Why is My Teenage Son So Angry?

As your child reached his teen years, you may have prepared yourself for the moodiness teens are often known for showing. But you may not have been ready for the anger and aggression that you’re now seeing in your teen. What could be behind it? Is there anything that you can do once you see your teen’s mood begin to shift? Several things could be to blame for your teen’s angry behavior and outbursts, including hormonal shifts and mental health concerns. There may be something else you have not yet considered. Inherited genetics and generational trauma may be contributing factors to your teen’s anger.

Common Signs of Anger Issues in Teenager

There are several ways that your teen may be expressing his anger. They may not always look like angry outbursts that come out of nowhere. Some of the signs of anger issues in teenager boys could include the following.

• An increase in moodiness, along with recognizable ups and downs in moods
• Outbursts of violent behavior, anger, or strong emotions
• Verbal threats
• Behavior and thoughts that may be irrational
•  Lashing out with a raised voice
• Being a bully to siblings, peers, and even adults

Some teens who struggle with anger may turn their anger on themselves and start demonstrating self-harming behavior. The sooner that you get your teen help for the behaviors he’s showing, the sooner he’ll be on the path to recovery.

Why Do Teenagers Have Anger Issues?

It can be confusing to try and figure out what your teen is so angry about. His life may be relatively easy from your perspective. He may have everything that he needs and wants. So, why do teenagers have anger issues when there’s no apparent reason for it?

• You will likely not be entirely surprised that many teen anger issues stem from hormone fluctuations. Testosterone levels rise in boys during puberty. It’s considered fairly normal for those rising testosterone levels to result in moodiness, anger, and aggression in teen boys. It’s important to teen boys to learn how to manage their anger best when it flares up.
• Anger can be something that runs in families, but learned behavior can also contribute to a teen being so incredibly angry. If your son’s other parent struggles with his or her own anger and mental health concerns, it is possible that he’s inherited some of it. That said, teens do often model their behavior on what they see in the home. It’s a two-pronged area of concern to be aware of.
• Generational trauma is trauma that expands from one generation to the next. It can include trauma stemming from abuse or behaviors from others in the community. Generational trauma can be a challenge to treat if your teen son is not in an environment that supports his need to break the patterns of trauma.
• Unresolved individual trauma, whether from early childhood or more recently, can lead your teen to react with moodiness and anger. Without knowing how to cope and process the trauma in a healthy way, your teen may struggle to contain his moods and anger.
• Mental health struggles can be a major contributing factor to your teen’s anger. Even anxiety can be seen as anger at times.

It can be difficult to figure out why your teen son is so angry. Working with mental health professionals who have experience with teenagers, and teen anger, and helping to guide them through it, can be the best way to provide your teen with what he needs. Outpatient treatment can get great results for some teens. For others, more intensive treatment in a supportive and structured environment could be the better option. Does your teen have anger and other behavioral concerns? At Liahona Academy, we work with teens who are struggling by helping them to find treatment options that can help them refocus and heal. If your teen is struggling, reach out to us and learn more about how we can help.