Anger is a common experience for people of all ages, from young children to older adults. For a variety of reasons, it can play an especially prominent role in the lives of teenagers. Occasional bouts of mild or moderate anger tend not to have a damaging mental health effect. However, frequent and/or severe episodes can have a significant, negative impact. In fact, they may sometimes be symptoms of a diagnosable mental health condition. For these reasons, anger management can be an important part of mental health treatment programs for teens.
Anger and Mental Health
Anger is characterized by mild, moderate, or intense feelings of antagonism, frustration, or irritation. These feelings may be directed toward a specific person or people in general. They may also be directed toward a situation or set of circumstances. In addition, anger may have no particular point of focus.Â
Everyone gets angry at one time or another. Normally, feelings of anger aren’t harmful. In fact, they may even prove helpful in certain situations. However, intense or festering, unresolved anger can potentially erode your teen’s mental health. Several of the world’s most common mental illnesses include angry feelings as potential symptoms. Examples of these illnesses include anxiety disorders and substance use disorders.
Anger is also a common or even defining symptom of certain other mental illnesses. The list of these illnesses includes:
- Intermittent explosive disorder
- Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder
- Depression
- Bipolar disorder
- Borderline personality disorder
All of these conditions can occur in teenagers.
The Importance of Anger Management for Teens
Left unaddressed, angry outbursts can make it difficult or impossible to make lasting mental health improvements. Successful anger management helps your teen avoid such an unwanted outcome. Doing so, helps keep the overall recovery process on track.
Goals and Settings for an Anger Management Program
The term anger management is used to describe a variety of methods that make it easier to process angry feelings. All of these methods have two shared goals. First, they aim to help your teen reduce the intensity and/or frequency of bouts of anger. They also aim to reduce anger’s unpleasant and potentially harmful physical effects.
Anger management can be conducted individually or in groups. It may function as a separate form of mental health care. However, it may also be integrated into other kinds of mental health therapies. In addition, an anger management program may resemble a class more than a traditional therapy session.
The Benefits of Anger Management for Teens
Anger management can help your teenager in a variety of ways. Specific common benefits include:
- Finding healthier ways to deal with angry feelings
- Recognizing the signs of an oncoming bout of anger
- Developing effective ways to defuse anger before it boils over
- Learning how to express anger appropriately in different settings
- Improving the overall ability to process emotions and reduce their anger levels
Successful anger management may also help ease the symptoms of your teen’s specific mental health condition.Â
Seek Help from Imagine’s Anger Management Program in Omaha, NE
Want to learn more about effective anger management programs? Talk to the professionals at Imagine. We’ll help you gain a better understanding of the potential mental health impact of anger. We can also clarify the benefits of successful management of this common emotion.Â
Need help from an anger management program in Omaha, NE? At Imagine, we include this form of care among our many treatment options for preteens and teens. No matter the specific condition affecting your child, our customized program provides essential support. For more information on our approach, just call us today at 888.306.2681. As an alternative, you can fill out our online contact form.