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Beach House Recovery Center » Blog » “Anger Management 101” for Alcoholics in Recovery and Their Loved Ones
Anger and alcoholism often go hand in hand. On the one hand, problem drinking can begin as a mechanism (however poor) for coping with feelings of anger. On the other hand, alcohol abuse can exacerbate anger problems — hence the phenomenon of the “angry drunk,” for example. The sedative, depressive effects of alcohol can remove the conscious defenses that at other times may be masking or suppressing underlying feelings of anger.
This two-way link between anger and alcohol abuse is often most evident during detox, when clients are undergoing the physical and psychological stress of withdrawal and are unable to hide the raw intensity and turbulence of their emotions. I think of one client in alcohol detox with whom I recently was asked to speak — and who, for the sake of anonymity, we’ll call “Bob”: when I first approached him, he was screaming in the parking lot of our facility about some issues he was unhappy about. (We’ll return to Bob in just a bit.)
It may be no surprise, then, that healthy anger management is a key foothold in recovery. What follow are five tools for managing and understanding anger that hopefully will be helpful both to those in recovery and to their loved ones:
Got an anger management strategy that works well for you? Please share it with the rest of us!
Whether you’re researching for yourself or a loved one, Beach House can help. We understand that this is a serious time in your life and that the treatment center you choose matters. We want you to feel comfortable and empowered to make the right decision for yourself, a friend, or a family member. This is why a counselor is waiting and available to answer your questions and help put your mind at ease regarding the next steps. Many of the staff at Beach House have walked in your shoes. If you feel you’re ready or want more information about how to help a loved one, we can help today. You can also learn why we are voted the #1 rehab for addiction treatment in Florida.
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