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Is Excessive Anger And Tantrums In A Child A Sigh Of ADHD?
Question: My 3 year old son has developed a set of behaviors that have me concerned. He gets mad about anything and when he does he starts pulling his hair, slapping his legs, starts crying, and then says things about in reference to our friendship. He tells you, "I'm not your friend anymore," and other comments that are the same in nature. His mother has an eight year old daughter with a chromosome deletion and Autism. She is high functioning and in the mainstream classroom. His mother and I don't live together, and not in a relationship any longer, and he is living with her 5 days a week and with me two to three days a year. My son just doesn't stay happy for any significant length of time and flips easily from happy to upset.
Correction to the amount of time with me, he spends two to three days a week, not a year. Thanks
Correction to the amount of time with me, he spends two to three days a week, not a year. Thanks
Brief Answer:
need some details.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome here.
Kindly provide with some more details about him;
1. Does he have Frequent crying, more then earlier?
2. Has his interest decreased or changed from previous habits?
3. Has he become Socially isolated, poor communication and not playful as earlier?
4. Has he become more irritabile or hostile?,
Difficulty with relationships
5. Have you noted a major change in his eating and/or sleeping patterns?
6. Simce how long you both are separated? And since how he has such symptoms?
Hope to hear from you soon.
Thanks.
need some details.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome here.
Kindly provide with some more details about him;
1. Does he have Frequent crying, more then earlier?
2. Has his interest decreased or changed from previous habits?
3. Has he become Socially isolated, poor communication and not playful as earlier?
4. Has he become more irritabile or hostile?,
Difficulty with relationships
5. Have you noted a major change in his eating and/or sleeping patterns?
6. Simce how long you both are separated? And since how he has such symptoms?
Hope to hear from you soon.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
1) His crying has increased with the frequent mood swings. He can be happy one minute but as soon as something is said or done that he doesn't like his behavior changes. The smallest things set him off.
2) It doesn't appear his habits have changed.
3) He is a good communicator and his playfulness and interaction with others is the same as long as nothing sets him off during both.
4) With his mother and I he has become more irritable and he is more hostile with his mother acting out more aggressively.
5) Both eating and sleeping appear to be normal.
6) We ended our relationship about 6 months ago, prior to that we were together a lot but still maintained two residences.
We have never lived together but I would stay the night occasionally. Nothing has really changed with our interaction except we are not in a relationship or see each other except to exchange our son.
2) It doesn't appear his habits have changed.
3) He is a good communicator and his playfulness and interaction with others is the same as long as nothing sets him off during both.
4) With his mother and I he has become more irritable and he is more hostile with his mother acting out more aggressively.
5) Both eating and sleeping appear to be normal.
6) We ended our relationship about 6 months ago, prior to that we were together a lot but still maintained two residences.
We have never lived together but I would stay the night occasionally. Nothing has really changed with our interaction except we are not in a relationship or see each other except to exchange our son.
Brief Answer:
mangement of anger and mood swings.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
Thanks for the details.
Considering all the details which you have provided, I think your child might be having some kind of mood issues which may lead to a mood disorder as he grows.
Reaching to a concrete diagnosis is difficult at this age. The best approach is to treat the most problematic behaviour of child.
In this case, I think his irritability, mood swings and anger are to managed primarily.
I have some suggestiobs for you to help to manage your child:
1. Never be judgemental for your child. Be a part of his angry mood and teach him the ways to calm down. You will serve as the model for him. How you would respond to anger will influence how your child responds to anger.
2. Identify what triggeres mood swings and anger in him. Work out to tackle with these triggers.
3. Try to divert his mind when he gets angry. Reward him, praise him when he follows your commands.
4. Ensure the safety of environment when he is angry so that he might not harm himself.
Since the child faces change of environment (sometimes he is with you, other times with mother), this can be a huge stress for him. He may be unable to adjust to the change in environment everytime.
A collaborative effort of psychiatrist, paediatrician and you parents is what is needed for your child.
Hope you find my suggestions helpful.
Feel free to discuss further.
Take care.
Thanks.
mangement of anger and mood swings.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
Thanks for the details.
Considering all the details which you have provided, I think your child might be having some kind of mood issues which may lead to a mood disorder as he grows.
Reaching to a concrete diagnosis is difficult at this age. The best approach is to treat the most problematic behaviour of child.
In this case, I think his irritability, mood swings and anger are to managed primarily.
I have some suggestiobs for you to help to manage your child:
1. Never be judgemental for your child. Be a part of his angry mood and teach him the ways to calm down. You will serve as the model for him. How you would respond to anger will influence how your child responds to anger.
2. Identify what triggeres mood swings and anger in him. Work out to tackle with these triggers.
3. Try to divert his mind when he gets angry. Reward him, praise him when he follows your commands.
4. Ensure the safety of environment when he is angry so that he might not harm himself.
Since the child faces change of environment (sometimes he is with you, other times with mother), this can be a huge stress for him. He may be unable to adjust to the change in environment everytime.
A collaborative effort of psychiatrist, paediatrician and you parents is what is needed for your child.
Hope you find my suggestions helpful.
Feel free to discuss further.
Take care.
Thanks.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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