In a recent survey of 1,000 parents of teens, two-thirds cited anger as a warning sign that would cause them to seek treatment for their teen. It’s not unusual for a teen to be angry, sometimes really angry. Because adolescents are changing so much and face many big decisions, their emotions can be especially volatile. And parents often bear the brunt of teen anger.
However, teen anger doesn’t always come from the same place. Sometimes teen anger is an appropriate expression of emotion, while at other times, it may be catalyzed by a mental health disorder. Sometimes, explosive, violent, or even typical outbursts of anger are due to an anger problem that might need to be treated with anger management.
What Is Healthy Anger in Teens?
Using “healthy” and “anger” together may seem like an oxymoron. However, anger is a natural emotion and can be expressed in healthy ways when teens have the tools to do so. When something is unjust, unfair, upsetting, or threatening, healthy anger can be an appropriate response. For example, if a teen comes home from school expressing anger because a teacher punished them for something they did not do, that anger is healthy and natural.
Parents may need to help teens find ways to express and process that healthy anger. Encouraging teens to take a moment to pause and think before reacting can help them manage their anger more effectively. Parents can also model healthy coping skills by demonstrating calm responses and self-regulation when dealing with anger themselves. While teens may raise their voices or show emotion in another way, like crying, expressing anger should not be harmful or violent to anyone or anything. Talking about what happened, including validating the teen’s point of view, is essential. Good ways to process the anger include vigorous exercise, like going for a run, or doing something creative to release the energy and emotions behind anger.
When Should You Worry About an Angry Teenager?
Sometimes anger is not a natural response to a situation, but rather a sign that a teen needs anger management tools. Unhealthy anger is when the level of emotion does not match the cause or gets out of control or violent. When a teen gets angry often, that is also unhealthy. The physiological changes in heart rate and chemistry associated with teen anger are not meant to be sustained for long periods of time or with that level of frequency. When a teen explodes at any little thing, that is likely to be unhealthy anger. Parents may feel worried when they notice red flags or other signs that their teen’s anger is out of control. Unusual expressions of a teenager’s anger, such as aggression or violence, may be red flags indicating a deeper issue. If a teen’s anger is persistent or seems disproportionate, these are other signs that professional help may be needed. Research shows that higher levels and frequency of teen anger are associated with teen depression.
There are times when teens may be experiencing something emotionally troubling that they are not sharing with their parents, which causes them to be irritable and get angry more easily. Taking the time to find out what may be troubling them can help resolve a situation like this. Likewise, there may be times when hormones are impacting their mood. Hormone-induced anger is typically not a long-term situation, however.
What Causes Teen Anger?
A big part of addressing the question “Why is my teen so angry?” is taking time to investigate what might be causing this teen anger and whether it is normal, healthy anger or unhealthy anger. There are many different reasons why teens get angry. However, if teens feel this way all the time, anger may be a symptom indicating that there is a more severe problem that needs to be addressed, such as:
- An underlying mental health condition or other mental health issues
- Substance abuse, substance use, or drug use
- Unprocessed trauma
- Learned behaviors due to family dysfunction, including bullying or being bullied
- Difficulties with impulse control
- Self harm
- Unprocessed emotions.
Experiences in a teen’s life, such as being bullied, struggling with impulse control, or facing ongoing challenges, can contribute to anger issues. Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to these influences during their development.
All of these issues should be addressed with professional help. A mental health or substance abuse diagnosis requires appropriate medical and therapeutic care. A teen who has learned negative behaviors from others may need anger management classes or therapy. Likewise, someone who is using anger to express all of their other emotions will need therapy to learn to manage their emotions more appropriately.
Why Is Anger in Boys More Common?
Teen boys are much more likely to be irritable or angry when they have an underlying mental health condition such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or another condition. According to the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, males exhibit symptoms of depression through anger, aggression, irritability, and violence rather than expressions of sadness or hopelessness.
Moreover, teen boys are less likely to seek help and more likely to succeed with a suicide attempt than their peers. Therefore, parents must be aware and understand that behaviors that may seem disruptive or dangerous to the family could be signs of a serious underlying mental health disorder.
The Importance of Mental Health in Teen Anger
The teenage years are a time of significant change, and it’s not uncommon for young people to experience overwhelming feelings and mood swings. However, it’s important for parents to recognize that anger issues in teenagers can sometimes be more than just a phase—they may be a symptom of underlying mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder. Mental health plays a crucial role in how teens process and express their emotions, including anger.
If you notice signs or symptoms that your teen’s anger is persistent, intense, or seems out of proportion to the situation, it may be time to seek professional help. A mental health professional can assess whether your teen’s anger is linked to a deeper mental health condition and recommend appropriate treatment. Addressing mental health problems early can make a significant difference in your teenager’s ability to cope with stress and develop healthy coping skills for life. By prioritizing your teen’s mental health and being proactive about seeking support, you can help them navigate the challenges of adolescence with greater resilience and confidence.
How Can I Help My Teen Manage Their Anger?
How can parents help angry teens? Parents sometimes struggle with how to manage teenage anger. These tips for anger management can help:
- Pick your battles—let go of minor problems and complaints whenever possible.
- Always start with praise rather than criticism, and find ways to frame criticism so it won’t feel like a judgment.
- When parents feel themselves getting angry, too, they need to take a timeout. Confronting anger with anger won’t be productive.
- If a teen wants to take a break to calm down, give them the space and time to do so, rather than pushing them to continue interacting.
- Set limits around behavior, and make sure both you and your teen are clear about the consequences of overstepping those limits.
Anger management for teens can start in the home, with simple relaxation skills. When you recognize that your teen has been triggered and is getting angry, use techniques to help them stay calm and focused. Encourage them to close their eyes and focus on tensing and releasing specific muscle groups, beginning at the head and working down to the toes. Or, ask them to think of a safe place in which they feel happy and calm, and then bring up images from that safe place whenever they feel angry. These visualization practices may also be used as part of professional anger management for teens.
Healthy Coping Mechanisms for Teens
Helping teens develop healthy coping skills is essential for managing anger and other negative emotions. Parents can play a key role by modeling healthy coping skills themselves—showing their teens how to use deep breathing, take a walk, or engage in creative activities when emotions run high. Encouraging your teenager to participate in physical activities, such as sports, dancing, or even just going for a jog, can be a productive way to release pent-up anger and improve mood.
Teaching problem-solving skills is another important step. Help your teen identify what triggers their anger and work together to develop strategies for dealing with those situations. This might include taking a break to calm down, practicing deep breathing, or finding a quiet space to reflect. By staying calm and composed when your teen is angry, you set an example of self-control and create a supportive environment where your teen feels safe expressing their emotions. Over time, these healthy coping mechanisms can empower your teenager to manage their anger more effectively and build resilience for the challenges of the teenage years.
How Do You Help a Teenager with Anger Issues?
Teens with mild anger management issues may benefit from attending a few sessions with a counselor. In these sessions, they’ll learn the fundamentals of staying calm when under fire. Therapists might ask them to count to 10, walk around the block, or chew gum when they’re starting to feel angry. They might practice expressing their emotions in ways that aren’t negative or violent.
A therapist will also guide a teen to focus on the source of the anger, learning more about why they get so angry and what they can do when they feel anger coming on. Some therapists use teenage anger management worksheets to help adolescents identify their triggers and figure out what works best to help them calm down.
Professional Support for Teen Anger Management
Anger management can take some time to implement successfully, but it is also essential to know if there is a deeper issue, such as a mental health disorder. If a teen is irritable, short-tempered, or getting angry often because they are depressed or anxious, have bipolar disorder, or are struggling with untreated trauma, parents need to get them the professional help they need.
At Newport Academy, our Admissions team and clinical experts can help parents identify whether a teen is experiencing healthy anger—or whether they have an underlying mental health disorder. Contact us today to find out how we help clients get to the root causes of their anger issues, so teens and their families can move toward greater harmony and well-being.
Frequently Asked Questions About Teen Anger
When a teen explodes at any little thing, or gets extremely angry for no obvious reason, it may be a symptom of an underlying mental health disorder. Research shows that higher levels and frequency of teen anger are linked with teen mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.
Parents can help teens practice relaxation and visualization exercise to head off anger and tantrums. In some cases, support from a therapist or anger management counselor may be necessary, so they can gain skills for staying calm and better understand why they are so angry.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is considered one of the most effective strategies for teen anger management. CBT helps teens identify their triggers, practice coping skills, and shift their thoughts and behavior around the things that make them angry.
Sources:
J Family Med Prim Care. 2017 Oct-Dec; 6(4): 775–779.
J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2011 Apr; 39(3): 463–474.
