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You cannot control your impulses or get a check on your emotions if you continue to fuel your body with a substance that works against both of those things. It’s worth noting that becoming angry when you drink and regretting it afterward shows that alcohol is not working well for you. This might be a factor if you get angry easily with your partner when you drink.
This can lead resentment and an unhealthy relationship if this pattern continues. Alcohol can exacerbate any problems that may be going on in your relationship and has the potential to even reveal any underlying issues that there may be. It’s sometimes easier for angry people to become aggressive when they’re inebriated. A slight annoyance may turn into an infuriating problem, thanks to alcohol.
Why Does Alcohol Make Some People Angry?
In a 2010 study conducted in Sweden, researchers found a link between people who suppress their anger and their likelihood of getting into drunken brawls. Because alcohol decreases our self-control, our pent-up rage is more likely to emerge while drinking. The study also found that those who suppress anger were more likely to drink themselves to the point of being drunk, which increased their likelihood of getting into a drunken altercation. Studies suggest that those who get aggressive when they drink are also the ones that can get depressed when they are under the influence.
Gene–environment interactions affecting the serotonergic and other neurotransmitter systems play an important role. When you drink, you tend to experience lowered inhibitions, and make decisions you wouldn’t have otherwise. Sometimes those decisions are relatively innocent, like sending a mildly inappropriate text message. As we’ve discussed, when your behavior skews toward violence and anger, your drunken behavior will be even more extreme.
Substance Use Treatment
When you have a drink, ethanol enters the bloodstream through the stomach and small intestine and is then processed in the liver. The liver can process only a limited amount of alcohol at a time so any excess remains in the blood and travels to other organs, including your brain where mood is regulated. I’ve spent the last six years researching and understanding alcoholism, addiction, and how people get sober. You have a short fuse and don’t know how to regulate your emotions in a healthy way. Getting angry and picking fights every time you drink is not sustainable. It makes people take things personally, even things their sober self would not care much about.
This may explain why they are angry more often and act more aggressively than someone who does not have this personality trait. Anger management when combined with addiction will only heighten adverse effects and worsen as time goes on. With the help of licensed professionals, treatment can work to manage both anger and an SUD. Although anger can be a healthy emotion, someone battling a SUD may struggle to cope with it in healthy ways.
Take ownership of your behavior.
Anger can be an empowering and therapeutic emotion when released in a healthy way, but it can also be addictive. Just like individuals who seek thrills for the adrenaline rush, some people have the same effect from anger. Individuals can become addicted to endorphins they feel when they get angry. Like all “highs,” once the feeling wears off, individuals can feel anxious or depressed. Stimulants like Cocaine can provide excitement and can increase feelings of euphoria to replace anger. If someone can no longer acquire their substance of choice, he or she may revert back to angry feelings or develop a habit for emotional support.
So if you drink often and already struggle with impulse control and emotional regulation, this becomes a double-whammy. So then, why does this make us get into fights with people we love? Let’s talk about how alcohol changes our personality and behavior next. When the time comes that the alcoholic is ready to enter a treatment program they will participate in a variety of different therapies.
Domestic Violence
Some are quite docile, drinking alone until they pass out, meaning no harm to anyone. But those who have a hard time controlling anger when sober can be triggered after a few drinks. They may have poor coping skills for anger control whether or not they are drinking. The first step in recovering from alcohol addiction is detoxing and getting it out of your system. Our treatment specialists will help you through this phase, using medications to assist with withdrawal symptoms.
Through various treatment options, we can help you get back to a life of normalcy. For more information about how we can assist you in your recovery journey, read about our alcohol addiction treatment options. These days, people who misuse alcohol can enroll in various alcoholic rage syndrome treatment programs, whether you choose the 12-step approach or decide to enter residential treatment. If you’re looking for help getting started, it’s wise to speak with your physician first. They can offer you support as you go over every available option.