"When he says something that's not true, I try to correct him. Then he gets angry. There's just no arguing with him. It scares me how angry he gets at times."

* Try to distract the person with a pleasurable topic or activity. Arguing with the person won't help and will likely make things worse. If necessary, leave the room and give the person time to calm down.

* Look for patterns in behavior. Does the person always get angry at bathtime? Try to narrow down to the specifics about what makes them angry. Would more privacy or independence be possible?

* If an activity or topic can be avoided, do so. If not, get help from other family members or friends. Try to schedule the activity for when they are most rested.

* Try to stick to a regular routine when possible. This will help minimize the number of unexpected and stressful events they must handle.

* Try to ignore the angry behavior, if distraction and support do not work. If the situation is threatening, try some to make sure they are unlikely to harm themselves and stay clear of them until the episode passes.

(C) 1996

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