Mastering Anger Management in Adults with ADHD: Evidence-Based Strategies for Clinicians

Course #9653L-


Study Points

  1. Discuss the neuropsychology of anger and how it manifests.
  2. Explain the neuropsychology of ADHD, how it manifests in people, and why anger and ADHD can exacerbate each other.
  3. Discuss the difficulty of anger management for a person with ADHD.
  4. Discuss strategies to aid in managing anger and ADHD.

    1 . What is a very important job of the prefrontal cortex (PFC), the front part of your brain?
    A) Helping your heart beat
    B) Helping you see things far away
    C) Helping you make decisions and plan things
    D) Helping you feel hungry

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    2 . Which of these is a common sign of inattention in someone with ADHD?
    A) Always finishing tasks early
    B) Having trouble paying attention when someone is talking
    C) Sitting very still for a long time
    D) Speaking very quietly

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    3 . The cognitive triangle in CBT shows which three things are connected?
    A) Your diet, your exercise, and your sleep
    B) Your past, your present, and your future
    C) Your thoughts, your feelings, and your behaviors (actions)
    D) Your friends, your family, and your job

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    4 . When your brain processes fear, the "low road" pathway is a
    A) very slow path that thinks carefully.
    B) very fast and automatic path for quick reactions.
    C) path that involves a lot of detailed memories.
    D) path that makes you feel happy.

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    5 . Which system helps your body "rest and digest" after a meal?
    A) Parasympathetic nervous system
    B) Sympathetic nervous system
    C) Thinking nervous system
    D) Active nervous system

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    6 . If someone has trouble with "top-down" ways to manage feelings, they might find it difficult to
    A) feel their own heartbeat.
    B) see if it's sunny outside.
    C) notice if they are thirsty.
    D) use their thinking to change worried or sad feelings.

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    7 . The limbic system in your brain is mostly connected to your
    A) ability to do math.
    B) sense of balance.
    C) emotions, like happiness or fear.
    D) ability to wiggle your toes.

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    8 . A main idea in CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) is that if you change your unhelpful thoughts, you can also change your
    A) feelings and actions.
    B) favorite color.
    C) shoe size.
    D) height.

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    9 . What is the main job of the sympathetic nervous system?
    A) To help you fall asleep
    B) To make you feel very calm
    C) To prepare your body for "fight or flight" in emergencies
    D) To help you digest your lunch

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    10 . Hyperactivity in ADHD can often look like
    A) being very quiet and still.
    B) taking long naps.
    C) always remembering to bring things.
    D) fidgeting or having trouble staying in one's seat.

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    11 . Which of these is a "bottom-up" way to help yourself feel calmer (starting with your body)?
    A) Thinking about a problem in a new way
    B) Taking slow, deep belly breaths
    C) Writing down a plan to fix something
    D) Telling yourself "I can handle this"

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    12 . What is the main benefit of the "low road" for processing emotions like fear?
    A) It helps you write a detailed report about what happened.
    B) It makes sure you understand the situation perfectly.
    C) It helps you react very quickly if there might be danger.
    D) It helps you feel peaceful.

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    13 . If you think, "I'm going to fail this test," how might that thought make you feel, according to the cognitive triangle?
    A) Happy and confident
    B) Worried or anxious
    C) Excited and eager
    D) Calm and ready

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    14 . When you're trying to manage a strong feeling like anger, your prefrontal cortex (thinking part) tries to
    A) make the feeling even stronger.
    B) ignore the feeling completely.
    C) make you forget what you were angry about.
    D) help calm down or control the feeling from the limbic system.

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    15 . Someone with ADHD showing impulsivity might often
    A) think for a long time before speaking.
    B) be very patient.
    C) say things without thinking or interrupt others.
    D) wait quietly for their turn.

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    16 . If you get suddenly scared, which of these is a "fight or flight" response from your sympathetic nervous system?
    A) Your heartbeat slows down.
    B) Your heartbeat speeds up.
    C) You feel very sleepy.
    D) Your body starts to digest food faster.

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    17 . "Top-down" control of your feelings means
    A) your friends tell you how you should feel.
    B) your feelings just happen, and you can't change them.
    C) your body automatically tells your brain you are calm.
    D) you use your thoughts to help manage or change your feelings.

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    18 . If the prefrontal cortex isn't working at its best, a person might find it hard to
    A) see the color blue.
    B) stop themselves from doing something on an impulse.
    C) hear quiet noises.
    D) feel when something is hot.

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    19 . For clinicians to say someone has ADHD, their symptoms must
    A) cause real problems in different parts of their life (like at school AND at home).
    B) be something they can easily control if they try hard.
    C) only happen when they are tired.
    D) only last for one week.

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    20 . The "high road" for processing emotions, which uses the thinking part of your brain (cortex), helps you to
    A) forget your emotions quickly.
    B) feel all your emotions much stronger.
    C) react super quickly without any thought.
    D) think more carefully about a situation before you decide how to react.

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