My Teen Son Is Always Angry: How Can I Help Him?
My Teen Son Is Always Angry: How Can I Help Him?
Anger is an emotion that all of us feel at various points in our lives. During times of stress and uncertainty many of us feel angry at things we can’t control. Adolescence is a time of extreme stressors and uncertainty that can lead to teens feeling angry at the world around them. For most teens, this is a normal process. But what happens when your teen son is always angry no matter what you do?Why is my son always angry?
During teen years emotions are in overdrive often overriding the logical part of the developing brain. Young boys can act out in response to things that might seem trivial to others. You as a parent might yourself, why is my son always angry? Am I doing something to set him off? Why won’t he talk to me about it? What you as parents need to know is that for boys, in particular, anger is often a sign of depression. Teen boys are more likely to express anger and irritability as markers of depression versus sadness and isolation like girls can. Understanding the reasons behind your son’s anger can help you target the underlying problem. Other signs to notice to indicate depression or anxiety are irregular sleep, loss of interest in activities, isolation, loss of energy, depressed mood, low self-worth, and others.How can I help my son with his anger?
Teen boys need a lot of structure in their routines so they can learn how to function later on as adults. As parents, here are some things that can reassure your teen that you love and care about them:- Acknowledging their emotions
- Listen to their requests with the intent to open up a dialogue
- Respect your son’s privacy
- Spend time with them
- Avoid criticizing everything they do
Equinox RTC can help
At programs like Equinox, your teen will learn how to control their emotions in healthy ways. Working together with their therapist and treatment team, your teen with be able to get to the underlying issues surrounding his anger and outbursts. Along with individual therapy your son will experience group and experiential therapy groups that will allow him healthy outlets for his energy and emotions. You as a family can also help by talking to your family therapist about specific concerns and working together to come up with a comprehensive plan to tackle those concerns.
Kyle received his Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Texas Tech University. As a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Kyle has worked in a variety of clinical settings over the last seventeen years. His career has focused on treating both boys and girls, with specialization in trauma, processing difficulties, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, OCD and difficult family systems.