Anger and addiction have a close connection for many patients in recovery. In fact, unresolved or misplaced anger could compromise patients’ success. Consequently, during recovery, patients who have anger issues need therapy to learn methods of managing it. In doing so, they can improve their chances of making a full recovery from addiction and have a lower likelihood of relapse after. Pines Recovery Life Detox knows how to help individuals improve their mental health and address their anger issues.
Effects of Anger and Addiction on the Body and Mind
Anger does more than damage relationships with friends, loved ones, and coworkers. Chronic, untreated anger also causes physical and mental harm that may include the following signs:
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
- Guilt over outbursts
- Drug or alcohol addiction
- Increases risk of heart disease
- Internal organ damage from being in a constant state of stress
These complications of anger make learning anger management techniques essential for elongating and improving life. However, getting help for anger can be difficult. In fact, some people feel alienated or alone because they’ve pushed their loved ones away with their anger. But, getting help could allow them to heal those relationships, reduce the impacts of anger on their health, and make strides toward addiction recovery.
Anger and Addiction Recovery
Even for people who don’t think they have anger problems, anger management may become vital during recovery. During drug or alcohol addiction, the substances often used numb strong emotions, such as anger. However, when people quit using drugs or alcohol in a recovery program, the anger that the substances held at bay emerge. In fact, the process of recovery typically comes with many emotions. The good news for patients at a recovery center is they have support from staff for dealing with these difficult emotions.
During addiction recovery, patients learn ways to handle their emotions during rehab and after. By going through therapy to unlock helpful anger management methods, patients may have a better chance of avoiding relapse after leaving the program.
The Importance of Anger Management in Addiction Recovery
Anger management is a key part of recovering from drug or alcohol addiction. In fact, managing anger is important both during recovery and after.
During recovery, patients attend therapy sessions to teach them methods to help them learn alternatives to anger outbursts and healthier outlets for anger. Some patients may benefit from advice from other patients in the recovery program during group therapy sessions. Patients can talk to each other about their recovery successes, hurdles, and more in an environment overseen by a therapist.
Individual therapy, such as dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), is another treatment a patient may receive in recovery. DBT may be useful because it consists of mindfulness, emotion regulation, and distress tolerance. Patients who learn these can handle anger and other strong emotions in healthier ways.
When patients have anger management issues and need help with their family relationships, the treatment team may recommend family therapy. This type of therapy brings the patient and their loved ones together to help the patient’s pursuit of recovery while helping them to rebuild any strained relationships caused by the addiction, anger, or other issues.
With good anger management techniques, recovery from alcohol or drug addiction is possible. A recovery facility that understands the connection between anger and addiction and helps patients with both can help patients with these issues. With the right therapy to combat addiction and anger, patients may leave rehab knowing healthier methods of dealing with frustrations and irritations that once prompted angry responses or substance use.
Reach Out to Pines Recovery Life Detox to Find Anger Management Services
Getting help for both anger and addiction issues starts here at Pines Recovery Life Detox in South Florida. We provide detox and residential levels of care for our patients to get the therapies they need to get on the road to recovery. Phone at 800.263.3869 or let us know a good time to reach out by completing our contact form. We’re ready to help each of our patients to overcome their personal obstacles to drug or alcohol addiction recovery.
