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May 21, 2024 · Anger in teens is caused in part by biology. Teenagers’ brains are still developing and their bodies are flooded with hormones that impact mood. Anger in teens can also signal deeper issues. Irritability, mood swings, or outbursts may be symptoms of disorders like anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
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- To help a teenager with anger issues, talk to them about their feelings and try to understand where their anger comes from. When your child is read...
- Teenagers often struggle with anger in part because their bodies are flooded with hormones that impact mood. Also, teenagers’ brains are still deve...
- Overview
- What might cause teen anger?
- Key signs of anger
- Is it just anger, or something more?
- How to offer support
- How to support yourself
- The bottom line
- Watch more from the Youth in Focus video series
If you’re the parent or caregiver of a teenager (or two), chances are good that you’ve faced the infamous anger of adolescence at some point. Maybe your kid is a bit snarkier than usual, or perhaps they’ve graduated to door slamming and music blasting.
Teenagers going through puberty have naturally heightened emotions, so this behavior doesn’t necessarily relate to anything you did or didn’t do. No matter how good of a parent you are, there will likely still be days when your teen rages at the world.
But as their parent, you probably want to do something to help, especially if their anger leads to conflict with peers or family members, aggressive behavior, or self-harm.
As a start, it can help to understand where teenage anger comes from and learn to recognize the signs. You’ll find more details below, along with some tips to support your kid through the more challenging parts of puberty.
Anger is a human emotion, one pretty much everyone tends to feel when things don’t go as planned.
Teens can get mad for the same reasons as anyone else:
•unfairness or injustice
•rejection
•loss
•disappointment
How do you know when your kid is angry? These signs can suggest that a bad mood might shortly escalate to a meltdown:
•More movement. Your teen pounds up the stairs, then starts gesturing wildly as they tell you what their (ex-)best friend just pulled.
•Less patience. During a debate about what show to watch, your teen keeps interrupting you to repeat their argument (with increasing volume).
•More bad language. Your teen starts peppering their speech with insults and swear words, such as “I can’t believe the stupid bus f-ing left me behind f-ing again.”
•Less manners. Your teen speaks more bluntly, saying “Why can’t you make dinner already?” instead of politely saying, “I’m so hungry. Could we eat soon?”
•More passive aggression. Sarcasm and eye-rolling can suggest anger simmering under the surface.
It’s understandable to worry about your teen’s mood. You might wonder how to tell whether their anger is a temporary, typical phase of development — or a sign of a deeper concern.
Anger doesn’t always suggest a mental health condition. That said, professional support may be a good next step if your teen:
•acts physically aggressive by throwing things, shoving people, or getting into fights
•has unexplained bruises and scars
•can’t fall asleep or seems to need very little sleep
•gets stuck on thoughts of people who may have “wronged” them or frequently talks about getting revenge
Validate their feelings
Say your kid comes home furious about a friend “stealing” their crush. You may be tempted to downplay the situation and urge them to calm down. But if you ignore your teen’s (valid) emotions, they might end up getting mad at you for not taking their side. This incident may not seem like a big deal to you, but it might represent your teen’s first experience with heartbreak. You can validate their feelings simply by listening and acknowledging them. “You sound very hurt,” or “I’m sorry that happened to you” can go a long way to helping them feel heard. When you help them carry their pain, their anger might feel more manageable. Plus, when you validate their feelings, they might be more receptive to guidance on controlling their anger in more effective ways.
Help them find an outlet
One helpful way to get rid of anger involves channeling it somewhere else. Research suggests that physical activity offers one way to blow off steam, for people able to exercise. While your teen may still feel upset about the situation making them angry, getting some exercise could help their anger feel less overwhelming. Music can also help teens manage anger. Whether your kid is fighting with siblings or reeling from a breakup, there’s almost certainly a song that matches their mood.
Relaxation strategies can help, too
If your teen says they can’t calm down, you might try offering a few suggestions for ways to release and soothe anger: •deep breathing •journaling •meditation •a long walk in nature •relaxing music Was this helpful?
Enduring a teen’s anger can test even the most resilient parent.
You can support yourself by:
•Keeping perspective. Adolescent angst isn’t forever. While early puberty may be stormy, kids tend to mellow out as they get older.
•Drawing boundaries. Just because your teen is angry at you doesn’t mean they get to resort to personal attacks. You have feelings too.
•Schedule some personal time. Take an hour to enjoy a book or take a well-deserved nap. Self-care can recharge your batteries and help you keep your cool.
•Reaching out. Even when everything goes right, parenting can feel overwhelming at times. Consider joining a support group or talking to your parent friends.
When parenting a teen, you’ll likely encounter your fair share of bad moods. Irritability and testiness are a normal part of growing up, so usually, they’re nothing to lose sleep over.
If you find yourself in the trajectory of your teen’s anger, take a deep breath and remember: While puberty is temporary, family is forever.
Emily Swaim is a freelance health writer and editor who specializes in psychology. She has a BA in English from Kenyon College and an MFA in writing from California College of the Arts. In 2021, she received her Board of Editors in Life Sciences (BELS) certification. You can find more of her work on GoodTherapy, Verywell, Investopedia, Vox, and Ins...
- Emily Swaim
- Anger is a negative emotion. It's not bad to feel angry. Anger is a normal, healthy emotion. In fact, a lot of really good things stem from anger, and angry feelings can lead to positive change.
- Anger is the same thing as aggression. A lot of people confuse angry feelings and aggressive behavior. While feeling angry is healthy, aggressive behavior isn't.
- Anger management doesn't work. When people lack skills to manage their anger, their emotions can cause problems in all areas of their lives. Many relationship troubles, career issues, and legal problems result from unhealthy expressions of anger.
- Anger is all in your head. Anger involves more than just your mind. Think about the last time you felt really angry. It's likely that your heart rate increased, your face grew flushed, and your hands shook.
May 17, 2016 · Teen anger can be a frightening emotion, but it is not inherently harmful. Its negative expressions can include physical and verbal violence, prejudice, malicious gossip, antisocial...
- Psych Central Staff
Oct 29, 2019 · Anger itself isn't bad. Even though it may not feel like it when your teen is lashing out, her anger is normal. “Anger is a natural human emotion; it’s a message that your teen feels a...
- Tamekia Reece
- unknown@hearst.com
Sep 28, 2022 · Anger is a normal response, but it can lead to aggression or violence if not dealt with healthily. Learn to identify the signs of anger issues in a teenager and how to respond as a parent or caregiver.
Jan 28, 2022 · Teens express anger in a variety of ways, from radiating silent hostility to snapping at you or storming around the house. There could be many reasons why your teen is upset. Mental and Emotional Changes
