How to Deal with Anger in Early Sobriety

Alcohol impairs cognitive function, which means it is more difficult to problem-solve, control anger, and make good decisions when drinking. Decreased cognitive function also means it’s more likely for you to misread a situation and overreact. For example, if you’re intoxicated, you might perceive alcoholism and anger someone bumping into you by accident as a provocation and respond aggressively. You’re making huge changes in the way you live life and that is something to celebrate. You are learning how to live a fully expressed life, and there is beauty in the messiness of it all—even the anger.

• This can lead to misunderstandings or misinterpretations which can lead to increased anger and frustration.
• Because of this, it’s not always easy to figure out whether or not someone you love has a “problem,” let alone exactly when it began.
• Only 1% of the general UK household population admit to being moderately to severely dependent on alcohol.
• Those who don’t think about the consequences of their actions are more likely to adversely affect themselves and others.

It can take over a personality and change the direction of a person’s life. Understandably, this is incredibly difficult for spouses, children, parents and friends of alcoholics to deal with. Often they will deny their addiction, making it even harder to https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/5-ways-to-destress-after-work/ encourage them to seek professional support. If those methods don’t work, or if you feel that you need to take things one step further to deal with your anger and alcohol issues, addiction treatment is another great option aside from anger management.

Alcohol and Anger: Why Do I Get Aggressive When I Drink?

It has a limitation in term of findings were based on file records/telephone contacts and other comorbid personality and psychiatric issues were not assessed. The most self-evident way to stop being an angry drinker is to quit drinking altogether. By ending alcohol misuse, you can make positive decisions with a clear outlook. Those who are dependent on alcohol should participate in alcohol addiction treatment  to break the cycle. Remember, quitting a substance cold turkey can lead to health issues, so it’s best to enlist professional help. Meditation can help clients to relax physical tension, become more self-aware, and work toward creating a healthy mind-body balance.

If drinking causes a blackout, you may not even remember being aggressive unless someone reminds you about it. By perpetuating such behavior, people can end up damaging meaningful relationships — yet another effect of alcohol-based aggression. An aggressive drunk may make poor decisions that lead to worse scenarios. Since your judgment becomes clouded when you’re intoxicated, a simple misunderstanding can quickly turn into a bar fight. Furthermore, an angry drunk may not feel like consequences matter, making it seem like a good idea from their perspective to create or partake in a dangerous situation. Unfortunately, feeling aggressive from alcohol can stem from more than one variable that’s beyond your control.

Alcohol Abuse and Anger Management

If you’ve ever experienced a sudden surge of overwhelming anxiety and fear then you’re familiar with the feeling of having a panic attack. Your heart pounds, you can’t breathe, and you may even feel like you’re dying or going crazy. It’s because you’re not willing to feel those emotions, that anger and that hurt, and your energy is getting trapped.

Here at Renaissance Recovery Center, we specialize in the outpatient treatment of alcohol use disorder. Before you begin one of our evidence-based treatment programs, you’ll need to first detox from alcohol. If you need help accessing a medical detox center, we can connect you with suitable facilities near you. This national study on alcohol consumption and domestic violence found that up to 40% of the men and 34% of the women who were violent with their partners were drinking alcohol. A veteran of two branches of the U.S. military, Max is continuing his education in healthcare administration. Max began his career in the addiction field working as a group facilitator and teacher, developing and delivering a successful faith-based curriculum in a long-term residential treatment setting.

Being “Dry Drunk”

Alcohol withdrawal can be potentially life-threatening, in the case of severe dependence. Medical detox is typically considered the optimal method for allowing alcohol to safely process out of the body while under continual medical supervision. When people have difficulty controlling impulses, trouble regulating their emotions, or may present a danger to themselves and/or others, medical detox is required. Medical detox programs are often the first stage in a comprehensive addiction treatment program. These programs usually last 5-7 days on average and commonly use medications to manage difficult physical and emotional withdrawal symptoms. Do you ever feel like a completely different person when you’ve had too much to drink?

• As a result, you may be overly aggressive during a situation where you’d otherwise notice the cues that tell you to think more rationally.
• Many people find that when they drink or drink too much, they get upset, angry, or even violent.
• An aggressive drunk may make poor decisions that lead to worse scenarios.
• While stimulants, such as coffee and Adderall, target dopamine receptors in the brain, alcohol and other depressants target the brain’s GABA receptors.
• Even though alcoholism can come with dangerous risks, full treatment and recovery is possible.

Once the individual has become stable they will be ready to engage in therapy. One of the most outward and obvious signs of alcohol abuse is irrational anger. When someone experiences anger as a result of alcoholism, they will have bursts of irritability and extreme mood swings. Often, it takes months (or even years) before someone finds themselves physiologically and psychologically dependent on alcohol. Because of this, it’s not always easy to figure out whether or not someone you love has a “problem,” let alone exactly when it began. Additionally, it can be hard for people to spot the signs of AUD in themselves.