For parents
Anger at any age can be a sign of underlying anxiety, distress, frustration, embarrassment or sadness. Of course, it’s also normal for parents to clash with their teenagers as they become more independent and want to make their own choices.
The books in the general Secondary school and Young adults section all have top tips on communication and choosing your battles, but the resources below have some specific advice on dealing with anger.
- Why is my child angry?
- How to defuse situations and avoid making them worse, and how to look after yourself. There is a good video too
- Parents’ guide on how to respond to anger. Advice on dealing with aggression and violence.
- Ditch the label “Ten tips on talking to your teenage son”
- Anger and aggression, why they happen and how to cope. You can read through a more detailed workbook which takes you through a step-by-step approach to making a plan.
For young people
If you often feel really angry, it might be because you are upset, sad, frustrated, stressed or anxious. Feeling angry a lot of the time can be exhausting and can happen at any age. In your teens and early twenties, it’s normal to get quite strong mood swings and these can sometimes take you by surprise.
Angry feelings might also be made worse by lack of sleep, alcohol, or drugs. It might be helpful to talk to someone about how you feel, and you could try some of the helplines, 1-2-1 chat online or look for some counselling options See our self-help for young people page here
Video : talking about anger
Books
- What to Do When Your Temper Flares: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Problems with Anger by D Huebner Workbook with lots of metaphors and useful strategies. Ages 6-12 years.
- Anger Management for Dummies by Gillian Bloxham; for older teens, young adults and parents.
- Mindfulness for Teen Anger A Workbook by Jason Murphy