Having a 19-year-old daughter can be both an exciting and trying experience. At this age, your daughter is on the cusp of emerging adulthood and has all the enthusiasm that comes with it. But if you’ve noticed her becoming increasingly angry, it may be difficult to understand why. The teenage years are often associated with emotions like anger and frustration, but as your daughter grows older, she may need more help to manage these intense feelings. Read on to discover a few possible causes of her anger and how best to support her during this difficult time.
Common Causes of Teenage Anger
There are numerous potential sources of teenage anger that could explain your daughter’s behavior. Here are some of the most common reasons for teens to become angry:
- Disagreements with parents or other adults. Teens tend to feel very passionately about their beliefs, so when adults tell them what they don’t want to hear – whether it’s about schoolwork or anything else – they may have trouble controlling their emotions.
- Unmet expectations or goals. Whether she was expecting good grades on a final report card or wanting to be accepted into a prestigious program, not achieving what she wants can cause frustration and disappointment which can manifest in anger.
- Experimenting with drugs or alcohol. Substance abuse can cause mood changes and lead teens to act out in ways they wouldn’t normally do when sober; this phenomenon could explain why your daughter is acting so differently than before despite no change in environment or family dynamics.
- Stressful life events like beginning college applications or preparing for standardized tests can also make teenage years more challenging, leading teens like your daughter to express their anxiety through anger instead of more constructive methods like relaxation exercises or counseling sessions.* Bullying at school or online could also make your daughter feel helpless which might lead her toward lashing out in anger.* Relationship problems such as fights with friends can also trigger feelings of anger.* Feeling overwhelmed from trying to do too much at once – from extra-curricular activities and socializing with peers – could be another source of frustration for teenagers like yours who have limited free time due to heavy academic workloads.* Identity crisis arising from confusion over who they are as well as peer pressure can push them toward destructive behavior.* Anxiety about major changes such as starting university away from home for the first time might also underlie teenage rebellion in forms such as expressing aggression instead of outright defiance.* Finally, hormonal fluctuations during puberty can cause drastic changes in behavior including bouts of rage without logical explanation; these hormones usually level off by late adolescence so symptoms should start alleviating soon if this is the case for your daughter (1).
How To Support Your Daughter During This Time
The best way to help any teenager through difficult times is by having ongoing conversations about whatever issues she’s facing rather than immediately jumping into problem solving mode (2). Letting her speak openly about what she’s feeling will provide comfort even if there aren’t any solutions available right away; it will also ensure that she knows you are there for her unconditionally no matter what happens. Additionally, helping her develop healthy coping mechanisms – writing down thoughts/feelings in a journal, engaging in physical exercise regularly etc.- may ultimately assist her emotional regulation better than anything else (3). She likely needs someone stable in her life whom she feels understands where she’s coming from so maintaining open lines of communication between both parties will be extremely beneficial overall. Lastly, exploring hobbies outside academics such as joining an art class or playing an instrument should give her an outlet if stressors persist (4). Moreover do something special together every now and then – related either directly or indirectly – may give you spiritual connection especially when words fail you both!
Conclusion
It is normal for teenagers, especially those entering adulthood, to struggle with feeling angry at times due to various pressures around them (5). Knowing why this emotion crops up is essential for providing effective support during tough moments; looking beyond surface level behavior towards root causes ensures both parties remain connected despite difficulties . Ultimately though emotions waxes and wanes throughout our lives so take a deep breath because while it won’t last forever, it’ll still take two dedicated people working together constructively if growth is truly desired!
References
- Brownfield Heller MSCN RD LDN “ADHD &Teenage Anger: Strategies For Parents & Caregivers” , https://www.additudemag.com/adhd-teenage-anger/, Accessed March 24th 2021