Anger management and addiction
Last Updated:
January 12th, 2024
Addiction can cause huge emotional distress and upheaval. Certain addictive substances can increase natural aggression and reactiveness, while dependence on a particular substance or behaviour can create overwhelming feelings of frustration, depression, fear and anxiety. Sadly, anger and addiction often go hand-in-hand, and this can make daily life incredibly hard for the individual with the addiction and their loved ones. While some minor degree of anger can be a natural and even healthy response to frustrating or unacceptable circumstances, when anger starts to take over your life, hurt those around you or seriously impact your health, it is time to seek help.
When does anger become unhealthy?
Anger can play an important role in the “fight or flight” response, historically key to survival. In life-and-death situations like a battle or even an argument with serious consequences, anger can help to mask fear or a lack of confidence and help you to win. However, very few of us find ourselves in these situations and anger is most commonly experienced in day-to-day instances where it is often unnecessary or even counter-productive.
“Unhealthy” anger is not clearly defined, but a lack of control often characterises it. This often manifests in a “red mist”, “losing your head”, or any other phrase that means you acted in a way unlike yourself. Unhealthy anger can be nasty, violent and harmful, negatively impacting your loved ones and yourself. It can cause you to do or say things you highly regret and cause irreparable pain and damage.
What is the link between addiction and anger management issues?
There are various potential links between addiction and anger management issues, including:
Loss of control
The first way that addiction is similar to unhealthy anger is that it can cause you to act in uncharacteristic ways. Many people with an addiction seem to take on a whole new personality, with their true selves only emerging again after recovery.
Shared causes
Part of the reason that addiction and anger management issues often co-occur is that the roots of both come from some unresolved underlying causes which trigger angry or unhealthy reactions. This is often linked to dual-diagnosis conditions, but other causes can include trauma, low self-esteem, grief and even a family history of addiction or anger management struggles.
Anger and denial
People with addiction are also often highly reactive and can become quickly enraged when their substance use or addictive behaviours are addressed. This often manifests as ultra-defensiveness, irrational denial or striking out physically or verbally at the person voicing their concerns. Such reactions can make it very difficult for loved ones to be around those with addictions and huge strain is put on partners, parents, children and friends.
Anger at self
Addiction can also cause enormous anger at yourself for being unable to quit drugs, alcohol or a particular behaviour. The shame of hurting your loved ones, losing your job due to addiction or experiencing societal stigma can all create deep, unhealthy anger. Crucially, many people with these kinds of feelings then use drugs or alcohol to soothe or self-medicate, reinforcing the cycle of anger and addiction.
Do I have an issue with anger management and addiction?
There are several key addiction and anger management symptoms which can show you have a problem and need help. If someone you know has voiced their concerns or your anger or behaviour is starting to cause issues in your life, ask yourself these questions:
- Do you behave aggressively or hurtfully to those around you, such as swearing, shouting, threatening or insulting them?
- Does your behaviour become worse or only come out when you have been using drugs or alcohol?
- Do you become angry if someone tries to restrict your addictive behaviour or take away your drugs or alcohol?
- Do you blame other people for the negative consequences of your behaviour or even for your substance use or addiction itself?
- Do your loved ones feel like they need to “walk on eggshells” around you when you are drinking or using drugs?
- Do you struggle to put things behind you and dwell on perceived wrongs done to you?
- Does anger at these past events come out when you have been drinking or doing drugs?
- Do you behave aggressively when you are unable to obtain the addictive substance or engage in the addictive behaviour? Do you slam doors, seek arguments or drive dangerously?
If you notice any of these addiction and anger management symptoms, it is worth seeking professional help.
How does treatment for addiction and anger management work?
Overcoming addiction on your own can be incredibly difficult, especially if you are affected by addiction and anger management issues simultaneously. UKAT has successfully helped many people break free from the chains of addiction, and many of the therapies that make up our rehab treatment programmes can also have benefits for managing anger. Each of our rehab centres across the UK has vast experience helping people with co-occurring anger and addiction, while our UKAT London Clinic is an industry leader in bespoke mental health and addiction treatment.
Some of our most important therapies and treatment approaches include:
These therapeutic approaches, along with many other proven modalities, allow us to address every aspect of addiction and anger management issues. Each is specially designed to provide invaluable insights, relapse prevention methods and coping skills, which together form the foundations for successful, lasting recovery.
Get help with anger management and addiction today
UKAT understands that a life with addiction on one shoulder and anger on the other can be an uphill struggle. We are committed to helping you lift these burdens from your shoulders and begin the transformative healing process. If you are ready to put addiction and anger behind you, contact UKAT today. It can be the first step on your addiction and anger management journey to a whole new life.