Teens often feel stuck between needing space and wanting to be understood. That tension can turn into slammed doors, one-word answers, or explosive arguments. As a parent, it’s easy to wonder: Why won’t they just talk to me?

Anger is one of the most misunderstood emotions in teens. It can come out as slammed doors, snappy comebacks, eye rolls, or total shutdowns.

If you’re the parent of a teen, you’ve probably had moments where a simple disagreement spirals into slammed doors, shut-down silence, or a shouting match you didn’t see coming. You’re not alone, and you’re not failing.