Anger Management and Addiction

Anger is one of the six basic human emotions. Whilst anger is both a natural and perfectly normal emotion in some instances, some people can feel as though their anger has got the better of them. This means that anger can take over, leaving them feeling out of control and reacting in unexpected ways. Struggles to control anger have been associated with a range of different mental health conditions. These include bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, oppositional defiant disorder and intermittent explosive disorder. Understanding our anger can be key to regaining control over it. This can help us to avoid unnecessary conflict and potential social, legal and professional consequences. It can also help us cut cycles that may lead to deepening distress, such as an addiction.

What is Anger Management?

Anger is a primal emotion that is important to survival and triggers a fight or flight response.’ On a surface level, there is nothing wrong with feeling angry. In fact, anger can, at times, serve an important biological purpose – in evolutionary terms, anger and protectiveness helped us to survive. But thousands of years later, in a less tumultuous society, we do not necessarily need our anger to help us survive any longer. Today, far from being an advantage, excess anger can actually lead to significant consequences.

Anger can range in severity. We may be mildly irritated or annoyed, or we may find ourselves flying into a rage. On some level, all these emotions are linked to anger. Feeling anger does not make us a bad person. The tension comes when we do not know how to respond to overwhelming anger, and it seems to pour out of us in unexpected and often quite disruptive ways. When this happens, it can be useful to access support in order to:

1. Establish and address the root cause of our anger
2. Find healthy coping mechanisms to help us manage our anger in the moment

Anger Management Symptoms

Anger management may manifest differently in different people. Broadly speaking, thought difficulties with anger could feel like:

• A fast heartbeat
• Muscle tension
• Tightness in the chest
• Increased body temperature
• Anger-related movements (clenched fists and jaw)

If you are feeling very angry, you could be experiencing:

• Tension
• Feeling nervous or anxious
• Feeling threatened or jealous
• Feeling annoyed or irritable
• Feeling humiliated
• Feeling hateful
• Feeling hyper-focused on a specific situation

A peak in anger that is not fully controlled could lead to a range of specific behaviours, such as:

• Social withdrawal
• Giving people the ‘silent treatment’
• Going awol
• Being verbally aggressive or abusive
• Shouting
• Swearing
• Throwing objects
• Breaking objects
• Physically threatening or hurting someone
• Purposefully hurting yourself

All of these signs and symptoms of intense anger could lead to further emotional – and, at times, risk physical – harm.

Anger Management and Addiction: What’s the Link?

Existing in our anger for too long can be challenging. It can lead us to feel disillusioned, discontent and apathetic. When in itself makes us feel depressed and distant from others. This is heightened by the fact that anger is typically a response to internal distress. We could, for example, link our anger to low mood, anxiety, guilt, shame, or loneliness. It is common for individuals struggling with their anger to have experienced:

• traumatic events
• abuse
• substance abuse

Anger can be an unconscious reaction to a range of difficult feelings and factors – it is ‘a common symptom among adults seeking mental health treatment.’ That suggests that anger has a complicated relationship with mental health. Emotional distress can feed into anger management, but it can also work the other way around.

The more we sit in our anger, the more likely we are to seek solace in potentially risky places. This is where we may begin to use alcohol or drugs as a way of managing things. Whilst this may seem successful in the short-term (alcohol may ‘chill’ us out and curb our anger for a little while), this is not sustainable. Relying on substances to ‘mellow’ us or allow us to relax has huge addiction potential. This type of us can quickly spiral into dependency.

What Addictions are Commonly Associated with Anger Management?

Anger management concerns can be linked with substance use disorders, so could be linked with addictions to:

• alcohol
• caffeine
• nicotine
• prescription medications
• recreational drugs

Research found that people engaging with crack, cocaine, and alcohol had particularly high levels of anger.

A secondary difficulty with anger and addiction is that this kind of emotion can act as a barrier to accessing treatment. For example, if you are struggling with anger, you may find yourself being naturally defensive and feel frustrated if someone suggests the need for a change. This could mean that concerned loved ones may find it particularly difficult to communicate their perspective on your situation, which could increase the time it takes for you to enter treatment and risk fracturing relationships. This can, unfortunately, act to feed the addiction cycle. 

How Do I Know If I Need Anger Management Therapy?

Identifying an anger management issue requires an element of self-reflection. The British Association of Anger Management’s ‘anger test’ asks the following questions:

• Do you have a tendency to criticise others?
• Do you keep things in until you explode with rage?
• Do you get upset when others disagree with you?
• When you get angry, do you withdraw socially?
• Do you take your anger out on someone other than the person you’re angry with?
• Are you able to discuss a problem without losing control of your emotions?
• Do you become depressed easily?
• Are you able to satisfy differences with others?
• Do you feel guilty after periods of anger?

Asking yourself these questions can be a useful way to start thinking carefully about the nature of your anger and the impact it may be having on your life.

Anger Management and Addiction Treatment

Whilst it is often linked to underlying factors, the truth is that anger can be controlled. This may involve support from a professional (usually in the form of therapy and medication).

Therapy

There are several forms of therapy that can be used to help you change your relationship with anger. These include:

• Anger management classes
• Cognitive behavioural therapy
• Counselling

Medication

For some people, anger can be a result of symptoms related to emotional distress that may require medication to be appropriately managed. Common types of medications used in these situations include:

• SSRI Antidepressants
• Sedatives
• Mood stabilisers
• Antipsychotics [10]

Addiction Specific Support

If you are struggling with anger and addiction, the most successful form of support is multidimensional. By blending therapeutic and pharmacological treatments with a structured rehab programme, you can create a bespoke plan to target your emotional, psychological and physical needs.

Get Help Today

Struggling with addiction is challenging, but you don’t have to face it by yourself. If you’re dealing with a dual diagnosis, we’re here to support you in overcoming your addiction. Reach out to us today to begin your recovery journey. At UKAT, we are committed to ensuring everyone achieves stable mental health and a future free from substance dependency. Our dedicated team of experts is ready to help you take the first step.