TEEN ANGER TREATMENT

It’s normal for adolescents to feel irritable, grumpy, and moody and to want more independence from their parents and other supportive adults.¹ They also tend to want to figure things out for themselves and will frequently seek out their peers for advice and support.

Mood swings can be a frequent occurrence in the teen years. They may seem happy one minute but then inexplicably irritable and angry the next. Adolescents may also express rebellious and even defiant behavior, regardless of whether they had always been compliant leading up to this. 

However, while a certain level of anger is expected in teens, some anger issues in adolescence indicate a need for more intensive intervention. Warning signs of anger-related disorders in teens include:

• Physical violence, such as hitting parents, punching siblings, or getting into fights at school.
• Verbal abusiveness, such as yelling at parents, insulting siblings, or lashing out at peers in school.
• Destructiveness, like punching walls or destroying physical property.
• Oppositional behaviors, like ignoring rules, not respecting boundaries, or refusing to comply with consequences.

If you’re concerned about intensive anger-related behaviors in your teen, it’s important to seek professional help.

Every teenager expresses anger differently depending on their individual personality and temperament. Some teens may show their anger outwardly, while others may keep their anger hidden internally, also known as repressed anger.⁶ Common signs of anger problems in youth include:

• Behavioral signs, such as angry outbursts, defiance, aggression, and destructive actions.

• Emotional indicators, such as irritability, frustration, and feeling overwhelmed.

• Physical manifestations, such as clenched fists, an increased heart rate, and a tense posture.

If your teen’s symptoms of anger continue to escalate or last for an extended period of time, this can indicate chronic anger. Seeking professional mental health support is important to identify appropriate treatment options.

While anger issues in youth can be unique and situational, there are a number of common causes that can trigger anger in teens. Let’s look at each of these in turn: 

• • Brain Development: Teen brains are still growing and developing, and this can affect an adolescent’s ability to regulate their anger.⁵
  • Hormonal Changes: As children enter puberty, hormones change as their bodies develop and grow, and this can cause irritability and moodiness.
  • Conflict With Parents: As teens begin to crave more independence and autonomy, this can create conflict with parents and caregivers.⁵
  • Academic Pressure: It’s normal for teens to begin thinking about their future and worry about their school performance, or they may find school difficult and struggle to keep up.
  • Managing Relationships: Some teens have difficulty managing conflicts in their relationships with their friends or romantic interests.
  • Unresolved Trauma: Not fully processing or getting adequate support after a traumatic event can cause anger in teens.
  • Low Self-esteem: Some teens feel inadequate when compared to their peers, or they may experience a painful romantic rejection.