The role of Anger in Relapse and Drug Addiction Part 3
July 3rd, 2005 by Terry Keith
When looking at how anger can cause stress and lead to renewed drug abuse, you must not only look at the cause, but the intensity as well. What differentiates upsetting traffic that we all face every day from the time that overloads a person and leads to an all out anger fury. It is obviously the later we wish to avoid in the early stages after drug or alcohol rehab. So if we go further with yesterday’s questions, once we know our “hot buttons”, what causes them to grow into the dangerous episodes that can put sobriety at risk? Again this is an important part of drug addiction treatment and would best be started while still in drug or alcohol rehab.
What intensifies the anger response?
Hot buttons: each person has their individual triggers e.g. weaknesses in others remind us of weaknesses in our self so we get angry with others, pain in others makes us afraid and we get angry. Underneath anger are often other causes.
Family or personal history: Children tend to repeat behavior they have seen modeled. Adults tend to repeat behavior they have seen as effective when others use it e.g. in military.
Preconceived cognitions: certain thinking habits intensify anger e.g. all offenses are deliberate.
Social environment: media, workplace, home, friends.
Skill deficits: some people simply have not yet learned the skills of anger management.
Excessive self-focus: perceiving all events as about you.
inadequate rest
inadequate recreation
poor physical or mental health
poor nutrition
the influence of alcohol or drugs
All of the above can ultimately increase anger and aggression(Pg. 12 - 13 â??The Anger Management Sourcebook,â?? Glenn R. Schiraldi, Ph.D., & Melissa Hallmark Kerr, Ph.D., Contemporary Books, New York, 2002)
Substances that increase stress and the anger response
Alcohol is the most dangerous legal drug available
Drinking one or two drinks will bring on euphoria and general good feelings
Drinking more leads to the second stage characterized by depression, fatigue, nausea and general bad feelings
Alcoholic hangovers are a major source of irritability which can lead to rage and physical aggression
72% of male batterers are abusing alcohol or drugs
Nicotine and caffeine increase insulin secretion which causes swings in blood levels, resulting in irritable moods
So go through the list you created yesterday and look and see if any of the above items may pertain to you. Are there intensifiers that may comprimise your sobriety. When looking at the list above also note that while in rehab treatment most of the above factors are removed. That is why it is neccessary to have a plan on how to deal with them when you leave rehab to have the greatest chance of success.
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