It affects parts of your brain responsible for movement, memory, self-control, and basic functions like hunger and thirst. Instead, each participant randomly lost the game about half the time and was led to believe another person was delivering shocks to them during each loss. But effects to other neurotransmitters, including gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamine, may also be involved. So, someone may not be able to grasp the bigger picture of a situation. Instead, they may zoom in on a particularly small thing and have an overly aggressive response (2). Alcohol’s ability to temporarily reduce anxiety can also intensify the urge to act on impulse.
- For example, if a person goes into a drinking experience with the expectation of alcohol helping them pick a fight with a partner later, that’s then likely to happen.
- People known to have anger outbursts on alcohol can end up destroying relationships.
- Over time Ryan came to better understand factors that contributed to his drinking, including his anger and increased aggression when drinking.
- An earlier study found that alcohol use enhanced aggression primarily among individuals who showed a heightened disposition for such behavior (Eckhardt and Crane, 2008).
Managing and understanding the triggers for this aggressive behavior is critical when dealing with an angry inebriated individual especially when attempting to diffuse the situation. Outpatient programs are benzo belly often part of aftercare programs once you complete an inpatient or PHP program. It is important for people undergoing treatment to have a stable and supportive home environment without access to drugs and alcohol. These programs typically last 30, 60, or 90 days, sometimes longer.
Neurochemical Changes
You may find yourself walking on eggshells to avoid an alcohol-induced anger outburst. Additionally, there is evidence that chemical and biological factors play a role. People with higher levels of testosterone are more likely to be aggressive. Alcohol severely decreases cognitive function, which makes it harder to problem-solve, make safe decisions, and control aggression. Lack of impulse control can make someone fly into a fit of rage or become aggressive rapidly. Alcohol makes it more difficult to control anger and other emotions.
At first, drinking can often make someone feel giddy or euphoric. Intimate partner violence is of great concern when it comes to alcohol and anger. Violence can occur in liberty cap gills marriages, long-term partnerships, and dating relationships. Impulsive attacks and angry outbursts occur suddenly, with little or no warning. These bouts may occur often or be separated by weeks or months. Verbal outbursts or less severe physical attacks may still occur in between these times.
You also can ask for a referral to a mental health professional. Over time Ryan came to better understand factors that contributed to his drinking, including his anger and increased aggression when drinking. Therapy assisted him in recognizing how past wounds contributed to his vulnerability to both anger and alcohol use. After much consideration, he eventually celebrities with fetal alcohol syndrome joined an alcohol treatment program as I helped him grieve his wounds and manage his anger. Interestingly, those in the control group tended to misidentify expressions as happy. Many people enjoy alcoholic drinks as a way of relaxing, sometimes to reduce the tension of socializing or to quiet an overactive mind.
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.
Brain chemistry, alcohol, and rage
I’ve observed this pattern over several decades in helping clients deal with anger. This disinhibiting aspect of alcohol in effect paves the way for feelings to dominate thoughts and behavior. Many people who have an alternate personality when they drink look back on it clarity when they sober up. Sometimes the shame of facing the things they did while intoxicated causes them to start drinking again, proliferating a vicious circle of substance use and abuse.
Drinking cocktails that include energy drinks should be considered a possible factor for aggressive behavior as well. Researchers surveyed 175 young adults who mixed alcohol with caffeinated energy drinks about their verbal and physical aggression in bar conflicts. Results showed enough escalation in people consuming these drinks to label the beverages a “potential risk” to increased hostility.
The Truth Behind Alcohol and Anger
You’ll meet millions of fellow Reframers in our 24/7 Forum chat and daily Zoom check-in meetings. Receive encouragement from people worldwide who know exactly what you’re going through! You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with our licensed Reframe coaches for more personalized guidance. The Reframe app equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to not only survive drinking less, but to thrive while you navigate the journey.
The FHE Health team is committed to providing accurate information that adheres to the highest standards of writing. This is part of our ongoing commitment to ensure FHE Health is trusted as a leader in mental health and addiction care. Now that we know what alcoholic rage syndrome is, can we do anything about it? In other words, can we make our inner “Tammy” or “Jimmy” (or whatever name your boozy alter-ego might have) stay away for good? Sometimes medications may be used in alcohol addiction treatment. These medicines can help reduce the negative side effects of detoxification and withdrawal.
The existence of an angry “crazy drunk person” is often featured in TV shows and movies because of the rising drama and action they bring to an entertaining storyline. In other words, we’re likely to do things — including giving others an earful as soon as we feel irked — without thinking about the potential fallout. We might also misread social cues and lash out in response to perceived slights, nonexistent threats, or frustrations. Take our short alcohol quiz to learn where you fall on the drinking spectrum and if you might benefit from quitting or cutting back on alcohol.
Anger Treatment Options
Literature from PubMed Central indicates that alcohol-related aggression often occurs among individuals who engage in chronic alcohol consumption and have become dependent. 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). Mental rigidity and alcohol consumption have been explored as contributing to domestic violence. One such study included 136 men with a history of intimate partner violence (IPV) (Estruch, 2017). The individuals who had higher mental rigidity had lower empathy and perception of the severity of IPV.
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