The Relationship Between Alcohol and Anger
It is a fact of life that we all become angry at one point and for most of us this is not a problem and we learn to recognise what makes us angry and try to avoid it. Some people do manage their anger very well, but as soon as alcohol is introduced they become less able to manage anger and this can result in some very negative and possibly harmful behaviour.
How Does Alcohol Affect Anger Management?
It is well documented and researched that alcohol can play a major role in how people manage or control their anger.Most of us understand that alcohol affects judgement and this includes our perception of situations and experiences. If we have alcohol in our system we may over-exaggerate an event or blow things up when this is not productive, necessary or justified. Large amounts of alcohol can cause us to act irrationally in any given situation so when a situation is fuelled with emotions these actions and reactions can become even more irrational and difficult to condone or understand.Many people who struggle to deal with anger and use alcohol to cope with their anger are the types of people who don’t like to face their feelings and try and hide or deny their existence. This is something that these people are most likely to struggle with when they choose a life of sobriety and may pose the biggest threat in the success of their recovery.Those who are addicted to alcohol may find they are experiencing more frequent or more severe feelings of anger as they deal with cravings and anxiety. When someone is craving alcohol and can’t fulfil their desire they can become agitated very easily especially if those around them are ignorant of their addiction or judgemental of their behaviour. Professional help is usually required when dealing with alcohol addiction and this is one of the issues that will probably need addressing.
Anger Control For Recovering Alcoholics
Feelings of anger are common in those struggling with alcohol or those who are now leading a life of sobriety. It is often anger that leads these people into turning to alcohol as a coping mechanism even when most of them realise that this is one of the worse courses of action.It is essential in order to continue in your new life to avoid situations that cause you to become angry; often this relates to lifestyle and relationship choices.If you know when a situation is likely to cause you to become angry you must prevent this from occurring.Sitting down and making a list of the most likely situation can help you identify the areas of your life that may need re-assessing.Long term counselling or a support mechanism may be the key to discussing feelings of anger and learning how to manage them. Professional therapists will help you on an individual basis identify key areas for concern and help put in place techniques that will help you keep control. It is essential to promise yourself that you will keep the vow that you will not use alcohol as a crutch when you are feeling angry.Noticing the signs of anger is important to help the person learn when to intervene and take control of the situation. It is equally important to know the types of reactions to expect as your body learns how to survive without alcohol and differentiate between the two.Continuing to feel angry may have as negative effect on your life as the alcohol did so it would be very disappointing to have overcome alcoholism to have your recovery hindered by replacing it with anger or another behaviour or action that has taken the place in your life that alcohol once held.
Alcohol and anger are two issues that are intrinsically intertwined. Anger can cause someone to turn to alcohol, alcohol can affect our judgement and behaviour and alcoholism and overcoming alcoholism can result in higher levels of anger. There is definitely as established pattern between the two issues and it is up to us as individuals to recognise the link and learn how not to let one cause the other and find different ways of coping with anger in order to diffuse tense situations and protect our physical and mental health.
