What it is:                           

Anger is a cognitive, physiological, and emotional experience that occurs in response to an injustice (real or perceived) or to the belief that a goal has been blocked or denied. This is often accompanied by antagonism toward the person or thing that has caused the injustice. Teens with anger management difficulties often appear irritable or easily frustrated. These teens might report having angry thoughts (e.g., “This is unfair”) or exhibit angry behavior (e.g., yelling, throwing things, slamming doors, insulting others). 

While anger is a natural emotion that all people experience at times, teens who have problems regulating anger (i.e., difficulty reducing anger or inhibiting angry urges) may benefit from treatment to better manage their anger. Teens with anger management problems often report that they feel angry more easily, more often, or more intensely than those around them. They may also struggle with problematic behaviors that stem from dysregulated anger, such as verbal or physical aggression. As a result, they often have difficulty managing interpersonal relationships or tolerating situations that feel unfair. Sometimes they notice that others are afraid of them, or they later regret what they said/did when they were very angry.