Presentation by Dr Deirdre McCarville Anger and Anger Management at HADD Information Evening 27 April 2009

1. HADD Family Support Group
Dr Deirdre Mac Carvill
Kate Carr-Fanning
Carmichael Centre for Voluntary Groups
Carmichael House
North Brunswick Street
Dublin 7
Phone: (01) 874 8349
E-mail: hadd@eircom.net
WWW.HADD.ie

2. Understanding Anger and Anger
Management

3. Overview
What is Anger?
Triggers for Anger
Appropriate Anger
Inappropriate Anger
Body’s Response to Anger
Anger and ADHD
Managing anger from a parent’s perspective

4. What is Anger?
A normal adaptive emotion which is the response to
certain situations we encounter

5. Anger
It’s not having the angry feelings that causes problems but
what you do about it and how you express it

6. Triggers for Anger
Confusion
Perceived disrespectful treatment
Perceived threat
Perceived Unfairness
Perceived Provocation

7. Anger
It is the behavioural response to anger that determines
whether it is appropriate or inappropriate

8. When is Anger Appropriate?
People get angry, sort it out relatively quickly and then
resume their normal state of equilibrium

9. When is Anger Inappropriate?
When dealing with angry feelings is more of a problem
than what caused the anger in the first place

10. Stupid Angry Stuff !
Stupid stuff that makes you angry

11. Body’s Internal Response to Anger
Extra adrenaline is secreted
Heart beats more rapidly and blood pressure rises
Breathing becomes faster
Blood is diverted from liver, intestines and stomach to the
heart, central nervous system and the muscles
Cortisol production is increased depressing the immune
system
Men have an increasing supply of testosterone

12. Internal Feelings of Anger
Energy and warmth
An urge to shout and move quickly and forcefully

13. External Manifestations of Anger
Rapid breathing, eyes open widely with dilated pupils
Facial colour reddening or going pale
Louder voice and quicker speech
Movements quicker and our muscles tense

14. Anger
This state of heightened arousal puts a great strain on the
body and while it is useful as a short term emergency
response it is not ideal as a long term emotional and
physical state

15. Supressed Anger
This can result in feelings of anger being suppressed. This
in turn creates high levels of internal stress that can be
manifested in unhealthy coping behaviours such as self-
harm, alcohol or substance misuse

16. Anger
Heightened levels of tension in someone can have someone in a
primed state for anger nearly all the time.
It is reinforced by their negative interpretation of the things that
happen to them
Always just beneath the surface ready to explode
Very easily get themselves into conflict situations which then
reinforces their negative interpretations
They are highly stressed over time and increase the risk of physical
and mental health problems

17. Stupid Anger Responses!
Stupid stuff you did when you were angry

18. Anger and Children with ADHD
Moods change very quickly and emotional reactions can
easily be provoked
Heightened state of arousal gets attributed to feelings of
anger even if it isn’t
Low tolerance for frustration and low feelings of self
esteem expressed outwardly
Sometimes children experience difficulties when their
medication wears off resulting in tantrums
ADHD children’s impulsivity may lead to their
responding to feeling of anger with aggression

19. Managing Anger from Parent’s
Perspective
Find positive outlets for anger – strenuous outdoor play and exercise
Limit television and video games - children with impulse control problems may be more
easily influenced by the aggressive reactions they see
Set up clear rules and enforce rules consistently
Control yourself – make a conscious decision to stay calm. Take responsibility for your
own anger. Its never ok to excuse your own behaviour because of your anger.
Assume a calm posture – “Do I want a conversation or a confrontation?”
Have self respect – don’t give in to or join the pity party
Take care of yourself
Be the calm in the storm –

20. Managing Anger from Parent’s
Perspective
Talk to child about what they are feeling and give them different
labels for what these feelings are
Get down to their eye level as you are talking to them
Be sympathetic about the fact the child is having such difficulty
controlling their anger. Its awful you have this problem its not ok
you behave this way so what do we need to do to deal with this.
Create an awareness in the child of the impact of their behaviour