The Angry Drunk: How Alcohol and Aggression Are Linked

Alcohol lowers inhibitions, so these feelings can come out as anger or aggression. You can get better at controlling the flow of anger in ways that can improve rather than harm relationships and outcomes. Research supports working on your emotional intelligence and building belief in your own capability to handle anger. Manage factors that tend to wrest control of the hose away from you, including becoming defensive, feeling shame or even suffering from a lack of sleep. Learning to self-regulate your thoughts and behaviors can help you manage the intensity of any anger you find yourself feeling. Rather than impulsively reacting, you can practice handling your emotions so you control whether you crank up your expressed anger or dial it down.

• If you were sober, you might be able to look at this logically instead, and accept it may have just been an accident.
• This is why professional guidance can be so valuable in addressing mean drunk behavior.
• The fact is that both alcohol dependence and anger don’t need to be permanent, especially with quality treatment.
• Erin is a Nurse Practitioner with 8 years of experience in midwifery and women’s health.
• This was a massive study of 33,215 individuals with no history of active military combat.

Understanding anger and aggression

Once alcohol consumption is under control, anger management can begin. It doesn’t matter how much anger you have – ignoring it doesn’t do any good. The fact is that both alcohol dependence and anger don’t need to be permanent, especially with quality treatment.

• One way to have a bit less is to alternate alcoholic drinks with a soft drink or water.
• Do you ever wonder why it feels so easy to confront your anger when you’re drinking?

Nail Biting Psychology: Understanding and Overcoming the Habit

Dr. Carlos Todd PhD LCMHC specializes in anger management, family conflict resolution, marital and premarital conflict resolution. His extensive knowledge in the field of anger management may enable you to use his tested methods to deal with your anger issues. Integrating therapy, robust support systems and personalized coping strategies is paramount to fostering sustainable progress towards emotional equilibrium.

How do you deal with an angry drunk person?

The tendency to avoid looking ahead Sober living house and assessing consequences for one’s actions is a risk factor for aggressive behavior while drinking. That may sound obvious, and it’s a theory backed by a small, interesting 2012 study from Ohio State University (9). Alcohol factors into nearly a third of all murders in the United States. Plus, alcohol-related rage and aggression are tied to intimate partner violence, verbal and physical abuse, sexual assault, violent crimes, verbal and physical altercations, and more (1).

Moreover, alcohol alcoholic rage syndrome alters the delicate balance of neurotransmitters in the brain. It enhances the effects of GABA, the brain’s primary inhibitory neurotransmitter, which typically has a calming effect. However, it also reduces the activity of glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter. This imbalance can lead to mood swings and heightened emotional responses.

• It was only when she hit him on the face trying to get free that he came to himself and realized with horror that he was completely out of control.
• Research suggests several factors may be involved, including personality, genetics, social considerations, brain chemistry, and brain changes.
• For example, if you have a family history of alcohol abuse or domestic violence, you might be more prone to aggressive behavior when drunk.
• Before you say something angry, or get into a fight remove yourself from the situation.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) interventions are widely recognized as practical approaches for both alcohol recovery and anger management.