Depression Sometimes Looks Like Anger in Children

Anger is a powerful emotion that can be experienced by people from all ages. Among young children, outbursts are often used as an expression of defiance or frustration. In certain cases, anger may also be a symptom of depression. If you are the parent of an angry child, you may be at your wit’s end whether to give in to their demands, placate them or instill discipline according to their age. Not knowing what’s causing them to be angry, how can you step in and help them curb their rage?

Turning a Blind Eye on the Symptom

It is never easy for any parent to even entertain the fact that their child could be affected by an emotional condition. Don’t let your love for your child prevent you from seeing what is there to see. If you truly want your child to experience a happy childhood, you will not use lame excuses to cover up the bad behavior or turn a blind eye on the reason of the child’s meltdowns. When you notice that the child’s anger has turned to become unhealthy for their sake and those in their environment, consider seeking professional help.

Fueling Your Child’s Anger

For the child to be helped, their symptoms must be properly evaluated so that an accurate diagnosis can be made. It is equally important to discover the root causes of the child’s tantrums as well as to modify their behavior to be able to control their rage. All these require expertise; something you may not be prepared to provide.  A parent who doesn’t have the required skills may just try to use parental dominance to intimidate the child and suppress the child’s anger, but not really help the child feel better or curb the rage. If you are merely “shutting up” your child, it may only be fueling their anger to reach a fiery level.

Smothering the Rage

Anger is a normal emotion/reaction, even for children. It is something experienced even by the most well-behaved and socially adjusted children. If your child, however, is always angry, the outbursts are frequent and potentially destructive, and the episodes last longer, there can be more to it than a natural response. You can try and placate your child to smother the rage, but that will only offer a temporary respite, if it is caused by distress with a deeper root.

Your best chance is to work with a professional who has the skills to get to the bottom of your child’s confused and raging emotions. With the help of a therapist independently contracted with Carolina Counseling Services – Sanford, NC, your child can be helped to develop emotional stability while you learn to be an empowered parent.

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