How Alcohol Can Worsen Anger Problems: Nugent Family Counseling: Mental Health Counseling

Intoxicated people may feel more outgoing, lonely, joyful — or angry. These emotions can become heightened in potentially extreme ways. For example, if you start drinking when you’re lonely and sad, you may find the alcohol makes you feel even more desolate and distressed than you did when you were sober. Clients can learn healthy stress management and coping skills to diffuse anger and other negative thoughts in group and individual therapy sessions.

By perpetuating such behavior, people can end up damaging meaningful relationships — yet another effect of alcohol-based aggression. Unfortunately, feeling aggressive from alcohol can stem from more than one variable that’s beyond your control. Aside from existing anger issues, people Alcoholism and Anger can turn into aggressors when drinking for several reasons. Many people may naturally become angry or upset when consuming alcohol, but it’s not necessarily their fault. Sometimes, people with alcohol use disorders have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol due to specific genetics.

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The cause of a lot of anger is frustration of co-dependency needs that are not being met. Our focus at BlueCrest is on solutions to addiction and mental health challenges, not living in the problem. Our case management and aftercare services will make all necessary referrals for sober housing and treatment when completing our program. If you talk to counselors specializing in relationships, many will state that plenty of couples coming in for counseling that argue a lot when drinking have some underlying relationship problems. Anger is a big red flag that something is going on underneath the surface, asking to be addressed. This isn’t such a bad thing if your lowered inhibition means you might flirt more with your partner or be more sociable with your friends.

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The Angry Drunk – The angry drunk is infamous for turning unpredictable and unsafe after getting drunk. They usually have a few drinks and immediately turn too aggressive for the given setting. They also take the slightest offense or insult and immediately turn things into an altercation. An earlier study found that alcohol use enhanced aggression primarily among individuals who showed a heightened disposition for such behavior . They were directed to engage in a task with the potential to trigger aggressive verbalizations, with those who consumed alcohol showing significantly more such behavior. Anger can have various culprits, sometimes rational, others irrational.

• People with high levels of trait anger and alcohol consumption showed the lowest levels of anger control in intoxicated states.
• They may seem very confident in their ideas or actions, but they are not thinking straight, and this can lead to dangerous situations where they do things like drive while intoxicated.
• For more information about how we can assist you in your recovery journey, read about our alcohol addiction treatment options.
• When you drink, you essentially put part of your brain’s command center to sleep.
• If anger is an issue for you or a loved one when you drink, contact an addiction treatment professional near you and inform them of your needs.

You don’t need to hide your feelings; it’s important to be honest with your loved one about the effect their alcoholism and anger is having on you. But you should make sure you do it in the right way – avoid accusations and make ‘I’ statements. And make sure you have this conversation when your loved one is in the right state of mind. He earned a Bachelor’s degree at Lincoln University of Pennsylvania while pursuing his CAC-AD. With strong ties to Victory Christian Church and the 12-step community, Federico shares an amazing personal story of redemption and long-term recovery. With over 32 years in the arena of addiction and sobriety, he uses his vast experience to provide a unique approach to mentorship and guiding our clients toward a supportive lifestyle of recovery.

What you need to know about anger and alcohol

The interesting thing about those who get aggressive when they drink is that they naturally are not aggressive people at all nor are they violent. They begin to have a short temper when they drink and thus exude aggression. Alcohol works to lessen our ability to think rationally and narrows down our ability to have a normal train of thought. Maybe people who drink get a sort of tunnel vision and become angry; nothing will divert them from this anger.

There have been numerous findings that support both potential causes, each providing clues as to which individuals are more likely to display aggressive behavior while drunk. The link between anger and alcoholism is complicated, but there are several factors that play into why they are interrelated. For one, alcohol can serve as an excuse for aggressive and angry behavior. Actions while drunk are usually more socially acceptable or passed off as merely drunk behavior. Alcohol also induces tunnel vision, which can make anger seem like the only appropriate response in a given situation. Alcohol also reduces inhibitions and makes you less afraid of the potential consequences of showing your anger, making the likelihood of an outburst greater.

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If there’s no way for the person to get home safely, and you believe they’re in danger of hurting themselves or others, call an ambulance and non-emergency police number. After living a life of chaos, destruction and constant let downs, Mark was able to make a complete turnaround that sparked a new way of life. At WhiteSands Treatment, we offer support to you in your homes or when you are out living in your daily lives.

They are best for people who have a high motivation to recover, but cannot leave their responsibilities at home, work, or school. Most programs help set up your aftercare once you complete the inpatient portion of your treatment.

If this isn’t the first time you’ve considered this, you should know that is the first sign of a possible drinking problem. People are more likely to respond to emotional triggers when they are drinking, but for the angry drunk, even the slightest hint of offense could be cause for a fight. If you’ve ever started or been involved in a drunken altercation, try to reflect on what happened and how the situation could have been handled better. Consuming alcohol can serve as a distraction from a range of negative feelings, including anger.