Irritability in Teens
It can seem like only yesterday your kid laughed at your every joke and crawled into your bed when they had a nightmare; now they’re slamming doors and rolling their eyes at the smallest request. Parenting certainly has its highs and lows, and one of those lows is navigating the unpredictable terrain of teenage irritability. This guide will help you understand what’s contributing to your teen’s shifting moods, including hormonal influences, and how you can foster a harmonious relationship with them.
The Complexity of Teenage Irritability: Hormonal Influence & Beyond
Teenage irritability is a multifaceted phenomenon influenced by various factors. While hormonal changes play a significant role, it's essential to recognize that other elements contribute to the complexity of your teen's emotional landscape.
The teenage years are a monumental time of transition between childhood and adulthood. As teens begin to establish identities separate from their parents, they will likely want more distance and privacy. They might even become defensive if you ask what they’re doing, let alone come into their room without knocking. This can be jarring for the parent who knew just about every intimate detail about their child’s whereabouts, school friends, and unique preferences until now. At the same time, a teen still needs their parents — they still crave their attention, affection, encouragement, and acceptance. Being caught in the middle of wanting freedom and needing support can be confusing and stressful for a teen and their parents.
Teens are also still learning how to regulate their emotions. Does a poor grade send them spiraling? Does a small argument with one friend make them feel like they have no friends at all? Teens may seem overly dramatic to their parents, but that’s only because their brains are still developing. Human brain circuitry is not fully mature until the early 20s, especially the links between the logical prefrontal cortex and the emotional control center of the limbic system.1 Researchers have referred to adolescence as a time of “storm of stress” because of how common volatility and hypersensitivity is amongst teens.2
The Role of Hormonal Shifts in Teen Behavior
The teenage years are marked by significant hormonal shifts, impacting mood, emotions, and behavior. Fluctuations in hormones like estrogen and testosterone can lead to mood swings, irritability, and heightened emotional responses. Here are a few fast facts about the hormonal shifts that influence teenage behavior:
- During adolescence, there is a surge in adrenal stress hormones, sex hormones, and growth hormone, which all impact brain development and function
- Adolescent brains also have a lower concentration of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which is important for the regulation of arousal and mood3
- The teen’s body clock, or circadian rhythm, also shifts during adolescence, keeping teens awake far into the night and making it difficult to get going in the morning4
Looking Past Hormones & Uncovering Triggers
While hormones are a major player, it's crucial to look beyond and identify additional triggers contributing to teen irritability. Factors such as academic stress, peer relationships, body image concerns, or even mental health issues can significantly influence your teen's emotional well-being. This can be further complicated by social media, where teens often encounter filtered images that make them feel bad about themselves, or online bullies.
What else could it be other than hormones?
- Academic pressures
- Social issues
- Family conflicts
- Sleep deprivation
- Too much screen time
- A poor diet
- Underlying mental health conditions like anxiety or depression
Understanding the broader context behind your teen’s irritability helps to address the root causes effectively.
Effective Strategies to Navigate & Address Teen Irritability
Navigating teenage irritability requires a thoughtful approach. Open communication, active listening, and validating your teen's emotions create a foundation of support that allows your child to feel heard and valued. Some specific strategies to consider include:
- Giving them space if they ask for it, but letting them know you’re there for support
- Modeling stress-management and relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing exercises, meditation, and journaling
- Encouraging a healthy lifestyle, complete with proper nutrition, adequate sleep, and exercise
- Providing outlets for self-expression, such art or music
- Limiting their screen time
- Having your child talk to a therapist or counselor
Fostering Connection Amidst Tension
Building and maintaining a strong emotional connection with your teen is paramount. Create a safe space for them to share their thoughts and feelings and give them privacy if they ask for it. Foster an environment of trust, ensuring they feel understood and supported even during moments of irritability.
Many times, a teen won’t speak directly about their feelings, but they might open up more in the process of doing something else. It can be easier to have difficult conversations in low-pressure surroundings like car rides or even during the brief commercial break while watching your favorite show together.
Most of all, try not to take your teen’s moods personally, which can lead you to feel resentful, hurt, or more reluctant to connect. Know that irritability is a normal part of growing up and, like everything else in childhood, it won’t last forever.
When to Seek Professional Support for Your Teen
Recognizing when professional support is necessary is vital. Some signs that your teen can use some outside help include:
- Persistent or escalating irritability
- Significant decline in academic performance
- Withdrawal from activities and/or friends
- Drastic changes in behavior
- Noticeable weight loss or weight gain
- Risky behavior and self-harm
Equipping Teens with Tools for Emotional Well-Being
Empower your teen with tools they can use long-term to support their emotional well-being. In addition to following a healthy lifestyle, practicing open communication, and learning to label their feelings, encourage them to use stress-management and relaxation techniques. Equipping them with these skills builds resilience and fosters emotional intelligence.
If you feel like your teen can use more support, medication is another option. Brillia for Children & Teens ages 5-18 is a non-prescription homeopathic medication clinically proven to reduce stress, anxiety, irritability, and impulsivity without harsh, synthetic chemicals or harmful side effects. Consisting of antibodies to the S100B protein, Brillia helps to normalize the brain chemical imbalances that provoke symptoms like irritability without affecting the appetite, causing drowsiness, or masking the personality in any way. As part of a holistic approach, Brillia works best when combined with healthy lifestyle habits, empowering your teen to feel calmer and clearer when taken consistently. Brillia does not alter blood chemistry or affect any other systems in the body, so you can be sure your teen gets the emotional support they need while their personality continues to shine through.
Learn more about how Brillia works and find more resources on mental health for kids and teens (and adults!) at the Brillia(nce) Resource Center.
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References: 1https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/the-adolescent-brain-beyond-raging-hormones, 2https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5074886/, 3https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3621648/, 4https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/teenagers-and-sleep-how-much-sleep-is-enough
