Every teen experiences anger because it's a normal emotion. Some teens have healthy coping skills and can manage their anger whereas others feel like their anger controls them. The Center for Young Women's Health reports that it's important for teens to learn how to manage their anger, because poor anger management skills can lead to medical problems such as high blood pressure and stomach problems and mental health issues such as depression and substance abuse.
Monitor Your Anger
When you're dealing with a difficult situation, monitor your anger. Ask yourself how angry you are on a scale of one to ten, one being completely calm and ten being the angriest you've ever been. If you notice that your anger has risen above a three, it's time to take steps to reduce it. If it's risen above a five, you should take a time out before doing or saying something you might later regret.
Learn Your Triggers
If you pay attention to your feelings, you'll learn to recognize the things that make you angry. Make a list of triggers, and then decide how you can deal with them. You could avoid things and people that make you angry, but that might not always be possible. You might have to learn other anger management techniques for those situations.
Consider Solutions and Consequences
Teens Health recommends that you come up with at least three solutions to a problem before you deal with it. This allows you a little bit of time to examine the situation and cool off. Once you've brainstormed three solutions, give some thought to the consequences. For instance, if you're mad that your sister took your iPod to school, you could ask for it back and request that she ask before taking your things in the future, steal something of hers in retaliation or start an argument over it. After thinking about the consequences of each of these options, you'll be better prepared to deal with the situation.
Learn to Relax
If you're in a situation in which you can't get away and your anger is rising, you can practice relaxation techniques. Try taking deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth. Count each breath and focus on filling your lungs and stomach with each inhalation. You can also close your eyes and imagine that you're in a safe place that makes you happy. If you choose this option, try to engage all of your senses. For example, if you love going to the beach, listen to the waves crashing, picture the blue sky, feel the sun on your face and shoulders and smell the salty air.
Write
Write about your feelings to reduce your anger. Get out an inexpensive notebook, decorate the front and let it become a journal filled with your thoughts. You can use your journal to write letters to someone you're angry at, tear them out and then tear them up. You can write about the situation and brainstorm solutions. Write whatever comes to mind. You don't have to share it with anyone.
