Everyone gets angry sometimes, as anger is an unavoidable emotion. However, learning how to handle our anger and move on without hurting others is crucial. Dealing with anger is often a common occurrence when raising a teenager. If you are a parent is concerned about how your teen has been controlling anger, call Venture Academy today at 866.762.2211 or fill out our online form for information about our anger management program.
Are You Dealing with Teen Anger?
Many examples of teen anger are an expected part of raising your child to be a healthy, well-adjusted adult. Due to the hormonal changes teens go through while their brains are still developing, they regularly experience intense emotions. Although dealing with occasional anger and a lack of cooperation is frustrating, treating or pathologizing isn’t always necessary.
Still, experts agree that some hostility isn’t out of the norm and generally recommend letting these behaviours go. In other words, pick your battles when raising a person navigating the disorienting space between childhood and adulthood. Yet, if your teen displays certain behaviours, it may be time to seek treatment for controlling anger.
Some signs that your young adult child might need professional help with controlling anger include when they:
- Yell or scream obscenities at you or other family members
- Punch, hit, kick, scrape, bite, squeeze, or harm others physically
- Throw objects, punch walls, or cause damage to property
- Self-harm
- Are quick to anger over seemingly small things
- Have begun engaging in risky behaviours or substance use when angry
Tips for Controlling Teen Anger
It is crucial to get your teen the help they need to control their anger. Professional anger management therapy is often the most successful key to anger control. As parents, we simply don’t have the right tools to address the anger that is out of the norm of the typical fluctuations in teen emotion. If it’s right for you, anger management therapy will be a great tool to help your teen begin to control uncomfortable feelings healthily and productively. There are also many tips that you can start to implement at home while you’re preparing for professional anger treatment for your child.
Some helpful tips for managing teen anger are:
- Model healthy behaviour for your child – Be an example to your child of healthy habits and behaviours. Don’t match their anger. Practice responding rather than reacting to their angry outbursts.
- Help them feel comfortable with their emotions – Let your teen know anything they feel is a normal part of growing and changing, and their feelings don’t define them. Listen to them, and give them openings to talk about what they are dealing with or interested in that day.
- Focus on self-awareness and control – Teen hormones cause unpredictable shifts in emotions which can be exhausting for them. Teach your child to notice when their emotions shift and to think reflectively about why they do. Seeing how they avoid negative consequences and build more positive interactions will build up these skills and lead to emotional maturity in adulthood.
A teen should have a couple of simple, healthy activities in their toolbox prepared for when they feel a wave of anger coming on. Most teens do not want to behave like they do because it makes them feel bad, but they often feel out of control.
Explore Effective Anger Management for Your Teen at Venture Academy
Some anger your teen is experiencing may be due to natural hormonal fluctuations. Or, unhealthy stress and peer pressure could spark anger issues. Teens face more pressure today than ever before. If your teen is experiencing a troubling bout of angry emotions or just an issue controlling anger when it arises, contact Venture Academy today. Learn more about our anger management program for teens by calling 866.762.2211 or completing our online form.