Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Stages

What causes teen anger? When it’s normal behavior vs. something serious

By

As we exit the toddler years we expect the fits and tantrums to subside, right? Wrong. During the teenage years, you may begin seeing some of the same angry behaviors reemerge. From door slamming to shouting, teenagers can become tumultuous.

You may find yourself tiptoeing around your teen or bracing yourself for what type of attitude she will bring with her when she walks through the door. You have seen the teen stereotypes — eye rolling, talking back, and heavy sighing — but when it comes to teen anger, deciphering what is normal can be challenging.

The right (and wrong) ways to discipline stubborn teens
YAKOBCHUK VIACHESLAV/Shutterstock

Becoming angry is a feeling we all experience and is completely normal. How many times have you shouted at a car that cut you off or rolled your eyes while answering an email? However, you may begin noticing your teen’s anger seems to be more frequent and louder than what you consider the norm.

Recommended Videos

When you ask your teen why he is mad, his list may seem endless or he may grunt at you and never answer the question. What causes teen anger can typically be reduced to a couple of major changes in a teen’s life.

Related

Learn more about what causes teen anger and explore tips for dealing with these dicey times. More importantly, discover when it is time to seek help for your teen’s anger.

What causes teen anger?

Teen anger can stem from many factors, both internal and external. Although the reasons your teen is becoming angry may change from day to day, the causes of those feelings can typically be boiled down to two reasons: hormones and stress.

Hormones

Your teen is experiencing puberty and the changes to your teen’s body do not stop at their physical appearance. Along with growth spurts, acne, and body hair, your teens are also experiencing shifts within their bodies, too.

During puberty, your teen’s brain is developing and this can impact how often your teen experiences emotions and how intensely he experiences those feelings. Did you know your teen’s brain will not even fully develop until years after he graduates high school? In fact, the part of the brain that is responsible for decision-making and regulating emotions is one of the last sections of the brain to finish developing.

Hormonal changes in the body can cause your teen to quickly flip from peaceful to mad without any clear indication that a mood swing is coming. The puberty-induced hormones can also create a more intense feeling of anger than what your teen may be used to experiencing.

Tips to try:

  • Listen to your teen and try to empathize with her feelings
  • Help your teen understand the changes in his body to help him start to better regulate his emotions
  • Offer up strategies like deep breathing exercises or meditations for your teen to try

Stress

Being a teenager is hard. Your teen can wear many hats including student, son, friend, athlete, sibling, and employee. Teens learn to balance a difficult workload of multiple assignments, tests, and projects. The increased responsibilities and roles of the middle and high school years can cause a lot of stress, which can in turn make your teen extra grumpy.

Along with the amplified workload, your teen is also navigating social stressors. The fear of being bullied or actually experiencing bullying takes a toll on teens’ mental state. Even just worrying about how to fit in with peer groups is stressful.

On top of the stress, your teen may be staying up late and getting up early to meet all the demands of her day. The lack of adequate sleep can increase the feelings of being stressed and make your teen quick to become angry.

Tips to try:

  • Model and encourage healthy eating and sleeping habits
  • Offer to help your teen create an organizational system to keep track of different demands
  • Encourage your teen to develop a hobby for stress relief like exercising or journaling
father and teen having a talk on a bench
Motortion Fims / Shutterstock

When should I be concerned?

Although experiencing feelings of rage and fluctuating anger is normal for every person, and especially teens going through puberty and the stresses of adolescence, there are warning signs parents need to be aware of.

There are red flag behaviors to watch out for. If your teenager continually threatens to physically harm themselves, you, or others, you should be concerned. Seek immediate professional help if your teen follows through with any threats to cause bodily harm.

Prolonged periods of rage or anger that seem more intense than what is typical for your teen may also be a sign that your teen needs help. Several mental health conditions have anger as a symptom and may be worth exploring with a medical professional. If your teen’s anger is also accompanied by intense feelings of sadness or worthlessness, your teen may need a mental health evaluation. Call a medical professional immediately if your teen demonstrates any suicidal thoughts or actions.

Anger is a human emotion we all experience from time to time. Your teen is going through puberty and experiencing changing hormones which can increase her mood swings. Although anger is normal, understanding where your teen’s anger is coming from can assist you in helping your teen through these tough times.

Editors’ Recommendations

Whitney Sandoval
Whitney Sandoval
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Whitney Sandoval is a freelance writer and educator living in the Midwest. She writes about parenting, accessibility, and…
When will your son’s voice change? Here’s what to expect
Voice changes in puberty can be awkward — what parents need to know
A boy's voice changing

A telltale sign that a boy is going through puberty is when their voice begins to change. Before you know it, they're experiencing that sing-songy, high-low, cracking, and croaking voice. If your son's voice is suddenly all over the map — oscillating between soprano and bass — it means that some major physical and anatomical changes are on the way. His larynx is growing, and his pitch will eventually drop, and your son's voice will start to change. Say goodbye to that sweet little boy and his sweet little voice, and say hello to your emerging mini man.
Want to understand how, why, and when this will all happen and need some tips on how to handle this somewhat awkward but oh-so-relatable situation? Here is what you need to know about boys' voice changes.

Why does a boy's voice change?

Read more
The right age for kids to stop napping: What you need to know
How to tell when your child is ready to quit napping
Young boy lying in bed with Teddy bear

Anyone who has ever been around an overtired toddler knows the importance of napping. Napping is important for younger children who need to rest so they can not only recharge their batteries but so they can grow and develop. But napping too much can cause problems sleeping at night. What is the right age for kids to stop napping? And what happens if they nap too much or too little? We have all the answers here.
What is the right age for kids to stop napping? Do older children benefit from naps?

Although there isn’t a hard and fast rule, as toddlers turn to preschoolers and beyond, they’ll only need one nap a day instead of two. There are a few telltale signs to look for that signal your child is outgrowing naps. If your child takes a long time to fall asleep before a nap or at night, or if they are interested in skipping naps, they are probably ready to take fewer naps. If they aren’t tired, don’t try to force them to sleep. Note that even if a nap is skipped, the total number of hours a child needs to sleep in a day is not changed, and they may need to go to bed earlier or wake up later.

Read more
Decision day looming? Tips on helping teens decide on a college
When it comes time to decide on a college, here's how to help your teen make this major choice
Teen girl excited about her first day of college

You've spent a big chunk of high school guiding your teen through the college application process. Now, senior year has arrived. The applications have been submitted. You have muddled your way through the horrifying FASA experience, and the time is finally here. National Decision Day is May 1. It's the date most colleges set aside on the calendar for admitted students to accept by. College application decisions typically start coming in after the new year. So, by spring, your teen will most likely be gearing up to make the final decision on where to attend college.

If it seems like your teen is putting it off, it's probably true. Deciding where you're going to spend the next four years of your life is huge. Sure, the prospect of going to college is super exciting, but it's also terrifying. Teens are leaving the comfort zone of family, friends, and their home for something unknown. How to choose a university or college that's the right fit is a tall order. Here are some tips on how to help your teen decide on the ideal choice from the acceptances.
Choosing the right college

Read more