What to Do When Your Teen Becomes Violent

Coming face-to-face with your violent teenager can be terrifying and heartbreaking at the same time. Confronting a teenager who could potentially hurt themselves or others around them is difficult but you don’t have to do it alone. 

There are safe ways that you can deal with a teen that shows aggressive behaviors. As a parent, you need the right support for troubled teens. But first, you must understand what could be causing these violent outbursts and the behaviors to look out for.  

To assist you, we explain the common causes of violent behavior in teenagers, what the warning signs are, and ways to deal with the situation. 

What Causes Teens to Become Violent? 

According to the National Institute of Health, teenagers who grow up in violent neighborhoods feel a sense of helplessness because they don’t have control over their surroundings. As a result, they may turn to aggressive behaviors as a way of asserting control in these situations. 

Other factors can cause teens to become aggressive or violent toward others such as: 

• Neurochemical abnormalities 
• Genetic predisposition 
• Adverse childhood experiences 
• Higher testosterone levels 
• Mental health issues such as borderline personality disorders 
• Media influences 
• Drug and alcohol abuse 
• Experienced physical abuse as a child 

Teenagers who exhibit abusive behavior towards family or strangers may need to be rehabilitated and will need help from a mental healthcare practitioner. 

Behaviors Violent Teens Exhibit

Adolescents are naturally moody at times but in most cases, it’s either because they’re going through a tough time, they’re stressed out or they’re under pressure at school. However, one of the biggest warning signs that your teen has a behavioral problem is when he or she becomes physically abusive. 

Your teen may start to bully other children at school and show intense anger when you try to reprimand them. You’ll begin to notice that your child is struggling to control their emotions and may go into violent fits of rage often. 

Teenagers who have these types of behavioral issues become a danger to themselves and the people around them. 

Tips to Follow When Your Teen Becomes Violent

Parents should be cautious when dealing with violent behavior from their children. Reacting a certain way or saying the wrong thing could make the situation worse. When you are confronted by an aggressive teenager follow these steps. 

Don’t Allow the Violence to Gain Power

Your teen may be using aggressive and violent behavior to gain control over you and the people around them. If you allow this to happen, they’ll continue to use fear tactics to get their way. Take control when you notice the first signs of aggressive behavior. 

There are programs you can opt for such as boot camp or military school that deal with teenagers who have severe behavioral issues. These programs teach your child how to deal with their emotions in a healthy and constructive way. Sending your child to military school or boot camp can stop the problem from getting worse. 

Remain Calm and Have Patience

When your child starts shouting or showing violent behavior like throwing objects, try to remain calm and don’t react aggressively. Speak in a controlled tone of voice and also practice active listening. Sometimes when teenagers get aggressive they will tell you how they truly feel about a situation. 

You can try de-escalation methods, like walking away and getting to a safe part of the house if the confrontation gets out of hand. It’s best to give your teen space to calm down in this situation. 

Make Sure You Have Strong Support 

It’s important that you have a strong support group when dealing with a teen who has anger issues. Speak to your neighbors about your situation and ask them to get involved if you have to deal with physical violence. 

You must have a safety plan especially if you have other young children who are being exposed to these outbursts. Make sure you can send your other children to stay with friends and family while you deal with your teenager. 

Send Your Child to A Residential Treatment Center 

One of the best ways to fix teenage behavioral issues is by sending them to a residential treatment center. These centers provide teenagers with therapy that will help them control their negative emotions. 

Furthermore, therapy sessions allow you to find out what’s behind your teenager’s anger issues. A mental healthcare professional will provide the best course of action for your troubled teen so they can get their life back on track. 

Final Thoughts – Helping You Solve Teen Violence in Your Home

No parent should ever have to deal with a violent teenager alone. In certain situations, it can be extremely dangerous for parents to try and control an aggressive teenager. You need the assistance of HelpYourTeenNow to provide your teenager with the right solutions to stop their violent outbursts. 

At our residential treatment center, we offer a variety of programs such as boot camps and equine therapy which have been proven to help troubled teens. Contact HelpYourTeenNow to find out more about our treatments and what programs will work best for your child. 

We care about children and their well-being so we’ll make sure your teen can get the help they truly need to live violent-free life.