Individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) have a higher risk of developing unhealthy behaviors and may struggle with emotion regulation. Some people may find it challenging to process or control strong emotions, including anger or frustration. Anger management is an important part of rehabilitation for many clients with SUD. Driftwood Recovery offers anger management treatment and referrals to outside services that address anger-related mental health disorders.
Understanding Anger
Anger is a normal emotional response to frustrating or irritating circumstances. However, anger may become unhealthy if it begins to negatively affect a person’s ability to function. Anger-related mental health disorders, including intermittent explosive disorder (IED) or oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), may profoundly affect recovery from substance use disorder. Identifying and addressing the source of unhealthy anger improves treatment outcomes for individuals in rehabilitation. Understanding anger helps clients regulate emotions more effectively.
What Contributes to Angry Episodes?
Some of the most common factors contributing to episodes of anger, frustration, and rage include:
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Trauma
- Abuse or neglect
- Substance abuse
- Relationship conflicts
Everyone has different triggers for anger, irritation, and frustration. Treatment programs at Driftwood Recovery help clients identify areas of their lives affected by anger and learn more effective ways to respond to stressors.
The Impact of Anger on Mental and Physical Health
Anger affects mental and physical health. For example, according to the Journal of Medicine and Life, “[A]nger and hostility are associated not only with the risk of coronary disease (CHD) among healthy populations but also with a negative prognosis in the case of individuals struggling with these diseases.”
Unhealthy anger may also contribute to the following conditions:
- Eating disorders (EDs)
- Type 2 diabetes
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other gastrointestinal issues
- Tension headaches or migraines
- Weakened immune system due to increased stress
Professional mental health treatment reduces the risk of health complications caused by chronic and unmanaged anger.
Knowing When to Get Help
Some of the warning signs of unhealthy anger include:
- Physical reactions, including increased heart rate, high blood pressure, muscle tension, and headaches
- Behavioral outbursts, including yelling, recklessness, road rage, screaming, or being verbally aggressive
- Emotion dysregulation and difficulty managing irritation or frustration
- Holding a grudge or frequently being resentful of others
- Social isolation and withdrawal from friends or family members
- Using unhealthy coping mechanisms to manage anger, including substance abuse
Knowing when to get help may reduce the lasting effects of anger issues.
Getting to the Root Cause of Anger With Driftwood Recovery
Driftwood Recovery offers multiple treatment programs, including
- Inpatient treatment
- Outpatient services
- Courageous family program
- Community Integration Program (CIP)
Clients can choose from comprehensive outpatient or residential care programs to treat SUD and co-occurring anger issues.
Comprehensive Therapies to Help Manage Anger and Addiction
Treatment programs address addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders, including anger-related issues. Individual and group therapy sessions help clients manage their anger effectively to reduce the risk of relapse and promote healthy lifestyle changes.
Some of the comprehensive therapeutic modalities offered during treatment include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Family therapy
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
Anger management generally includes evidence-based and holistic therapies. Most people respond better to tailored services that address their unique needs and preferences. For individuals with anger issues, personalized care may involve multiple modalities, including psychotherapy, meditation, mindfulness-based techniques, and peer support.
Coping Strategies for Emotional Instability and Anger Management
Emotional instability is a common side effect of substance use disorder and often contributes to anger management issues. Driftwood Recovery provides clients with the skills and resources to create effective coping strategies for maintaining positive mental health. Clients learn to identify areas of their lives causing emotional distress and how to manage them using practical coping skills, including mindfulness techniques, support systems, and positive self-talk.
Practical Stress Management
Individuals in early recovery may experience unexpected challenges and setbacks. Practical stress management strategies reduce the risk of adverse side effects during recovery by increasing self-control, self-confidence, and self-efficacy. Clients build resilience and minimize stress using healthy and practical coping skills. Driftwood Recovery prepares clients with anger issues for ongoing recovery by giving them the tools to manage their feelings.
Long-Term Success With Our Anger Management Treatment
Anger management treatment helps clients change their thoughts about themselves, their condition, and their circumstances. By adjusting how they process and express emotions, clients learn to develop healthier reactions to anger triggers. Long-term success in anger management generally involves skill development and multiple forms of therapy.
Develop Coping Mechanisms for Anger Management
People need to develop healthy coping mechanisms to replace maladaptive behaviors like angry outbursts. Clinicians work closely with clients to determine what coping strategies may provide them with the most effective emotional relief during and after treatment. Clients incorporate coping skills into their recovery plan and receive support in using them to manage everyday stressors.
Setting Realistic Goals to Build Motivation
Everyone has different needs, expectations, and goals during rehabilitation. Individuals with anger issues will experience fewer unintended emotional outbursts if they set realistic expectations for their treatment and long-term recovery. Driftwood Recovery helps clients and their loved ones develop achievable goals for addiction recovery.
Family Therapy and Educating Families on Anger Management
Family engagement in treatment improves the effectiveness of therapy and other services. Clinicians use family therapy and educational opportunities to prepare families for lasting sobriety by giving them ways to support loved ones in treatment. Anger issues often cause family tension or conflict. Addressing these issues in therapy improves mental health for individuals in recovery and creates healthier family dynamics.
Ongoing Community Support With Driftwood Recovery
Community support provides clients with additional resources and accountability. Clients often manage anger more effectively if they have a support network and welcoming community to help them navigate challenges in early recovery. Driftwood Recovery offers tailored therapy sessions and other services, including peer and community activities. Overcoming anger is easier in a community that supports and uplifts one another.
Many individuals with substance use disorder struggle to manage anger and other strong emotions. Driftwood Recovery offers comprehensive anger management therapy and other services to help clients regain control of their lives. To learn more about our programs, call us today at (512) 759-8330.
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