Have you ever felt like you become a different person after drinking too much? This experience is all too common among those dealing with substance abuse and mental health issues. Alcohol can alter behavior significantly, sometimes leading to anger or aggression. Research published in the Psychology of Addictive Behaviors indicates that alcohol is involved in 50-86% of episodes of aggression and violence.
In this blog, we’ll explore how alcohol consumption can lead to aggressive behavior and negatively impact mental health, as well as how addressing both substance abuse and mental health issues can support recovery.
If you or someone you care about is struggling with anger and alcohol, it’s crucial to seek help promptly. Reach out to Sunrise Recovery’s confidential admissions line at +1 (877) 978 – 6747. Our team is available 24/7, every day of the year, ready to assist you on the path to recovery.
Can Alcohol Lead to Anger Issues?
Research shows that alcohol can contribute to anger problems and various mental health disorders. Excessive drinking can:
A study featured in the Indiana Journal of Psychological Medicine found a notable connection between alcohol use and increased physical aggression from males toward females. Furthermore, the research highlighted in Psychology Today demonstrated a direct link between alcohol consumption and heightened anger and hostility.
Do People Have Different Personalities When Drunk?
Alcohol often reveals different facets of a person’s personality, leading to what many refer to as “drunk personalities.” Among these, the “angry drunk” is particularly concerning. Here’s a look at some common drunk personalities:
Understanding these personalities can help in addressing and managing the behavior of an angry drunk.
Facts & Infographic on Alcoholism and Anger
This infographic provides an overview of data on alcoholism and its connection to anger, highlighting how frequently alcohol use is linked to violent offenses.
Alcoholism and Anger
Panel 1: According to the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), alcohol is more commonly associated with substance-related violence than other drugs:
Panel 2: Data from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) reveals that 72% of men reported exhibiting violent behavior before seeking substance abuse treatment.
Panel 3: Research from Mind Your Anger shows that among men with alcohol and anger issues:
4 Signs You Might Be an Angry Drunk
Angry drunks are often the last people you’d want around for a night out, as their behavior can lead to confrontations and trouble. If you find yourself regretting your actions the next day—or blacking out and forgetting what happened—this could be a sign of underlying issues. So why do some individuals become angry drunks?
Alcohol impairs judgment and lowers inhibitions, which can exacerbate existing anger issues. Recognizing an angry drunk can be challenging, but here are four key signs:
Anger Issues When Sober
Do you experience anger problems even when you’re not drinking? This might involve more than occasional outbursts or trouble managing your emotions. It could indicate deeper issues, such as suppressing feelings, which then explode into large outbursts at inappropriate times. If you struggle with controlling your anger, alcohol can exacerbate these issues, making them more apparent when you drink.
Being “Dry Drunk”
Alcohol reduces inhibitions and can lead to problematic behavior. However, “dry drunk” behavior refers to displaying similar poor behavior without being intoxicated. If you have issues with impulse control, struggle with assessing situations accurately, or exhibit intrusive behavior, you might be prone to exhibiting angry drunk behavior when you do drink.
Being Overly Aggressive or Violent
When drinking, individuals are more susceptible to emotional triggers, and even minor offenses can lead to confrontations for an angry drunk. If you’ve found yourself involved in a drunken altercation, take a moment to reflect on the incident and consider how it might have been managed more effectively.
Difficulty Controlling Your Drinking or Temper
Many drinkers at some point question whether they should stop drinking entirely. For those struggling with alcoholism, this concern might arise daily, weekly, or monthly. One major sign of alcoholism is the inability to quit drinking despite a strong desire to do so. If you find it challenging to control your drinking behavior, it’s likely that you also struggle with managing your temper when you drink.
How to Stop Being an Angry Drunk
To address being an angry drunk, the first step is recognizing and accepting that you have a problem. You might have heard from friends or a partner that you become angry or hostile when drinking. Acknowledging this issue is crucial to understanding and addressing it effectively.
Here are three strategies to help identify and manage a drinking problem:
Identify What’s Triggering Your Anger
Anger is a natural emotion that everyone experiences and can be necessary for standing up for oneself and others. However, an anger problem arises when this natural emotion is expressed in harmful or unproductive ways. If you struggle with anger while drinking, you might be trying to address unresolved issues, such as feelings of inadequacy, relationship difficulties, work-related stress, or other factors beyond your control. To manage this, it’s crucial to trace your outbursts back to their source and pinpoint what specifically triggers your anger.
Find Support
Addressing an anger problem is most effective with the assistance of a support group or a professionally trained counselor at an alcohol rehab center. These resources can guide you in expressing your emotions healthily and offer strategies for managing your anger. You can search online for anger support groups in your area, or if you believe your drinking is an issue, consider attending a local Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.
Moderate Your Drinking
If you’ve experienced frequent outbursts while drinking, it’s crucial to take a break from heavy alcohol use and address the issue. You might be using alcohol as a way to cope with your anger, trying to numb it, or seeking temporary relief that ultimately doesn’t solve the problem. Moderating your drinking, whether temporarily or permanently, will allow you to approach the issue with a clearer, more objective perspective.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse and needs an inpatient addiction treatment in Indiana, contact us at +1 (877) 978 – 6747 to speak with a recovery specialist. We are available 24/7 to answer your questions and provide the information you need to make informed decisions about recovery. Your call is completely confidential, and we are here to help you begin your journey toward healing.
Why Do I Get Angry When I Drink?
The connection between anger and alcoholism is complex, but several factors help explain their interrelation. Firstly, alcohol can serve as an excuse for aggressive or angry behavior, with actions while intoxicated often being dismissed as just “drunk behavior.” Additionally, alcohol can create tunnel vision, making anger seem like the only fitting response in a given situation. It also lowers inhibitions, reducing fear of potential consequences and increasing the likelihood of outbursts. Lastly, alcohol significantly impairs decision-making and judgment, making it much harder to control your anger.
Wake Forest University School of Medicine professor David Friedman, who has studied drug abuse and addiction for 40 years, provides a straightforward explanation for the link between alcoholism and anger: “You probably won’t be surprised, but some people are simply more angry and hostile than others. It’s these individuals who become the angriest when they drink.” Although this answer seems simple, it is the result of years of research. The transformation from a mild-mannered person to someone with intense anger while drinking can be attributed to a combination of personality traits, social factors, and neuroscience. Ultimately, it reflects our inherent tendency toward anger and how our brain responds to the effects of alcohol.
Alcohol and Your Personality
Individuals with anger issues are particularly prone to becoming angry drunks, though this may not always be apparent to others. If you tend to suppress your anger, it might become more evident when you drink.
A 2010 study from Sweden discovered a connection between anger suppression and a higher likelihood of engaging in drunken brawls. Since alcohol impairs self-control, repressed anger is more likely to surface while drinking. The study also found that those who suppress their anger are more inclined to drink excessively, increasing their chances of getting into a drunken confrontation.
Additionally, a 2011 study indicated that people who focus more on the present rather than the future tend to be more aggressive and struggle with understanding the consequences of their actions. Alcohol can exacerbate this myopic focus, leading individuals who already lack the foresight to make impulsive decisions, potentially resulting in drunken altercations.
Alcohol Affects Empathy
Alcohol and other psychoactive substances are known to impair our ability to recognize emotions and empathize with others. This impairment means that alcohol can make it harder to notice when our own behavior is threatening or hostile, and we may also misinterpret others’ actions as antagonistic or offensive.
Consider a time when you or an angry drunk friend perceived someone’s behavior as insulting, leading to a fight that could have been avoided. As they say, the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. Reflect on whether this type of reaction has been a recurring pattern in your own behavior or that of a friend.
Neuroscience and Alcohol
Alcohol significantly impacts the brain’s chemical systems. Even a few drinks can alter neurotransmitter communication, leading to disruptions in decision-making, judgment, and executive control by affecting the frontal lobe.
When the prefrontal cortex is impaired, certain brain functions go unchecked, resulting in impulsive thoughts and actions. For individuals who are already prone to anger, this impairment means they are less likely to control their impulses while drinking. Additionally, alcohol disrupts serotonin levels, which can affect mood regulation. People with lower serotonin levels are generally more prone to violence.
Alcohol, Aggression, and Violence
There is a notable connection between alcohol consumption and domestic violence. While the stereotype of the drunken husband abusing his wife persists, research indicates that heavy drinking is not the main cause of domestic violence. Most individuals who commit domestic abuse do so after consuming only a few alcoholic drinks, suggesting that their actions are not solely the result of impaired judgment from extreme intoxication.
Next Steps
If you or someone you know has experienced altercations while drinking, it may be time to evaluate whether alcohol and anger are issues in your life. You might even consider whether it’s time to stop drinking altogether. If this is not the first time you’ve thought about quitting, it could be a sign of a potential drinking problem.
Sunrise Recovery can assist in this situation. We offer personalized treatment plans tailored to the specific needs of each patient. Sunrise provides comprehensive support, including alcohol detox, counseling, therapy sessions, education on interventions, a nutritious diet, family support, spiritual care, workshops, and aftercare planning. Reach out to Sunrise Recovery today to learn more about our detox, outpatient, and inpatient alcohol rehab services.
