Anger / Question
Published: March 25, 2003
Dear TeenHealthFX,
I notice that I am extremely angry a lot, and it's for no reason. I am also very tired and irritable during and after school. I know I'm not depressed, but I feel like I might have a hormone imbalance. My hair is thinning and I have no color to my face but I eat perfectly fine. What do you think this could be?
Signed: Extremely Angry A Lot
Dear Extremely Angry A Lot,
FX hears how difficult this must be for you. We recommend that you see your doctor to make sure that everything is ok with your body. It can be very normal to seem angry and irritable in your teen years. However, sometimes there can be medical issues that could enhance these feelings. He or she can evaluate you medically and give you some advice on what foods you should be eating to keep your body, mind and your hair healthy. Also, you and your doctor can discuss what is going on in your life to see if there is an emotional side to your anger and irritability. Lastly, your doctor can refer you to a therapist if you and he/she feel you need one.
All this said, here is just some general information on the research associated with moodiness and anger in the teen years:
The teen-aged years, in general, is a very healthy time of life. However, it is also a time of great turmoil. This is because many teens engage in behaviors that can result in health problems (drug use, aggression, unprotected sex, drunk driving). Are adolescents more moody and is it because of puberty? The answer is yes and no. We often assume that teens are more moody than adults, perhaps because of the hormonal changes associated with puberty. Research shows that rapid fluctuations in hormones are accompanied by irritability, impulsivity, aggression, and depression. Such rapid rises and changes in hormone levels are experienced early in puberty, but stabilize soon after. Therefore, the link between hormones and moodiness is strongest in the early teen years when hormone levels are highly irregular, suggesting that puberty, and more specifically, hormones, may be blamed for moodiness only in early adolescence.
In addition, more research suggests that any moodiness that exists during adolescence is related to changes in the social environment. For adolescents, changes in mood appears to coincide with changes in activities. Arguments between parents and teens average once every 3 days, occur more with mother than father, peak at 15-16 years and adolescents experience negative thoughts in company with their parents at ten times the rate of any other sampled time period.
Also, mood changes can also be due to other medical problems like anemia characterized by an abnormally low number of red blood cells in the circulatory system. It is not a single disease but a condition, like fever, with many possible causes like lack of iron, excessive bleeding and so on. Those with mild anemia can experience some weakness and tiredness, hair fall, lightheadedness, headache, mental confusion and so on.
Again, overall FX recommends that you see a doctor to discuss what is going on. If you do not have a doctor and you live in Northern New Jersey, please call the Adolescent/Young Adult Center for Health at 973.971.6475. Outside of NJ, you can call your local hospital to get a name of a local pediatrician or Adolescent Medicine doctor.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
About a third of women who seek services related to unprotected sex, such as pregnancy testing or emergency contraception, do not receive STD counseling, testing, or treatment.
