Aggression Treatment & Rehab for Adolescents in Texarkana, AR

Learn more about adolescent aggression from Riverview Behavioral Health Hospital in Texarkana, AR

Aggression, by definition, means that a person is behaving in a manner that is hostile, attacking, or assaultive in nature that could place the aggressor or another individual at risk for harm. Adolescents, more specifically, often display some sort of aggression during their teen years, as people of this age are still trying to learn appropriate impulse and behavior control in situations that involve some sort of conflict.

Some examples of aggressive behaviors that a teen may display when in conflict with someone else may include, but are certainly not limited to, the following:

• Biting
• Hair-pulling
• Hitting
• Kicking
• Pinching
• Punching
• Pushing
• Spitting

These sort of behaviors may emerge after a youth is provoked or if a young person feels compelled to do so without provocation. Furthermore, it is important to know that aggression can take the form of verbal attacks that can be emotionally damaging to both the aggressor and the individual who is being verbally assaulted. Examples of verbal aggression can include:

• Bullying
• Gossiping
• Mimicking
• Name-calling
• Spreading rumors
• Teasing

Deliberately excluding someone or ignoring someone’s obvious presence as a means of causing another individual to feel badly are but a few more examples of aggression that adolescents may inflict upon their peers and other loved ones.

All of the previously mentioned forms of aggression, while common during adolescence, are generally not acceptable ways to behave in most settings. When a teen becomes injured, damages property, or begins to develop certain mental health concerns as a result of their own or someone else’s aggression, proper, effective care should be sought.

Causes for Adolescent Aggression

In order to understand why a teen is aggressive, one must consider several factors. The following concepts are those that mental health professionals and developmental specialists agree upon when explaining why some adolescents become aggressive or are more aggressive than other young people of the same age:

Mental health conditions: There are numerous mental health conditions that may include aggressive behavior as part of their symptoms, or those that can cause an adolescent to behave in a hostile manner when managing mental health symptoms proves to be difficult. Considering these facts, it is imperative for a youth who is grappling with one or more of the following illnesses to receive proper care so as to limit aggressive outbursts and develop the skills needed to control problematic behaviors and actions:

• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Bipolar disorder
• Conduct disorder
• Intermittent explosive disorder
• Oppositional defiant disorder
• Reactive attachment disorder
• Substance use disorders

Environmental: Certain environmental influences can cause an adolescent to be more or less aggressive. For example, if a teen is raised by or has regular contact with an adult who chooses to behave or speak in an aggressive manner as a means of handling conflict, there is a higher likelihood that the adolescent will then demonstrate similar behaviors.

Risk Factors:

• Bearing witness to others who are aggressive
• Lacking appropriate support
• Lacking healthy coping skills
• Lacking effective problem-solving abilities
• Living in a high crime area
• Residing in an area in which violence occurs regularly

Treatment for adolescent aggression offered at Riverview Behavioral Health Hospital in Texarkana, AR

When seeking treatment for an adolescent in your life, it is important to consider a few things. First, it is crucial to select a provider of care that is equipped to meet the specific needs of adolescents and offers services in an environment that is safe and conducive to healing and managing aggression. Secondly, it is imperative that you consider treatment that is appropriate for what your child is dealing with, as the level of care chosen can make the difference between a successful and unsuccessful treatment experience.

Among the many options for care that presently exist, inpatient treatment is an excellent choice for youth who are in need of structured, focused, and supportive services in order to learn how to manage aggressive behaviors. Within inpatient treatment, adolescents partake in the following therapeutic interventions that can foster true healing and help them to understand the necessity of resisting urges to be aggressive towards themselves and others:

• Medication management services
• Individual therapy
• Group therapy
• Family therapy

By participating in these treatment methods, and by having your support, a teen who once displayed seemingly uncontrollable aggressive behaviors can ultimately learn how to better control his or her behavior, understand the consequences of being verbally or physically aggressive, and develop the skills and confidence needed to be healthy, productive, and successful in the future.