Author: James Anderson

Understanding Alcohol and Anger’s Connection

Research has shown that thought suppression may contribute to alcohol-related aggression. One study supporting this finding enlisted 245 men with a history of heavy episodic alcohol use (Berke et al., 2020). They completed surveys assessing their endorsement of traditional masculine norms, use of thought suppression, and both trait and alcohol-related aggression. It was found that thought suppression mediated the association between the toughness masculine norm and alcohol-related aggression. When someone battles AUD, they are also less likely to consistently take care of regular obligations, which can impact interpersonal relationships and their home environment.

Stress also affects focus and attention abilities, and heightens energy while decreasing appetite and sleep functions. Some people are more prone to trouble controlling their anger while drinking than others. People who are more focused on the present than the future are more likely to become angry and aggressive under the influence of alcohol, for example, Science Daily publishes.

Alcohol use can also affect how antidepressants work, which can affect depression treatment. Depending on the frequency of your use, you may need to discuss alcohol tapering strategies with your doctor. Heavy drinkers can experience severe and sometimes life threatening symptoms when reducing alcohol intake, so it’s important to have medical support. According to a review from 2017, alcohol is more likely to cause personality shifts related to negative emotions, but that doesn’t mean anger is the most common emotional experience while drinking. If you live with underlying anger challenges, for example, it may not be as noticeable when you’re sober because your frontal lobe allows you to manage your emotions and your behaviors.

Depressive symptoms can result from life stressors, mental health conditions, medical conditions, and other factors. Drinking persistently and excessively can increase your risk of developing a major depressive disorder. It can also aggravate symptoms of pre-existing depression and endanger your health and mental health. The link between alcohol and anger has to do with alcohol’s ability to remove your inhibitions and disrupt your emotional regulation.

Understanding Anger and Aggression

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. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), nearly 8 million adults in the United States struggled with both a mental health disorder and addiction in 2014. When a person struggles with both alcohol addiction and anger management problems, the issues exacerbate each other. Alcohol withdrawal can be potentially life-threatening, in the case of severe dependence. Medical detox is typically considered the optimal method for allowing alcohol to safely process out of the body while under continual medical supervision.

1. The individuals who had higher mental rigidity had lower empathy and perception of the severity of IPV.
2. If you experience symptoms of depression for most of the day, every day, for a few weeks, the NHS advises you to contact your GP surgery to get help.
3. Naltrexone, Acamprosate, and disulfiram are also FDA-approved medications that can help curb alcohol cravings.
4. A drink once in a while when you’re stressed out or blue is one thing.
5. That means any amount you drink can make you more likely to get the blues.

One study found that chronic alcohol use decreases the function in the prefrontal cortex, which plays a key role in impulse control. “Trait anger” refers to a person’s general tendency to experience chronic anger over time. An angry person tends to seek out stimuli that activate feelings of anger.

“Depression and alcohol misuse are often tied because we take a depressant to counter a chemical depression which only makes it worse.” A good way of keeping track of how much you’re drinking – to help spot patterns, avoid your triggers and stay within the low risk drinking guidelines – is with the MyDrinkaware app. If you find yourself in a situation with someone who is angry while intoxicated, the first step is to assess your level of risk. There’s a difference in safety between someone who is expressing anger verbally and one who has become physically aggressive. Extreme emotions that are usually hidden from others, like anger and sadness, may be more noticeable when you drink because you’re less able to conceal and manage them. When they come out, others notice them because they’re not a part of the everyday social experience.

The study concluded that alcohol increased the odds of physical aggression in those men who had high trait anger and poor anger management skills. It also noted that sexual aggression was higher with alcohol, even in men with low trait anger and reasonable anger management skills. Alcohol can provoke different emotional responses for different people.

Links between Anger, Aggression, and Alcohol Addiction

An earlier study found that alcohol use enhanced aggression primarily among individuals who showed a heightened disposition for such behavior (Eckhardt and Crane, 2008). They were directed to engage in a task with the potential to trigger aggressive verbalizations, with those who consumed alcohol showing significantly more such behavior. Another way that depression could lead someone to drink alcohol is through changes in their brain as a result of depression. These changes can heighten the physiological “rewards” of alcohol and increase the likelihood that they will continue their pattern of drinking.

Alcoholics anonymous (AA) and alcohol treatment centers offer classes and support group meetings. In these, you can also find support from others in the same situation. It helps people understand events and thought processes that lead to depression and substance misuse. Your doctor will likely conduct a physical exam and a psychological evaluation. These tests help them calculate your risk factors for either condition.

This may explain why they are angry more often and act more aggressively than someone who does not have this personality trait. Over time, your brain’s reward pathway builds tolerance and requires more and more dopamine (via alcohol) to feel pleasure. This can lead to addiction and feelings of depression in the absence of the rewarding substance. Alcohol consumption can lead to feelings of depression due to chemical reactions. In the short term, drinking alcohol can make you feel good, sociable, and even euphoric.

Why is anger so common among people who drink?

Likewise, if you’re diagnosed with one of these conditions, your doctor may ask about symptoms of the other. This is a common part of diagnosis because both so frequently occur together. Alcohol use disorder and depression are two conditions that often occur together. What’s more, one can make the other worse in a cycle that’s pervasive and problematic if not addressed and treated. Studies of twins have shown that the same things that lead to heavy drinking in families also make depression more likely.

It’s a natural human response when life seems unfair or something you value is under threat. Alcohol is known for its ability to amplify emotional expression and inhibition. While it may seem like anger is the most common emotion caused by alcohol, it may not be that straightforward.