My son is so angry, why??

My son is so angry. I purely wish there was something that I could do to stop him hurting. I've tried everything. Talking to him, doesn't work. He just get's angry with ME instead, which makes me scared of him, even though I know its not his fault. He's a hell of a lot stronger than me and however much it makes me shudder to think, he could easily hurt me if he got angry enough to do so. He has a punch bag in his room which I think has helped a little, I just feel the need to understand why, so that I can at least try to do something to stop it from occuring in the first place. He has lots of opportunities to release his anger, he plays lots of sports, we give him plenty of time to calm down and think things through. His step-father just seems to make him angrier, which is even making me doubt my marriage. Please, any suggestions as to why he is so angry, I am happy to give any further information about  our relationship or lifestyle e.t.c. PLEASE!!

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

There is not enough information in your note to lead in any particular direction. Without knowing more, including his age and examples of his actual behavior, it's hard to guide you. One thing to consider is the possibility of emotional disturbance. He should be evaluated by a mental health professional. It sounds like you have been trying to manage this by yourself, and that's not going to be a successul strategy (you already know that).