Researchers have also linked impulsive alcohol-related behavior to genetic involvement, with the presence of the serotonin 2B receptor gene (HTR2B) playing a role in impulsive and aggressive behaviors while under the influence of alcohol. There is a strong link between alcohol use and depression, a mental health condition that includes feelings of hopelessness, emptiness, fatigue, loss of interest, and more. But does regular drinking lead to depression, or are people with depression more likely to drink too much alcohol? Further research into alcohol-related aggression in alcohol-dependent patients receiving treatment has shown that the degree of violence correlated to the level of alcohol consumption.

It also raises the risk for negative consequences of outbursts related to explosive and uncontrolled anger. Often, when children, spouses and other loved ones spend time close to someone who becomes abusive when they drink, their lives change for the worse. For example, multiple studies have shown that children who are exposed to trauma at a young age — domestic abuse or violence linked to addiction, for example — are more likely to abuse substances or develop mental disorders when they grow up.

Why does alcohol make some people angry?

Find a supportive friend or family member to be with you while you withdraw and support your new non-drinking lifestyle. Unstable vital signs increase the risk of complications and can be managed with medications. People who experience severe withdrawal symptoms or DTs may require hospitalization or intensive care unit (ICU) treatment during alcohol. For most people, alcohol withdrawal symptoms will begin to subside after 72 hours. If you are still experiencing withdrawal symptoms after three days, talk to your healthcare provider.

Additionally, even people not struggling with a substance use disorder can experience anger and these other emotions. During-treatment improvements in the remaining anger and anger-related cognition measures predicted clients’ positive posttreatment alcohol involvement; however, predictive strength was not significantly different between treatment conditions. https://ecosoberhouse.com/ Alcohol facilitates conflicts with others and increases the potential for violent behavior among the drinkers and others (Wieczorek et al., 1990; Mann et al., 2006; Wahlsten et al., 2007). Expressive murders are most often preceded by arguments and altercations and the level of intoxication increases the viciousness of the attack (Karlsson, 1998).

Less Cognitive Function

This is one reason why people are quick to anger when they’re drinking – they are perceiving more threats than they would with no alcohol in their system. When someone allows anger to build up over time, they’re more likely to suffer an explosion. During this time, individuals often can’t reason, which leads them to risky behaviors, such as drinking again. Lack of emotional support, social isolation, disengagement from recovery programs, and not treating alcoholism and anger co-occurring disorders can contribute to dry drunk syndrome. Although no objective indicators of other substance use were obtained (e.g., urine screens), participants were asked whether they had used illicit substances. For the six-month baseline period, 64.5% of the sample reported no illicit drug use, and another 10.5% of the sample reported average use at less than one time per month; there was no significant between-condition difference.

• Future research should assess gender as a moderator of treatment outcome and use that information to inform the content of alcohol-adapted anger management for alcohol dependent men and women.
• Lack of impulse control can make someone fly into a fit of rage or become aggressive rapidly.
• For years, our team at Gateway Foundation has provided comprehensive recovery programs for people going through alcohol misuse.
• Because they’re naturally predisposed to be angry when they drink, this becomes a key part of their personality because they can’t control their drinking or their temper.

In fact, it’s the relationship alcohol shares with the brain that often causes people to experience things like rage and irritability while drinking. If you believe you’re displaying more than one of these behaviors, you might be dealing with a dry drunk syndrome or another co-occurring disorder in your recovery. Consider speaking with an addiction therapist to discuss your feelings and explore the various treatment outlets to find happiness and fulfillment in your sober life. However, this relationship is a bit more turbulent when it comes to recovering alcoholics and anger. In general, expressing appropriate emotions is a skill that addicts struggle with early in their recovery. Nevertheless, it is important to remember to support your ongoing recovery and long-term sobriety; learning how to identify, deal with, and control anger is paramount.

Domestic Violence

Clients receiving the anger and aggression focused cognitive-behavioral group therapy reported significantly less alcohol use during the 12 weeks of treatment relative to the comparison group. Although these initial studies each have methodological limitations, they provide early support for anger-based interventions in substance abusing populations. At a simple level, anger, irritability and low frustration tolerance are common as a person copes with alcohol withdrawal and making significant life changes. Alcohol consumption reduces negative emotional states, including anger, and is negatively reinforcing via tension reduction (Sher & Levenson, 1982). Anger also contributes to relapse via psychological and interpersonal influences. Enhancing anger management skills may improve coping with anger as well as enhance accessing other cognitive and behavioral coping skills disrupted by anger arousal.

Thankfully, there are a wide range of options when it comes to seeking out help for both anger issues and alcohol addiction. “If you feel that your anger is really out of control, if it is having an impact on your relationships and on important parts of your life, you might consider counseling to learn how to handle it better. Both inpatient and outpatient programs for alcoholism addiction provide a supportive and safe environment for overcoming the grip of alcohol on your life. But these programs do not address only addiction – they also often offer counseling services to talk through your issues with anger. More than anything, a rehab program can help you create ways to deal with both alcoholism and anger. Even if you’re not ready to attend a more formal alcoholism rehab program or one-on-one counseling, it is a good idea to start attending an AA community support group.