One of the key symptoms of ADHD, as most people already know, is impulsivity, but what most people may not know is that this impulsivity often leads to ADHD impulsive aggression. Children and adults with ADHD aren't aggressive because they are inherently more violent that those children and adults without ADHD; instead, ADHD aggression stems from the fact that ADHD sufferers cannot control their impulses when their brain suddenly floods with adrenaline and other anger-feeling hormones.
For example, as a adult without ADHD, if you were to get into an argument with your spouse or a good friend, the argument would probably just begin as a discussion. Then as you continued to disagree, especially if the issue was important to one or both of you, the discussion would grow more and more heated. You would feel signs of anger in your body - your muscles would tense up, you would raise your voice, and you might start feeling warm as your heart pumped faster because of the adrenaline that comes with anger.
At this point, you would have two choices. You could either let your body's chemical reactions to the discussion rule your behavior and end up in an endless yelling match, a tantrum, or even a physical fight, or you could decide to give in, back off, or let the argument rest long enough that you could calm down. Most reasonable adults choose the latter, which is why people don't often get into fist fights over an argument about how much money to spend on little Johnny's birthday gift.
A child or and adult with ADHD, though, doesn't have these same choices because he or she is in the grip of the brain's chemical reactions. ADHD impulsive aggression stems, first of all, from the fact that the ADHD brain is more often flooded with chemicals than yours would be. This is why people with ADHD are more excitable and tend to react very strongly to things that make them happy, sad, or angry.
So when a person with ADHD gets angry, the chemical process that allows you to know you should back off the argument happens in his or her body all at once. Even something small like being interrupted while playing a game can trigger ADHD aggression as adrenaline and other hormones roar through the individual's brain. Under this kind of hormonal deluge, there aren't many of us who would still have the wherewithal to make logical, coherent choices about our reactions.
But if this is the case, what can be done about ADHD impulsive aggression in your friend, spouse, or child suffereing from this disorder? Well, you have a couple of options:
Behavioral therapy - This is an approach to ADHD that basically says, "I will not reward your bad behavior with extra attention." For instance, if your child suffering from ADHD throws a tantrum, you let it play out, largely ignoring his behavior until the tantrum is over. Chances are likely that he'll be sorry for his ADHD aggression and will be ready to listen to you when he's finished. This technique may help shorten tantrums when they do occur, but it will not change the brain chemistry, so it will not get rid of them altogether.
Homeopathic remedies - People with ADHD can use certain homeopathic remedies that will help re-balance their brain chemistry and can help lessen the occurrences of ADHD impulsive aggression. Homeopathic remedies are safer than conventional ADHD medications, and they have been proven to work.
So, if someone you know is struggling to overcome his or her ADHD impulsive aggression, you might suggest using the above strategies to overcome this harrowing symptom of ADHD. They'll work, which means that the person with ADHD and everyone around her will be happier and will have healthier relationships.
Shannon Pollock is a passionate advocate of natural health remedies who has been researching their use for many years. Find out more about some of the most effective treatments for ADHD on her site, Natural Health Remedies and More.
