Adolescent and Anger Management Strategies

By Curtis Reed

Anger is a normal healthy emotion that we all experience.  There is no getting around it.  However, some adolescents experience tremendous negative issues with anger management, or lack thereof. Anger is a powerful emotion that when is uncontrolled can lead to devastating consequences.  Adolescents with anger management issues need to learn coping strategies that channel intense emotions (i.e., anger) in healthy prosocial ways.   

Learning to cope with strong emotions like anger can take a lifetime, and not everyone can manage anger all the time in every circumstance. But if you are an adolescent with anger management issues and their are detrimental consequences because of your lack of control, then you must put forth tremendous effort in learning different strategies that work.  It takes time, patience, and lots of effort (practice). For some adolescents anger management skills" are learned only through tremendous effort and diligence.

The most valuable tool you have for managing anger is self-control, or self "choice".  You know yourself better than anyone else, and you start by avoiding conflict.  If conflict comes at you, you must decide well in advance to disengage and leave the situation.  There must be a commitment to practicing the skills that are developed before the situation occurs.

Using self-control techniques when you're angry can keep you from saying or doing something that leads detrimental outcomes. In other words, you avoid the penalties and drawbacks that are related to the lack of control.

Managing Anger Successfully - Simple Solutions

1.  Pay attention to your feelings. Pay attention to what makes you angry and why.
    
2.  Stop and think when you begin to feel angry. We know its hard, but you have to stop and exercise self-control. Learn to disengage as the pressure increases.
 
3. Don't sweat the small stuff, and seek help for the things that are overwhelming.  Get help from adults (teachers, counselors, and parents).