Getting angry is a normal humanistic trait that everyone feels at one point or another in their lifetime. There are some people who can control their anger and there are others who fly off the handle in a way that becomes unmanageable. The same goes with a person with substance abuse. Some may not be able to handle drugs and alcohol, but they can contain their anger under the influence. While others who abuse drugs and alcohol have the uncontrollable urge to yell and humiliate the people they come into contact with making their situation even worse.

Having a dual diagnosis that consists of an anger disorder and a substance abuse disorder needs to have mental health treatment to help a person to treat both disorders. What usually happens with this type of dual diagnosis is that someone who is angry may use drugs to manage their anger only exasperating it much worse. When they get sober, there is also a chance their anger can become more volatile without the numbing effects of drugs and alcohol to help calm them down.

A person with an addiction and an anger disorder needs help to sort through the issues that are causing the anger. Most people with an addiction try to suppress their feelings they go through concerning a traumatic incident that happened to them in their past that may include sexual molestation, rape, or a loved one’s death. Instead of dealing with the feelings they have, they will drink or use over the rage caused from not working through the apprehensions that have become built up from that incident.

Getting help for a dual diagnosis is doable by determining what the root cause of the anger and working to fix the burden that surrounds it. Individual and group therapy, relapse prevention, and anger management education are suggested by The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as a plan of action to learn effective tools to learn how to manage emotions and cravings.

• Gaining support and encouragement from others who also need support with anger and substance abuse.
• Grasping how to handle anger and to avoid using anger as an escape for a relapse.
• Acquiring new techniques for controlling thoughts and actions when an episode of anger begins to develop.
• Stopping violence before it happens.

With the proper recovery tools, a person who suffers with an addiction and an anger disorder can find a way to comprehend their emotions to prevent any further affliction from ruling over their life.  

Here at The Kimberly Center, we offer a variety of recovery programs that are designed to help our clients with their substance abuse. We treat our clients on an individual basis to help them transition into a new life of sobriety.

Call us today to begin: 855-4-KCENTER (855-452-3683)