It’s no secret that teen behavior can be taxing. From mood swings and angry outbursts to moments of quiet solitude, you never know what you might get when you say hello to your teenage son or daughter. While feelings and actions will ebb and flow as your child learns how to regulate their emotions, having them react explosively can be difficult for your entire family.
Not only are explosive outbursts difficult for parents and caregivers, they are also incredibly stressful situations. After all, you want to ensure that your child is safe and that they can’t hurt anyone, but at the same time, you need to be able to validate their feelings and guide them toward being able to express what they are feeling in a healthy manner.
It’s critical to keep in mind that there is often an underlying cause for explosive outbursts - they don’t usually just happen for no reason. These underlying causes could be anything from anxiety or depression to past trauma or abuse.
Let’s break down some ways that you can help your teen manage their explosive behavior!
Ensure that you and your child (and anyone else nearby) is safe. In moments of extreme anger or frustration, your teen might utilize anything nearby to take out their feelings. If you have younger children, send them to another room until the situation has diffused. And just like before you go to bed, you want to turn off any video games, electronics, movies, or anything else that might be overly stimulating. From there, do your best to keep yourself and your teen safe as they work through their feelings.
Stay calm. When your son or daughter is acting out, it's important to stay calm and avoid reacting emotionally. Take a deep breath and try to stay composed. Reacting with anger or frustration can escalate the situation and make things worse. This includes situations where your child might be calling you names or throwing out other unnecessary banter. The goal is to not engage in the same emotional behavior with your teen. Practice taking some breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth to stay calm.
Set clear boundaries. It's important to set clear rules and consequences for your teen's behavior. Let them know what behavior is acceptable and what is not, and be consistent with enforcing consequences when necessary. This can be challenging, especially if you are taking something away (like car keys or their phone) but needs to be enforced if your child is to trust you and your boundaries.
Validate their feelings. It's important to listen to your teen's concerns and validate their feelings, even if you don't agree with their behavior. Let them know that you understand their perspective and are there to support them. Having your teen realize that you totally understand how frustrating + irritating + etc. it is when something happens lets your teen know it’s okay to feel that way - and then you can work on behavior and management of those feelings from there.
Focus on problem-solving. When your teen is upset or acting out, try to focus on problem-solving instead of blame. Ask them what they need or what they are trying to communicate, and work together to find a solution. This might not be an immediate solution, especially if your teen needs a moment to calm down and rationalize what a good method would be to solve their problem. Be present, and work together as a team to determine what the next best steps are.
Reach out for professional help. If your son or daughter’s aggressive behavior is persistent and severe, it may be necessary to seek professional help. A mental health professional can help identify underlying issues and also provide guidance on managing explosive behavior.Remember, managing explosive teen behavior requires patience, understanding, and a willingness to work together. With the right support and guidance, teens can learn to manage their emotions and communicate more effectively, leading to healthier relationships and improved well-being. If you need more assistance, reach out to the specialists at Liahona Academy. With one-on-one programs as well as group therapy sessions, you can get your child on track to managing their emotions and behaviors in a less aggressive way.
How to Deal With Explosive Teen Behavior
It’s no secret that teen behavior can be taxing. From mood swings and angry outbursts to moments of quiet solitude, you never know what you might get when you say hello to your teenage son or daughter. While feelings and actions will ebb and flow as your child learns how to regulate their emotions, having them react explosively can be difficult for your entire family.
Not only are explosive outbursts difficult for parents and caregivers, they are also incredibly stressful situations. After all, you want to ensure that your child is safe and that they can’t hurt anyone, but at the same time, you need to be able to validate their feelings and guide them toward being able to express what they are feeling in a healthy manner.
It’s critical to keep in mind that there is often an underlying cause for explosive outbursts - they don’t usually just happen for no reason. These underlying causes could be anything from anxiety or depression to past trauma or abuse.
Let’s break down some ways that you can help your teen manage their explosive behavior!
Ensure that you and your child (and anyone else nearby) is safe. In moments of extreme anger or frustration, your teen might utilize anything nearby to take out their feelings. If you have younger children, send them to another room until the situation has diffused. And just like before you go to bed, you want to turn off any video games, electronics, movies, or anything else that might be overly stimulating. From there, do your best to keep yourself and your teen safe as they work through their feelings.
Stay calm. When your son or daughter is acting out, it's important to stay calm and avoid reacting emotionally. Take a deep breath and try to stay composed. Reacting with anger or frustration can escalate the situation and make things worse. This includes situations where your child might be calling you names or throwing out other unnecessary banter. The goal is to not engage in the same emotional behavior with your teen. Practice taking some breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth to stay calm.
Set clear boundaries. It's important to set clear rules and consequences for your teen's behavior. Let them know what behavior is acceptable and what is not, and be consistent with enforcing consequences when necessary. This can be challenging, especially if you are taking something away (like car keys or their phone) but needs to be enforced if your child is to trust you and your boundaries.
Validate their feelings. It's important to listen to your teen's concerns and validate their feelings, even if you don't agree with their behavior. Let them know that you understand their perspective and are there to support them. Having your teen realize that you totally understand how frustrating + irritating + etc. it is when something happens lets your teen know it’s okay to feel that way - and then you can work on behavior and management of those feelings from there.
Focus on problem-solving. When your teen is upset or acting out, try to focus on problem-solving instead of blame. Ask them what they need or what they are trying to communicate, and work together to find a solution. This might not be an immediate solution, especially if your teen needs a moment to calm down and rationalize what a good method would be to solve their problem. Be present, and work together as a team to determine what the next best steps are.
Reach out for professional help. If your son or daughter’s aggressive behavior is persistent and severe, it may be necessary to seek professional help. A mental health professional can help identify underlying issues and also provide guidance on managing explosive behavior.Remember, managing explosive teen behavior requires patience, understanding, and a willingness to work together. With the right support and guidance, teens can learn to manage their emotions and communicate more effectively, leading to healthier relationships and improved well-being. If you need more assistance, reach out to the specialists at Liahona Academy. With one-on-one programs as well as group therapy sessions, you can get your child on track to managing their emotions and behaviors in a less aggressive way.
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