The Angry Drunk: How Alcohol and Aggression Are Linked

If a problem is ongoing or does not seem to have an adequate solution, you should be prepared to make some changes in your life. Substance misuse won’t resolve problems, it will only cause more. If taking time out doesn’t help, find a way to put your anger to good use. Exercises, such as running or kickboxing, can be a good way to burn off any rage.

What’s Behind the “Angry Drunk” Phenomenon.

Anger management therapy is one of the best options available for helping you understand your emotions and find effective ways to cope with them. Less cognitive function also means that you may misunderstand something and, in turn, overreact. However, it can be harmful and destructive if you cannot control your anger. Impulsivity and rage with alcohol may also be a result of genetics. Some people have a genetic variation of the serotonin 2B receptor gene HTR2B.

Have plenty of drink-free days

Even if they don’t engage in any bad behaviour, poor sleep or a hangover may mean that the person won’t be functional the next day, which will put anyone in a bad mood. These programs organize your treatment session based on your schedule. The goal of outpatient treatment is to provide therapy, education, and support in a flexible environment. You'll live in safe, substance-free housing and have access to professional medical monitoring. BetterHelp offers affordable mental health care via phone, video, or live-chat.

Alcohol Myopia and Aggression

A combination of the toxic effects of alcohol and the withdrawal from the effects of alcohol causes a hangover. Find out about the link between alcohol and anger, and the things you can do to stop getting aggressive when you’ve had a drink. Both alcohol and anger make it hard to think straight on their own. When the two are present together, a person is highly likely to become involved in something they wouldn’t otherwise do and might regret later. We know that alcohol makes people do stupid Halfway house things, so for some, it’s an excuse to do whatever they want.

Abuse and other Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) dramatically increase the chance that a person will end up abusing drugs and alcohol themselves in the future. For people who love or are living with an alcoholic, this sudden flip in behavior can be bewildering. Alcoholic-fueled outbursts often alcohol and aggression leave innocent bystanders feeling lost, wondering why are alcoholics mean, or why this loved one is treating them so terribly. In severe cases, individuals may experience hallucinations, seizures, or delirium tremens, which is a life-threatening condition. It’s important to seek medical support as withdrawal can be dangerous. Medical professionals can provide support, medication, and monitoring to ensure a safe detoxification process.

Health Conditions

• In fact, drinking too much can not only cause lasting physical damage but can leave behind deep emotional scars, too.
• However, anger may be a mask for another emotion, such as humiliation, regret, envy, insecurity, or betrayal.
• Smarmore Castle has the facilities and staff to help you regain control of your life, request a call-back from one of our professionals today.
• Groups like Al-Anon or Al-Teen are available to help support people who have been affected by a loved one’s alcoholism.

Understanding why are alcoholics so mean to the ones they love is the first step in addressing the broader issue of alcoholism. The Ohana Addiction Treatment Center focuses on healing the individual and helping our clients mend their relationships. If you or someone you care about feels trapped in the cycle of alcohol and anger, please don’t hesitate to contact us now. Although anger management may be a proactive approach, it can also be helpful to stop drinking alcohol or learn to control your drinking. However, sometimes, controlling your drinking isn’t that easy – you may need professional support.

In others, anger is present before drinking and drinking brings out that anger. Those expectations can also arise from what we’ve learned about alcohol from family members and peers. If you had a parent who was frequently enraged while drunk, you may expect that response in yourself when drinking and therefore exhibit it. Using a personality questionnaire, an aggression scale, and alcohol use and history assessments, researchers compared 156 people without the gene with 14 people who have it. Researchers were studying people in the Finnish population, of which more than 100,000 people have the genetic variation. In rodent studies, glutamine is linked to heightened agitation and aggression during alcohol withdrawal (7).

• The family and friends of the alcoholic are often on the receiving end of the lies, deceit, and manipulation from the very person who claims to love them.
• Getting rid of hangxiety involves resting, avoiding anxiety-provoking challenges during the episode, staying with a supportive person, getting something to eat, and staying hydrated.
• In societies where aggression is linked to masculinity, you’ll often find higher rates of alcohol-related violence.
• The journal Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology reports on studies showing that alcohol can increase aggression in both men and women, but more so in men.
• They were more likely than those without the variation to have a history of outbursts and fights while drinking, as well as to have been arrested for driving under the influence.

Contact us today to start your journey toward a healthier, more balanced life free from the destructive influence of alcohol. On the flip side, alcohol dependence commonly leads to significant withdrawal symptoms that are often side effects of alcohol addiction. Emotional withdrawal symptoms can include agitation, anxiety, depression, irritability, and tension as well as sleep disturbances, insomnia, and physical discomfort.

What Should I Do When I Feel Hangxiety?

This therapy helps individuals understand the triggers and thought processes that lead to their aggressive behavior when drinking. By recognizing these patterns, they can learn new coping strategies and ways of thinking that may reduce the likelihood of violent outbursts. Interestingly enough, research shows that approximately 25% of people who consume alcohol fall into the category of ‘angry drunks’. That’s right – one in four drinkers could potentially show signs of aggression when under the influence! Drinking cocktails that include energy drinks should be considered a possible factor for aggressive behavior as well.

Without the OFC doing its job of calming those intense emotions, a person can have a strong reaction (2). Alcohol causes changes in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), leading to disinhibition. In therapy, you can expect to explore the root causes of your anger, learn techniques to manage your anger, and develop coping skills. Taking the first step toward change can be tough, but you’re not alone. Whether you have questions or just need someone to guide you, our compassionate team is here to help 24/7. “People who were present-focused and drunk shocked their opponents longer and harder than anyone else in the study,” researcher Brad Bushman of Ohio State University told ScienceDaily.