Anger and Violence

Get a load of this stuff I got from a dear friend online, its about the topic above. enjoy!

Can you relate to this family and their 'tough situation'?

"My 16-year-old son, James, is failing in school. He is often angry, has no interest in our family, and sometimes doesn't come home until 4 a.m. I have no idea what hes doing and worry he might get into trouble.

At home, he spends most of the time in his room playing violent video games and listening to music with violent lyrics. Ive heard him plotting revenge with friends, and he seems to always be talking about different weapons. This worries me, but I don't really believe he would hurt anyone. What can I do?"

You are right to be worried.

Although it is difficult to predict who will become violent, there are certain risk factors that may warn of possible danger. It is important to keep in mind that the presence of these signs does not necessarily mean that a person will become violent.

These risk factors include:

* History of violent or aggressive behavior
* Carrying weapons or access to weapons
* Use of alcohol and other drugs
* Isolation from family and/or peers
* Poor grades
* Trouble controlling anger

The more of these warning signs we see, the more we believe that children are at risk for violent behavior.

No single factor indicates a problem, but if we see a pattern of several risk factors, its time to take precautions. James exhibits many of these warning signs. He is isolated from his family, failing in school and staying out much too late at night. He has discussed weapons, has a problem with anger, and you heard him plotting revenge.

Has James been bullied, or excluded, or teased by peers or family members? Children who have been bullied, mistreated by others, or feel they have been mistreated, are also at higher risk for being violent than those who have not. The same is true for children who feel rejected or alone.

Red Flags

As you consider various risk factors, bear in mind that these are red flags, not predictors of violence. They are warning signs of possible trouble. After some of the recent high profile shootings in schools, the media has publicized lists of warning signs.

These lists can be used to unfairly label nonviolent youth as dangerous, because many adolescents who will never become violent will show some of the red flag behaviors. Still, parents should recognize these warning signs and use them as a cue that something is wrong and a child needs help.

When parents see a serious problem affecting their child and can't seem to resolve it, they should connect with someone who can. To help James, you should look for a child/family mental health professional who is well-respected in your community and experienced in working with adolescents and their families.

When a teen exhibits a number of warning signs for violence, as James does, parents should act promptly for safety sake. As a precaution, they should make sure their children do not have access to firearms, and remove other dangerous materials or objects from the home. Refer to the sections on Getting Help for Your Teen for guidance.