Recognizing And Working Through Unhealthy Teen Anger

Does your teenage child often express emotions through angry outbursts? Do you frequently get calls from your child’s school because he or she is often involved in confrontations with teachers and peers? When you try to reach out to your teen to help them through the anger issue, does your child respond in a raised voice and withdraw?  While your child seems to settle down in isolation, the anger rarely ends there. More than relationships, anger issues can damage one’s physical, emotional and behavioral health.

Understanding Why Teens Get Angry

Regardless of age, people get irritated sometimes. Experts describe anger as a primary and natural emotion experienced by anyone from time to time. It ranges from slight irritation to moderate exasperation, all the way to full-blown rage. It may be easy for parents to accept a child’s anger, but it can be difficult and frightening when it comes to teenage anger. When that child becomes taller than you are, and “throws their weight around,” it may be time for some serious thought on how to help your adolescent child with his or her anger.

Due to the tremendous pressure and demands faced by today’s teens, the challenge can become too overwhelming and often results in frustration. Without outlets or sources of relief, teens often practice self-defeating behaviors and express themselves in unhealthy ways. This may include staying out late, disregarding house rules, and attacking others physically or verbally. Frequently, their actions can spiral out of control, and without knowing what to do, depression may set in. The condition is often manifested in anger, violence, despair and withdrawal.

Some teens, however, are at higher risk for developing severe anger-based disorders. This can include teens with experiences of abuse during childhood, early, unsupervised exposure to violence in the media, and also those who were punished because their caretakers were angry. Even though some of them may feel remorseful about their outbursts, many of these teens may continue to vent their anger on their loved ones and people around them.

The Wrath of Untreated Anger

Allowing anger issues to persist poses a wide variety of health problems. Untreated anger is often blamed for uncontrolled stress, depressed immune system, high blood pressure, and poor digestion. Studies show that uncontrolled anger in teens can lead to asthma-related issues, because anger can affect the breathing.

To calm and numb their anger, some teens resort to alcohol abuse. Together with substances, this dangerous mix can affect the adolescent brain and create an attachment to the combination that can persist through adulthood. Further chemical changes may also occur when angry teens experiment with drugs.

Intense anger can put a great strain on the heart, leading to other health risks. Teens with anger explosions are at a greater risk of other health concerns, such as a stroke, compared to their peers who do not have anger issues. Consequently, a teen with an anger disorder is more likely to suffer from health dysfunctions in the future.

Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms of Unhealthy Anger in Your Teen   

If your teen child often loses his or her cool from time to time it does not necessarily mean there is an anger management problem. However, there may be clues that there might be a need to take a closer look at your child’s behavioral trend and emotional/physical symptoms.

Anger can manifest in your teen child in a variety of ways. Your child may seem irritable, whether alone or with other people. There is the tendency to snap when asked even simple questions. Although there are common triggers of anger in teens, such as oppression, puberty, stress, social confusion, and hunger; your child may seem persistently angry without a real trigger.

An in-depth evaluation may reveal that anger in your teen child can be a mask for depression. Teen depression may be undermining your child. In a study published in the journal Development and Psychopathology, low self-worth and anger are components of teen depression. If this is the case, your adolescent child needs help not only for anger, but also for an underlying behavioral or emotional health problem.

Living with an Angry Adolescent at Home

There is no question that raising a child is challenging, much more if he or she has an anger disorder. Over time, your entire family may learn to live with or even tolerate situations as they become more intense. The first step you may take is to learn different ways of placating your angry child. For example, you may avoid provoking them or try to be overly kind or indulgent to avoid another temper upsurge.

Unfortunately, well-meaning efforts to help your child by providing guidance on various aspects of anger aren’t always successful. Like a lot of teens, they may resent you for telling him or her on what to do. Your desire to instill a change in their behavior may be taken negatively, leading your child to stubbornly refuse your good intentions. Perhaps your teen needs more intensive help for an anger issue caused by an overwhelming problem. If this is the case, your child may need professional intervention that may involve several types of therapy.

The good news is that regardless of the reason why your teenager is struggling or the level of his or her anger issues, there is help available.

Finding the Right Help for Your Angry Teen

Asking for help is not always an easy step to take, but it is more difficult to live under the cloud of anger from your child. It is important to find help by finding a professional with expertise in providing teens/adolescent counseling services, including treatment for anger issues. It is a way of helping your child who may be struggling with a difficult condition. The consequences of unresolved anger may result in further emotional harm, addiction, problems with the law, or other health issues.

If you have decided to seek expert help for your teenager’s anger issues so they can live peacefully, contact Carolina Counseling Services – Pittsboro, NC. One of the independently contracted counselors can be the right fit professional who can help your teen constructively address and improve his or her symptoms. Your child will be matched with an appropriate treatment approach to fit his or her needs.

The specialists independently contracted with Carolina Counseling Services – Pittsboro, NC have many years of combined experience and training in helping young teens find relief from anger. If your teen has the commitment to be truly involved in the treatment, this can help them form lifelong positive patterns. Regardless of the issues that brought about the necessity for anger counseling, your child can acquire the skills vital to living without unhealthy anger. Your son or daughter deserves to live a peaceful, fulfilling and rewarding life. Call CCS – Pittsboro today to schedule their first session!

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