Teens may express excessive anger for many different reasons, including mental health symptoms. If your teen always seems angry, there might be a serious underlying reason. Adolescence is a period of significant vulnerability to the emergence of mental health issues, studies show. Ongoing brain development can cause difficulty with emotional self-regulation and impulse control in teens.

Outside of mental health symptoms, teens may experience a range of other challenges in life. Being a teen can come with a lot of new responsibilities, from first jobs to heightened academic pressure. In response to scary changes and new stressors, your teen might lash out with anger. Understanding exactly why your teen is angry can enable you to provide the help they need in regulating their emotions.

4 reasons why your teenager may always seem angry

• Hormonal changes — Puberty typically begins between the ages of 8 and 14, and it typically continues until around age 17. Puberty marks the physical transition between childhood and early adulthood. In addition to physical symptoms, puberty can also have a significant impact on your teen’s mental and emotional state. Puberty changes the hormonal balance in a person’s body. Hormones are chemicals that play important roles in the body’s functioning. Some hormones, like dopamine and serotonin, function to maintain healthy emotional regulation. During puberty, hormone levels can become imbalanced, which may cause your teen to experience more intense emotions, including anger. Helping your teen regulate their emotions during puberty can enable them to navigate this period of their life more easily.
• Desire for independence — As your teen ages, they may start to want more independence. Gaining more independence with age is a common part of the teen experience. High school often allows students to be more independent than middle school. Getting a driver’s license can give your teen more freedom of movement. At the same time, your teen’s desire for independence may lead to conflicts with authority figures. Teens often clash with parents, teachers and other people they perceive to have too much control over their lives. If your teen seems angry at you, it could be because they feel you’re overbearing or repressive (even if you’re not!). Professional treatment may help you and your teen work through personal conflicts. It can also provide them with the skills they need to peacefully handle other interpersonal conflicts in the future.
• Academic pressure — Teens can face a lot of academic pressure. They may have a hard time keeping up with increasingly difficult classes in high school. At the same time, they might be struggling to choose a college or trade, get good scores on standardized tests, and create application materials. Academic pressure can lead to stress, anxiety and frustration. As a result, your teen might seem more irritable or angry.
• Mental health challenges — Mental health symptoms can exacerbate the effects of other stressors. If your teen is dealing with the symptoms of a mental health disorder like anxiety or depression, they may be more acutely affected by things like academic pressure. If your teen is experiencing the symptoms of a mental health disorder, professional intervention can be crucial. With the right treatment approach, your teen can reduce their symptoms and change negative behavior patterns, including patterns of angry or aggressive behavior.

3 ways you can help your teen manage their anger

Your teen might not be able to manage their anger alone. Fortunately, you may be able to help. As a parent or guardian, here are some things you can do to support your teen in managing their anger:

• Be a role model — Children tend to learn how to handle conflicts and intense emotions from their parents or guardians. By modeling calm, measured reactions, you can show your teen how they might be able to react to stress and conflict. You can demonstrate that feeling angry doesn’t have to lead to shouting and other aggressive behaviors.
• Encourage communication — Encourage your teen to be open about their feelings. When someone communicates how they feel, they may be less likely to internalize feelings like anger. Instead of showing their anger in aggressive outbursts, you can help your teen communicate their frustration in a healthier, more productive way.
• Seek help when needed — If your teen’s anger feels overwhelming or unmanageable, it might be time to seek professional support. A mental health treatment program can provide your teen with the tools they need to regulate their emotions and address the sources of their anger.

Your teen can learn to regulate their emotions and manage their anger with Lightfully Teen

When it comes to anger management, sometimes professional treatment is crucial. Lightfully Teen can help. Our treatment approach can help your teen process their feelings and build practical coping skills. Everything we do is centered around clearly defined, data-driven and whole-person-centered care. With our Precision Care Model (PCM), we can use the most effective aspects of evidence-based treatments to target the drivers behind your teen’s anger.

Change is possible. When you and your teen are ready to take the first step, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of your teen.