“He’s a mean drunk.” This is a line you’ve probably heard in a movie, on TV, or even in real life. From the surface, it almost sounds like the unnamed individual is being mean because he’s drunk. But how true is this? Was the anger already there before this individual consumed alcohol, or was it truly a state that was brought out by the alcohol? While some may believe displaying anger after drinking is a sign of suppressing anger when sober, new studies show a link between alcohol and emotions of anger, stress, and depression.
If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol abuse and anger issues, Vertava Health’s alcohol addiction treatment can help. Call us at 844.470.0410 to learn about ways to improve any issues of alcohol and anger.
The Chemistry Behind Alcohol and Anger Issues
Alcohol is classified as a depressant. It suppresses certain parts of the central nervous system. Some individuals may consider alcohol’s effects to be more of a stimulant, meaning that after a drink or two, they loosen up and are ready to go out, socialize, or relax. While this effect may be true for some individuals, after a few drinks, the depressant effects of alcohol start to make their appearance.
While stimulants, such as coffee and Adderall, target dopamine receptors in the brain, alcohol and other depressants target the brain’s GABA receptors. GABA, which stands for gamma-aminobutyric acid, is a receptor in the brain that directly influences your cognitive and inhibitory actions. What that means is GABA has an effect on functions such as fine motor skills, speech, sight, reaction time, natural inhibitions, and emotions. This can also be responsible for the stimulating feeling some individuals get when drinking alcohol. Even though they may feel more awake and energetic, this is simply a false mask put on by your brain to cover the fatigue alcohol is genuinely causing.
Alcohol and Anger
Alcohol abuse and anger issues can go hand in hand, as alcohol can be a trigger for those with anger issues. When someone consumes an alcoholic beverage, their inhibitions and natural ability to filter out their emotions are affected. This can then lead to an inability to control their anger and any feelings of hostility that may arise.
There is a complex relationship between alcohol and anger, as the effects of alcohol on our brain can both inhibit or stimulate angry feelings depending on a variety of factors, including individual physiology, how much alcohol has been consumed, and even the situation in which someone is drinking.
Signs of alcohol-influenced anger or aggression can include:
- Fighting or bickering with close friends while drinking
- Breaking up with a spouse or significant other while drunk
- Saying things you “don’t mean” while drunk
- Drinking because you are angry, stressed, or depressed
- Failure to give empathy or sympathy to others when drinking
- Breaking or damaging objects during or after drinking
There are many telltale signs that can point to a trend of associating anger and alcohol. If you find yourself constantly having to apologize after a night of drinking, or if many of your issues with a relationship come out while drinking, you may be at risk for alcohol use disorder. Always look out for such signs, and know when a pattern or trend emerges.
What Is Alcohol Abuse?
Alcohol use is defined by an individual’s behavior surrounding their consumption of alcohol. This can include habits developed, actions taken, and consequences ignored while drinking.
Common signs of alcohol abuse include:
- Taking dangerous or unnecessary risks while drinking
- Missing daily responsibilities because of drinking
- Associating drinking with emotions of stress, anger, and depression
- Lying to loved ones regarding the consumption of alcohol
- Developing routines or habits around the consumption of alcohol
- Hurting social, personal, and professional relationships because of drinking
- Ignoring negative consequences that could happen because of drinking
A good example of an individual who uses alcohol would be someone who gets into physical or verbal fights while drinking, generally involving someone who would not typically display aggressiveness when sober. For this individual, the impulsive action of initiating a fight with someone else takes higher precedence than the possible negative consequences or legal risks associated with the fight.
Another example of alcohol use could be an individual that calls into work ‘sick’ because of a hangover or misses spending time with their children or family due to the effects of drinking. In this case, especially when done on a semi-regular basis, alcohol has begun to interfere with daily responsibilities and both personal and professional relationships negatively.
An individual who drinks because they feel emotions of stress or anger can also be indicative of an alcohol use disorder. On the flip side of this, an individual who maintains a generally calm demeanor while sober, yet displays actions of anger and stress after drinking, can also indicate an alcohol use disorder.
Get Help Today at Vertava Health
Do you believe you or a loved one is suffering from anger or aggression related to alcohol abuse? Anger and alcohol can ruin relationships and create many issues in your personal, social, and professional life. Contact us today at 844.470.0410 to learn how treatment can improve alcohol abuse and anger issues.
