Why are so many teens sooooo angry? Teens must deal with the psychological job of developing their own personal identity and eventually growing up and moving on from their family. This process takes many years and usually teens show anger to express their independence. Teens also are impulsive – they react first and think about the consequences later – maybe weeks or months after they have gotten into trouble. They often take dangerous risks because think nothing bad can happen to them. Other peers typically pressure teens to take on some not-so-safe challenges. No matter how you slice it, being a teenager can be hazardous when it comes to the issue of anger.

While many teens express anger outwardly in an aggressive way where it is easy for anyone to recognize, some teens focus their anger “inwardly” and become withdrawn, quiet, sad, or sullen. They isolate themselves from their family or friends and may become depressed over time. Other teens are passive-aggressive where they conceal their angry feelings. These teens appear to be calm on the surface but they are secretly raging or plotting revenge underneath. Passive-aggressive anger is often the most difficult to detect and may lead to sneaky behaviors, acts of revenge or even violent behavior that no one saw coming.