Rage: An Obvious Control

Rage is anger and frustration out of control. Rage might include throwing things, slamming doors, breaking things, all within the child's view. Considering the sheer size of an adult as compared to a child, a child viewing an adult who is raging out of control will be terrorized by the experience. The goals of a raging abuser are to expel feelings in order to "feel better" and at the same time, scare their targets into compliance.

Remember - compliance is one of the abuser's expectations for their objects of abuse, which in this case is the child.

Dealing with everyday stresses

(Suggestions from the
Child Welfare League of America)

1. Stop... take time out to calm down, reflect.

2. Go for a walk or run. Work off your frustration through exercise.

3. If someone can watch the children, get away...go outside, go in another room, give yourself a little time alone.

4. Turn negative energy into something productive... clean house, do yard work, tackle some other job you've been putting off.

5. Tune out - turn on some music, watch television, or read a book until you are ready to deal with the problem.

6. Talk with someone else about your feelings..call a friend or a helpline.

7. Write your feelings down on paper.

8. Don't let anger build and build. If your feelings don't go away, get help.

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Survival Strategies for Parenting Your ADD Child : Dealing With Obsessions Compulsions, Depression, Explosive Behavior, and Rage by George T. Lynn

A handbook of essential stress management skills for families with ADD children, from the publisher of Attention Deficit Disorder: A Different Perception. These 40 powerful stress management techniques for both parents and children help manage the most problematic behaviors of ADD children, including rage, self-righteousness, oppositionality, obsessions, and depression. Writing from his experience as both a parent and a counselor, he provides parents with methods which can heal the fractures and pain that occur in families with these problems. He believes these "troubled" children are invariably gifted in unusual ways. 10 charts. Line drawings.