DR. WALLACE: I'm a male teen athlete and I play varsity sports at my high school. I'm driven and I work out and practice really hard, so I'm successful in a couple of sports.

So far this has been good for me since I have a lot of camaraderie with my teammates, and I've made a lot of friends now that I'm a senior in high school. I'm pretty well-known at our school.

However, I've come to realize that I may have some anger issues. Previously I thought it was just to do with my competitive drive in playing sports where I would use my anger and rage to push me forward successfully in my athletic endeavors.

But lately I've realized that I am snapping at some people in my life over small matters and I'm even breaking things when I get frustrated. The other day I was sweeping out our garage when I knocked over and broke one of my keepsakes. I took the broom, snapped it in half over my knee and threw it out on the driveway.

I can appreciate that I can at times channel my anger successfully into sports, but I'm worried that if this continues, it will start harming me in other parts of my life. Am I normal, or is there something wrong with me? — Decent Athlete, via email

DECENT ATHLETE: You are a wise young person to recognize this matter within yourself and to take steps in addressing it, even via your letter to an advice column like this.

I suggest that you immediately seek out some counseling and see about attending a local anger management class. Stay afterwards and speak specifically to the instructor about how your anger helps you with your sports but is spilling over to your personal life with poor consequences.

It's very important to clip these emotions and actions in the bud if possible, right now at your age. You certainly don't want this behavior to spill over to your future interpersonal relationships, both in the workplace and with significant others. Your situation is more common than you may realize; many teens and young people go through phases where they find it difficult to manage and control their emotions, especially anger, frustration and rage.

There are strategies, ideas and exercises that you can learn in a professional setting that should greatly help you to get back in control of your emotions while continuing to use them in your athletics experiences.

I'M WORRIED ABOUT MY BROTHER

DR. WALLACE: I'm a 17-year-old girl who takes my studies seriously and who also cares greatly about my health and well-being. On the other hand, my 19-year-old brother who still lives at home always seems to be getting into trouble and hanging around with a rough group of friends.

Last week I went into his room to borrow a ruler that I know he has in his desk. While I was there, his right top dresser drawer was slightly open and there was a baggie with a white powdery substance in it.

I looked at it and thought about what to do. He was out of the house at the time, so I found my mother and had her come and look at it. We both studied it carefully, and finally, my mother dumped the entire contents into the toilet and flushed it down. She then went to our fireplace, and because it is winter and we have a fire burning each day, she burned the bag to get rid of it as well.

My parents later talked to my brother about his possible drug abuse, but he completely denies everything. He says he has a medical marijuana card and the only substance he uses it all is marijuana; he claims that he doesn't even drink alcohol.

Is there anything more that we can do to get him off drugs? I'm worried that he may have a severe cocaine habit already. If he is on cocaine, what symptoms will he be showing if there are any? — A Worried Younger Sister, via email

A WORRIED YOUNGER SISTER: First of all, it's impossible to know exactly what the substance was that you found. It could've been one of a number of things, but to answer your specific question about cocaine use, a reduction or even loss of appetite and difficulty in sleeping regularly are two of the biggest red flags typically demonstrated by regular users.

Users of cocaine initially experience an elevated mood that can give them a short-lived feeling of exhilaration, confidence and happiness. However, these effects quickly wear off, sending the user into a mild (or worse) depression that often includes and exhibits feelings of edginess, tension and malaise.

Let your parents know that there is an excellent organization called the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) that provides referral to local treatment facilities, support groups and community-based organizations. It would be a good place to start and your parents could make the initial call to see what recommendations they can receive and potentially use to help your brother. Their toll-free telephone number is (800) 662-HELP, or (800) 662-4357.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at rwallace@thegreatestgift.com. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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