or meditation on emotional regulation.Physiology & Behavior. 2018;186:16-24. doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.12.037Basso JC, McHale A, Ende V, Oberlin DJ, Suzuki WA.Brief, daily meditation enhances attention, memory, mood, and emotional regulation in non-experienced meditators.Behavioural Brain Research. 2019;356:208-220. doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2018.08.023Debros K, Willard C, Buck E.Easy mindfulness exercises for kids with ADHD. Newsletter.ADDitude.2020.CHADD.Relationships & social skills.Addept.Why do I get so angry all the time?American Psychological Association.Control anger before it controls you.
16 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Shaw P, Stringaris A, Nigg J, Leibenluft E.Emotion dysregulation in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.Am J Psychiatry. 2014;171(3):276-293. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2013.13070966CHADD.Understanding meltdowns: the ADHD volcano model.CHADD.What to do when ADHD and ODD co-occur.Karalunas SL, Gustafsson HC, Fair D, Musser ED, Nigg JT.Do we need an irritable subtype of ADHD? Replication and extension of a promising temperament profile approach to ADHD subtyping.Psychological Assessment. 2019;31(2):236-247. doi:10.1037/pas0000664Barkley RA.Chapter 3: emotional dysregulation is a core component of ADHD. In: Barkley, RA, ed.,Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Handbook for Diagnosis and Treatment.The Guilford Press; 2015:81-115.Yale School of Medicine.Research note: irritability and ADHD medications.Stuckelman ZD, Mulqueen JM, Ferracioli-Oda E, et al.Risk of irritability with psychostimulant treatment in children with ADHD: a meta-analysis.J Clin Psychiatry. 2017;78(06):e648-e655.Mitchell JT, McIntyre EM, English JS, Dennis MF, Beckham JC, Kollins SH.A pilot trial of mindfulness meditation training for adhd in adulthood: impact on core symptoms, executive functioning, and emotion dysregulation.J Atten Disord. 2017;21(13):1105-1120.Huguet A, Izaguirre Eguren J, Miguel-Ruiz D, Vall Vallés X, Alda JA.Deficient emotional self-regulation in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: mindfulness as a useful treatment modality.J Dev Behav Pediatr.2019;40(6):425-431.Saghir Z, Syeda JN, Muhammad AS, Balla Abdalla TH.The amygdala, sleep debt, sleep deprivation, and the emotion of anger: a possible connection?Cureus. 2018. doi:10.7759%2Fcureus.2912Edwards MK, Rhodes RE, Mann JR, Loprinzi PD.Effects of acute aerobic exercise or meditation on emotional regulation.Physiology & Behavior. 2018;186:16-24. doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.12.037Basso JC, McHale A, Ende V, Oberlin DJ, Suzuki WA.Brief, daily meditation enhances attention, memory, mood, and emotional regulation in non-experienced meditators.Behavioural Brain Research. 2019;356:208-220. doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2018.08.023Debros K, Willard C, Buck E.Easy mindfulness exercises for kids with ADHD. Newsletter.ADDitude.2020.CHADD.Relationships & social skills.Addept.Why do I get so angry all the time?American Psychological Association.Control anger before it controls you.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Shaw P, Stringaris A, Nigg J, Leibenluft E.Emotion dysregulation in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.Am J Psychiatry. 2014;171(3):276-293. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2013.13070966CHADD.Understanding meltdowns: the ADHD volcano model.CHADD.What to do when ADHD and ODD co-occur.Karalunas SL, Gustafsson HC, Fair D, Musser ED, Nigg JT.Do we need an irritable subtype of ADHD? Replication and extension of a promising temperament profile approach to ADHD subtyping.Psychological Assessment. 2019;31(2):236-247. doi:10.1037/pas0000664Barkley RA.Chapter 3: emotional dysregulation is a core component of ADHD. In: Barkley, RA, ed.,Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Handbook for Diagnosis and Treatment.The Guilford Press; 2015:81-115.Yale School of Medicine.Research note: irritability and ADHD medications.Stuckelman ZD, Mulqueen JM, Ferracioli-Oda E, et al.Risk of irritability with psychostimulant treatment in children with ADHD: a meta-analysis.J Clin Psychiatry. 2017;78(06):e648-e655.Mitchell JT, McIntyre EM, English JS, Dennis MF, Beckham JC, Kollins SH.A pilot trial of mindfulness meditation training for adhd in adulthood: impact on core symptoms, executive functioning, and emotion dysregulation.J Atten Disord. 2017;21(13):1105-1120.Huguet A, Izaguirre Eguren J, Miguel-Ruiz D, Vall Vallés X, Alda JA.Deficient emotional self-regulation in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: mindfulness as a useful treatment modality.J Dev Behav Pediatr.2019;40(6):425-431.Saghir Z, Syeda JN, Muhammad AS, Balla Abdalla TH.The amygdala, sleep debt, sleep deprivation, and the emotion of anger: a possible connection?Cureus. 2018. doi:10.7759%2Fcureus.2912Edwards MK, Rhodes RE, Mann JR, Loprinzi PD.Effects of acute aerobic exercise or meditation on emotional regulation.Physiology & Behavior. 2018;186:16-24. doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.12.037Basso JC, McHale A, Ende V, Oberlin DJ, Suzuki WA.Brief, daily meditation enhances attention, memory, mood, and emotional regulation in non-experienced meditators.Behavioural Brain Research. 2019;356:208-220. doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2018.08.023Debros K, Willard C, Buck E.Easy mindfulness exercises for kids with ADHD. Newsletter.ADDitude.2020.CHADD.Relationships & social skills.Addept.Why do I get so angry all the time?American Psychological Association.Control anger before it controls you.
Shaw P, Stringaris A, Nigg J, Leibenluft E.Emotion dysregulation in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.Am J Psychiatry. 2014;171(3):276-293. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2013.13070966
CHADD.Understanding meltdowns: the ADHD volcano model.
CHADD.What to do when ADHD and ODD co-occur.
Karalunas SL, Gustafsson HC, Fair D, Musser ED, Nigg JT.Do we need an irritable subtype of ADHD? Replication and extension of a promising temperament profile approach to ADHD subtyping.Psychological Assessment. 2019;31(2):236-247. doi:10.1037/pas0000664
Barkley RA.Chapter 3: emotional dysregulation is a core component of ADHD. In: Barkley, RA, ed.,Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Handbook for Diagnosis and Treatment.The Guilford Press; 2015:81-115.
Yale School of Medicine.Research note: irritability and ADHD medications.
Stuckelman ZD, Mulqueen JM, Ferracioli-Oda E, et al.Risk of irritability with psychostimulant treatment in children with ADHD: a meta-analysis.J Clin Psychiatry. 2017;78(06):e648-e655.
Mitchell JT, McIntyre EM, English JS, Dennis MF, Beckham JC, Kollins SH.A pilot trial of mindfulness meditation training for adhd in adulthood: impact on core symptoms, executive functioning, and emotion dysregulation.J Atten Disord. 2017;21(13):1105-1120.
Huguet A, Izaguirre Eguren J, Miguel-Ruiz D, Vall Vallés X, Alda JA.Deficient emotional self-regulation in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: mindfulness as a useful treatment modality.J Dev Behav Pediatr.2019;40(6):425-431.
Saghir Z, Syeda JN, Muhammad AS, Balla Abdalla TH.The amygdala, sleep debt, sleep deprivation, and the emotion of anger: a possible connection?Cureus. 2018. doi:10.7759%2Fcureus.2912
Edwards MK, Rhodes RE, Mann JR, Loprinzi PD.Effects of acute aerobic exercise or meditation on emotional regulation.Physiology & Behavior. 2018;186:16-24. doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.12.037
Basso JC, McHale A, Ende V, Oberlin DJ, Suzuki WA.Brief, daily meditation enhances attention, memory, mood, and emotional regulation in non-experienced meditators.Behavioural Brain Research. 2019;356:208-220. doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2018.08.023
Debros K, Willard C, Buck E.Easy mindfulness exercises for kids with ADHD. Newsletter.ADDitude.2020.
CHADD.Relationships & social skills.
Addept.Why do I get so angry all the time?
American Psychological Association.Control anger before it controls you.
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