What Is The Difference Between Anger And Addiction
In the same way that grief and joy are common, so is anger. Still, destructive outbursts of rage are rarely the norm.
People who experience sudden, intense anger for no apparent reason generally suffer from rage problems. Having an ongoing issue with rage can have serious consequences for one’s mental health.
To begin, the brain releases endorphins when a person becomes angered. A high from this chemical might make one feel like they’re on top of the world.
As a result of this chemical reaction, many who experience rage fits simultaneously feel a boost of energy which might seem cathartic, allowing them to validate the reasons for losing their temper as a means of self-expression.
However, if not treated, anger problems and frequent rage can escalate into violence and lead to substance abuse. In order to begin treating the symptoms of rage and addiction, it’s important to first understand the root causes.
The Different Manifestations Of Anger and Rage
The Different anger Manifestations
There are three different forms of rage that the human brain may process. To begin, the most harmful form of rage is overt aggression. Verbal and physical abuse are symptoms of this sort of violent anger. Aggressive people are both hostile and dangerous to be around. They may also resort to bullying, manipulation, or blackmailing others in an effort to vent their rage and bend others to their will. Secondly, one of the most common, and insidious, expressions of negative emotion is passive aggressiveness. A passive-aggressive individual is one who feels angry but is unable to express it directly. Finally, the third type of anger is that which may manifest itself in a positive way – this type is referred to as assertive anger. Using this tactic, you can train yourself to channel your feelings of anger into self-assertion and productive action, which may result in a dispute resolution without many of the harmful effects of both violent anger and passive aggression.
How anger and addiction become a cycle
Addiction and anger often go hand in hand. Someone with serious anger issues, for instance, might turn to drugs or alcohol to deal with their distress.
Unfortunately, substance abuse results in heightened levels of anger and irritability. If you’ve ever wondered why addicts seem so irrationally enraged, it’s because they’re either suffering withdrawal or a very powerful high.
Added to this, outside triggers, such as financial difficulties, stressful job conditions, or marital strife, can sometimes set off a person’s anger problems.
On the other hand, some people simply have a temperament that makes them prone to anger. For example, there are those who suffer from a mental illness that might manifest itself as hostility. Problems with alcohol, anxiety, and depression are the most common examples of such conditions.
Young people who were exposed to domestic violence are also more prone to display anger problems and substance abuse problems as adults.
However, as the cycle of addiction continues in an effort to cope with suppressed feelings of rage, the addict’s anger issues only worsen as a result of the chemical effects of the substance they are abusing, resulting in a vicious cycle of anger and addiction that can be extremely destructive for both the addict and their loved ones.
Dual diagnosis of anger and addiction
We often underestimate the impact that anger may have on our lives. Individuals who are exposed to high levels of anger and violence as children are more prone to struggle with substance abuse as adults.
Learning healthy ways to deal with anger can be a crucial step toward finding and maintaining sobriety. Keeping your anger under control can aid in your recovery from addiction.
An individual with both a substance abuse disorder and a preexisting mental illness is said to have a “dual diagnosis.” This means you have both mental health issues and addiction problems which must be addressed simultaneously.
A patient with a dual diagnosis requires specialized treatment. The person may, for instance, require treatment for both their mental problem and their addiction. The most effective therapies for mental health conditions will focus on both of these issues at once, resulting in comprehensive treatment and far-reaching, healthy coping mechanisms.
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