Chronic substance abuse can make it difficult for people to manage intense emotions, including anger and rage. Many individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) have co-occurring mental health issues. Individuals under the influence of substances may express their anger in ways that harm themselves or others. Treatment for SUD involves identifying and addressing underlying problems affecting sobriety, including anger management. Bright Mission Recovery ensures clients struggling with anger issues have access to anger management classes, psychoeducation, and other treatments for stabilizing moods.
Common Anger Management Issues Experienced by Individuals With Substance Use Disorder
Anger is normal when experiencing unwanted or stressful situations. However, if anger negatively affects your quality of life, you may benefit from anger management treatment.
Some of the most common anger management disorders and symptoms experienced by individuals with SUD include:
- Intermittent explosive disorder (IED)
- Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)
- Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
- Anger related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Depression-related irritability or anger
- Poor impulse control
- Low frustration tolerance
The combination of mental health issues and chronic substance abuse may cause severe behavioral problems, including mood changes. Feelings of irritability, anger, or rage may be hard to control due to the physical and psychological changes caused by substance abuse. If you struggle to contain your anger in everyday situations, it might be helpful to participate in anger management classes. Bright Mission Recovery ensures clients can access the support they need to identify and address issues affecting emotional stability.
How Does Stabilizing Moods Address Maladaptive Anger?
Mood swings can negatively affect your mental health. Finding positive ways to manage your emotions reduces the risk of relapse and improves the effectiveness of treatment by allowing you to focus and heal. Bright Mission Recovery offers tailored treatment services, including anger management therapy and education.
Stabilizing moods using evidence-based and alternative holistic therapies reduces feelings of overwhelming anger, irritation, and rage by doing the following:
- Improving emotion regulation skills
- Reducing psychological responses to stress
- Promoting relaxation and mindfulness
- Enhancing self-awareness and self-reflection
- Increasing resilience to specific triggers
- Building healthy coping skills
Studies have shown that “[t]he main goals of anger management are to stop violence or the threat of violence and to teach clients ways to recognize and control their level of anger.” Bright Mission Recovery offers hope and healing to individuals who struggle to control their anger. You can learn to effectively manage your emotions and moods using practical coping skills.
The Importance of Stabilizing Moods During Addiction Treatment
During treatment, you will learn to identify and address issues affecting your ability to manage maladaptive behaviors or stress responses. Being able to regulate emotions and moods will make it easier to focus and do the work it takes to heal from chronic substance abuse. Anger management techniques encourage positive lifestyle changes and support lasting sobriety.
Steps You Can Take to Manage Anger Triggers and Responses
The clinical team will help you learn to recognize and manage emotional triggers. Stress, anxiety, and fear are some of the most common anger triggers. Identifying what situations, people, environments, or thoughts are most likely to trigger an angry response can give you the power to control your reactions.
You can manage anger triggers by doing the following:
- Practicing mindfulness daily to gain greater self-awareness and emotional control
- Tracking patterns and identifying anger triggers using journalling or other tools
- Using deep breathing and relaxation techniques to physically relax your body
- Creating a personalized strategy for managing situations that make you upset
- Identifying and replacing harmful and irrational thoughts or beliefs
- Expressing your feelings calmly and objectively to avoid hostility or aggression
- Setting clear boundaries to prevent escalations
- Celebrating every achievement in avoiding anger and sharing successes with loved ones
Treatment programs address anger issues with peer support and individual therapy. Anger management classes often use a group setting to facilitate mutual support and healing. According to MedlinePlus, “Anger management teaches you how to express your anger in a healthy way” while respecting other people’s boundaries.
Stabilizing Moods With Evidence-Based Treatments at Bright Mission Recovery
Bright Mission Recovery uses anger management and other therapeutic tools to support personal growth and healing. You can collaborate with the clinical team to determine what combination of evidence-based and holistic therapies will help you meet your treatment goals. Managing anger often increases positivity and may help you feel more motivated to continue actively participating in treatment.
During rehabilitation, the care team will monitor your progress and adjust your treatment plan as needed to ensure you achieve and maintain sobriety. Anger management is a helpful tool for addressing underlying issues impacting mental health and abstinence. By working with your care team to overcome anger issues, you can begin to build a solid foundation for a healthier future. Anger management classes also improve interpersonal skills, allowing you to create a stronger support system.
Unmanaged anger can be highly destabilizing and interfere with treatment for alcohol or drug abuse. Learning to identify anger triggers and manage them more effectively can reduce angry outbursts and improve overall mental health. Anger management education can help you connect thoughts, feelings, and behaviors with negative consequences. Being able to identify how maladaptive behaviors, including angry outbursts, affect relationships and personal goals makes it easier for you to manage your emotions. Bright Mission Recovery offers access to anger management classes and psychoeducation for individuals struggling with anger issues. Mood regulation and emotional stability decrease the risk of relapse and improve treatment outcomes. To learn more about our programs and therapy options, contact our office today at (747) 444-3284.