How to Deal with Volatile Teens

When kids are reaching their teenage years, parents should be mentally and emotionally ready to deal with their outbursts and anger. The way parents choose to handle volatile teens can either strengthen their relationship or create distance. Teenagers who are volatile often struggle to control and regulate their emotions.

Some factors contributing to volatility in teenagers include:

  • Changes to their bodies - changing hormones cause mood swings and confused emotions

  • Stress

personality may also be a reason why teens lose their temper.

Dr. Ablett stated that anger is a natural human emotion and that a child's anger may indicate they feel threatened by something.Medication is sometimes used to help volatile teenagers, but it is not the only approach.

Alternative ways for parents to help volatile teenagers, aside from medication, include:

  • Listening: When a child is explaining his or her feelings, make sure to listen. If your child is struggling with words, offer some help. Most times, kids are more willing to share when they feel they are being listened to and understood. Acknowledge the fact that they are angry, explain the fact that bad behavior is not an excuse for anger.

  • Aromatherapy: Aromatherapy involves using oils extracted from flowers, roots, leaves, seeds, bark, or peel of certain plants to improve mood and promote relaxation. Aromatherapy can help both children and adults feel calm and sleep better.

  • Meditation: Children can benefit from guided meditation to help manage volatile behaviour. ou can help your child process their anger in a healthy way. If you teach your child how to manage anger at a young age, it will help them develop better emotional regulation skills in the long run.

  • Relaxation: Parents can help children manage anger early by providing a safe space where they can go when they feel overwhelmed. You could also have a time where they have to relax.

  • Cognitive restructuring: CBT may help reduce moderate to severe anger, irritability, and physical aggression in children and adolescents (Sukhodolsky, 2016). Through cognitive restructuring, children learn to regulate frustration, improve social problem-solving skills, and practise assertive behaviours as alternatives to aggression during conflict.