The rebellious attitude in your teenagers may often manifest as anger. Hence, you need to know about anger management in teens to help them navigate their feelings. According to Lauren Allerhand, PsyD, a clinical psychologist at the Child Mind Institute, anger is an important part of our emotional lives and shouldn’t be taken as a bad thing (1). However, if your child exhibits drastic mood swings or extreme anger for no apparent reason, it may be a sign of an underlying mental health condition (2). Allerhand further says that parents should work towards helping their children channel their anger into productive activity and express it in a less harmful way (1). Read this post as we tell you more about anger management in teens, including the causes and signs of anger in teenagers.
Causes Of Teenage Anger
Teenage years are marked by different physical, hormonal, and emotional changes. Hormonal changes during adolescence can feed into the mood swings experienced by most teenagers. Moreover, the prefrontal cortex of the brain, which is responsible for controlling impulses, is still developing and does not develop fully until 25 to 26 years of age. Hence, your teenage child’s behavior and inability to control their emotions combined with the hormonal changes can cause them to act out in anger under certain situations (1) (3). Besides, other factors may also contribute to teenage anger. These include (3)
The feeling of being misunderstood Anxiety Mental health problems, such as depression Substance abuse Conduct disorder or antisocial behavior Being bullied or being a bully at school Hunger Stress
Signs Of Anger Issues In A Teenager
From fist and jaw clenching to engaging in dangerous activities, teenage anger can manifest in various forms. The following are some warning signs of anger you should watch out for in a teenager (4) (5).
Indulging in malicious gossips
Verbal aggression with foul language
Physical violence
Addiction or substance abuse
Hurtful speech
Indulging in risky behavior, such as bullying
Social isolation
An urge to experiment with weapons
When anger gets out of control, it can also manifest in the form of (5)
Rapid heartbeat
Increased blood pressure
Stomach ache or headache
Trembling
Dizziness
Muscle tension
Anger Management Techniques And Tips For Teens
Here are some simple yet effective ways in which you can help your teen deal with anger issues (1) (2) (3) (4) (5). As parents, you can also teach your teens the following tips on managing anger (2) (6).
Listening to music
Meditating or taking deep breaths
Working out
Drawing or painting
Counting to 20 before blurting out
