Alcohol is used to suppress many different emotions that a person either doesn’t want to deal with or doesn’t know how to deal with, including anger. When someone doesn’t express or healthily deal with anger it manifests and boils up within. Connection between anger and alcoholism is real and it can be quite scary. It’s easy to get caught up in concern over your loved one’s issues. Anger and resentment can enable further issues with problem drinking. Offer to help your loved one find treatment for alcoholism and other issues like anxiety or depression that could be complicating matters.

You will also learn how your anger and substance abuse have hurt the people you love. It is easy to ignore how tired we become when our days are filled with errands, meetings, and activities. However, running on low energy compromises our ability to think and our capacity to cope. Taking the time to HALT is particularly important when you’re tired. Satisfying the physical need to sleep, rest, and rejuvenate is critical to keeping healthy physically, emotionally, and spiritually. A good night’s sleep or a leisurely nap may be all you need to change your outlook for the day.

Links between Anger, Aggression, and Alcohol Addiction

However, poor anger management can lead to a number of highly negative consequences to an individual and their loved ones, especially when addiction is involved. Many addiction treatment programs also provide Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, which helps individuals process negative habits and behaviors and develop more positive, healthier alternatives. When led by a skilled therapist with a deep understanding of an individual’s background and experiences, CBT may be effective in helping to develop calming habits and other anger-reduction techniques. The descriptive statistics of demographics of the sample are detailed in Table 1. Table 2 provides descriptive data related to the proportion of patients attending any AA meetings during each follow-up period and the average number of meetings attended. Also, Table 2 shows drinking outcomes and anger scores over time and by treatment arm.

Once we’ve named it and acknowledged that we experience anger—and that it is completely okay and normal to do so—we can work on managing it. We are proud to serve the local community with drug and alcohol rehabilitation services, empowering patients to live a fulfilled life in recovery. When alcoholism begins to progress, and when there are mounting consequences, the alcoholic finds himself/herself in a dilemma that’s usually right below the level of full consciousness. Internally, the alcoholic feels the need to continue drinking because, to the alcoholic, alcohol is what holds things together, and without alcohol things fall apart.

Why “Am I an Alcoholic?” Is the Wrong Question

Should you need further guidance, a mental health professional can help you through the process. Most rehabs will address how the drinking has hurt the client’s spouse and children by providing couples counseling and family therapy. Anger management and conflict resolution are other coping tools that are often taught in rehab. alcoholism and anger Treatment helps begin the healing process for both the alcoholic and their loved ones. Those who have suffered verbal or physical abuse at the hands of the alcoholic deserve to be healed. Chemical changes in the brain occur with alcohol consumption that disrupts the normal regulation of feel-good chemicals and pain responses.

If unresolved resentments still churn in the person trying to stop drinking, it’s a trigger for relapse. On the flip side, alcohol dependence commonly leads to significant withdrawal symptoms that are often side effects of alcohol addiction. Emotional withdrawal symptoms can include agitation, anxiety, depression, irritability, and tension as well as sleep disturbances, insomnia, and physical discomfort. The journal Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology reports on studies showing that alcohol can increase aggression in both men and women, but more so in men. Alcohol impairs a person’s executive functioning, making it harder for them to think clearly and make rational decisions.

Role of anger in Alcoholics Anonymous’s recovery program

Every over dramatized fear and worry was extinguished more and more with every call. She went above and beyond in helping me set up treatment, walking me through the intervention, answering question after question day or night. They’ve been working 2 jobs, now full time remotely for a well respected and highly recognized organization in California. This has been a great start in my journey of recovery, and sets me up for a great future in sobriety. Not only because the facilities are phenominal, but its an excellent rehabilitation center for anyone seeking treatment for substance abuse addiction.

When you check in on your anger levels, you can better assess what your needs are. This could include going to the gym or on a run, or simply excusing yourself from a situation to go for a light walk or to do a few quick exercises. Getting active can help release the physical tension that comes with anger, as well as give you a boost in endorphins. Another way to address anger right away is to use your five senses to help you get out of your head and get grounded in the present moment. This means pausing and intentionally observing the sights, sounds, smells, textures, and tastes of the environment around you. Once you’ve immersed yourself by using your senses, you’ll be more likely to return to the situation with a clear head.