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Anger is a natural emotion that everyone experiences, especially teenagers. Adolescence can be a rough road to travel. It is a time when brains are still going through maturation and the body through many changes. This can also be a critical time for discovering and developing a sense of self or identity. During this stage of life, a teenager’s world is growing beyond their homes and small circles of friends. Social and academic pressures can leave them confused and overwhelmed.

Under this amount of pressure, it can be common for teens to react with anger. They may wrestle with their own thoughts. They may rebel against their parents or anyone in a role of authority. When they feel helpless and confused, they may express these feelings in ways that could be self-destructive.

While anger can be powerful and overwhelming at times, it does not have to be destructive. Your teen can move through their anger and learn to address the emotions beneath it. Therapy can help make this a much quicker and smoother process.

The Many Forms of Teen Anger

While anger is “normal”, it can be problematic if it is leading your adolescent to behave in an unacceptable manner. According to PsychCentral, “It may be expressed as indignation and resentment … Some teens may repress their anger and withdraw; others may be more defiant and destroy property.”

Anger can be expressed through negative behavior such as sarcasm or verbal abuse, antisocial manners, social withdrawal, malicious gossip, addiction, or psychosomatic pain. This kind of behavior can disrupt a teen’s relationships, emotions, and health.

Regardless of how the anger is expressed, these signs are worth addressing, counseling could be helpful. Ignoring anger can make the problem worse, early intervention is important.

Anger as a Secondary Emotion

Anger can be expressed in various ways, but often the real problem isn’t anger. Anger is a secondary emotion. Anger may be the emotion that is expressed and exhibited but it is generally not the true emotion or feeling causing concern. For example, if your teen is feeling scared they may react in anger. Anger tends to feel “safer” than more vulnerable emotions such as; fear, sadness, vulnerability, loneliness etc.

There may also be biological factors at play. The part of the brain that processes emotions develops ahead of the rational frontal cortex. Thus, it is natural for teenagers to interpret an event, occurrence, or stimulus more instinctively than logically. Helping teens to analyze, rationalize or interpret events can be of immense help.

Anger can be triggered by conditions such as depression, anxiety, mood disorder, or feelings such as excessive grief, low self-esteem, guilt or shame, etc. Therapy can be helpful in identifying root causes and finding solutions.

Helping Your Teen Cope with Anger

If your teen has difficulty managing anger, they may be needing something more. Recognizing your child’s symptoms and seeking the help of a caring professional can be a critical piece of your Teen’s health and development.

Don’t wait any longer to reach out for help. When you call Carolina Counseling Services – Southern Pines, NC, you will be taking a step in the right direction. Call today and schedule your first appointment.

Related Articles:

• Harnessing Anger in Teens and Adolescents
• Curbing Anger and Transforming it Into Peaceful Conclusion
• Transforming Anger
• Children’s Anger: Could It Be Depression?