Substance Use and Anger: Finding Healthy Coping Mechanisms
When Substance Use and Anger Collide: Finding Healthy Coping Mechanisms
Many people turn to substances like alcohol with the intention of relaxation and enjoyment. However, for some individuals, substance use can have the opposite effect, triggering anger and aggression. This transformation can be so dramatic that it appears as though the person has undergone a complete personality change. What explains this connection between substance use and anger?
Can substance use trigger anger?
According to the American Psychological Association, anger’s effects can potentially lead to substance use (formerly substance “abuse”) alongside impaired decision-making and various mental and physical health concerns. People might initially use substances to self-medicate their anger, which paradoxically may intensify their anger, creating a difficult cycle to break.
The phenomenon of substance-related angry behavior is so well recognized that it has spawned cultural stereotypes, particularly around alcohol. But do substances actually cause anger?
While this potential connection is commonly assumed, researchers have not reached definitive conclusions. One study indicates “weak support for biased anger perception following acute alcohol consumption.” Scientists continue to investigate whether substances directly cause anger or if they simply amplify pre-existing tendencies toward anger.
Substances, inhibition, and anger
Evidence suggests that pre-existing personality factors play a significant role in how someone behaves when using substances—after all, not everyone becomes angry when consuming alcohol or other substances. Research has found that individuals, particularly men, are more likely to become aggressive after substance use if they already show a predisposition to anger on personality assessments.
Rather than creating anger, substances may simply make people who are already prone to anger more likely to express those feelings. This aligns with our understanding that many substances reduce behavioral inhibitions, causing people to engage in behaviors they would typically avoid when sober.
Substances and aggression
While they may overlap in certain ways, anger and aggression represent different concepts. Simply put, anger is an emotion, while aggression is an action.
Substantial evidence indicates that substances like alcohol can affect brain function in ways that promote aggressive behavior. Research has concluded that substance use decreases a person’s ability to accurately process social cues, making them more likely to perceive hostility in others. Consequently, people under the influence may respond with increased anger and aggression while being less able to recognize when someone is trying to de-escalate a conflict.
These effects appear related to decreased functioning in the amygdala, a brain region involved in threat assessment, emotion processing, and social behavior management. Neurological studies also suggest that substance use can disrupt activity in frontal lobe regions associated with self-awareness and introspection. This means that when under the influence, you may struggle to reflect on your behavior and recognize abnormal aggression. You might also find it harder to identify when your anger is unjustified.
The patterns described represent potential effects of short-term substance use, but these may intensify with prolonged, excessive use. A 2021 review of existing research noted that long-term substance use results in structural changes to brain regions associated with:
- Self-control
- Impulsivity
- Emotional processing
- Decision-making
These changes could mean that heavy substance users become increasingly unable to manage their anger and more prone to act on it over time. Research consistently links substance use, particularly alcohol, with violent crimes, including aggravated assault, rape, and homicide. Consider these statistics linking alcohol consumption with violent crime:
- A 2013 study of New York alcohol outlets concluded that for every one-hour increase in weekly business hours, aggravated assaults and non-gun violence increased significantly, even after controlling for outlet density.
- 27% of all aggravated assaults are committed by individuals who have used alcohol. This percentage more than doubles when restricted to instances of domestic violence.
- On average, 48% of homicide offenders are reportedly under the influence of alcohol at the time of the offense.
Other factors affecting substance-related aggression
Researchers have identified several factors that may increase the likelihood of post-substance use aggression. One is a mental orientation toward the present rather than the future. Though “living in the moment” is often considered positive, researchers found that individuals more focused on the present were also more likely to respond aggressively to irritations after using substances.
Your beliefs about substances may also play a role: A 2012 study stated that a person is more likely to become angry when using substances if that is what they expect to happen. People raised in environments where substance use frequently accompanies violence might be predisposed to hostility when they use substances.
Another potentially important personality trait is rumination—the tendency to dwell on negative feelings and distressing experiences. Researchers report that people who show high levels of rumination are more likely to act aggressively when using substances.
Can anger lead to increased substance use?
Individuals who experience strong tendencies toward anger may turn to substances in an attempt to improve their mood or distract themselves from their feelings. Substances are often used as self-management tools when other coping mechanisms are unavailable. When used excessively, this method of self-management can lead to substance use disorders and comorbid mental and physical health conditions, such as depression, which is also a known risk factor for substance use disorders.
Evidence also suggests that people with higher baseline levels of anger may have more difficulty recovering from substance use disorders. A study following 100 individuals in treatment found that those scoring higher on personality measures of anger were more likely to relapse within a year.
These tendencies can create a loop where people use substances to avoid their anger but instead damage their mental health, leading them to return to substances for relief.
Managing substance use and anger
If chronic anger and substance use reinforce each other, how can someone break free from this cycle? Here are several coping strategies that might help. Please note that, especially in crisis situations, these coping mechanisms are not appropriate substitutes for professional help.
Avoid dwelling on things that make you angry.
Since ruminating on unpleasant thoughts can fuel substance-related aggression, learning to let go may be essential for improvement. If you catch yourself mentally replaying scenarios where others have hurt or angered you, try redirecting your thoughts to something more positive. Remind yourself that dwelling on anger sources will likely cause unnecessary pain.
Practice self-compassion.
How often have you started conflicts with loved ones only to realize you’re actually angry with yourself? Anger and aggressive behavior often stem from shame. You may defuse these feelings by deliberately forgiving yourself for past mistakes. If addressing yourself directly is difficult, imagine you’re speaking to a close friend instead.
Document your substance use and anger patterns.
Many people find that keeping a daily journal provides a constructive outlet for negative emotions like anger. Recording your substance use may help you maintain accountability if you plan to reduce consumption. Taking notes on your usage patterns, amounts, triggers, and emotional responses can help you gain better control.
Engage in meditation and relaxation practices.
Techniques like deep breathing and mindfulness meditation can help release anger and assist in identifying and redirecting unhelpful thought patterns. Some studies suggest these methods may also reduce cravings for addictive substances when practiced consistently.
As a person breaks this cycle, therapy can be a valuable, neutral support tool for addressing the psychological causes of anger and problematic substance use. Researchers have demonstrated that therapy can decrease anger and aggression in patients with histories of both. For many, therapy plays a key role in recovery from substance use disorders.
Can telehealth therapy help with anger and substance use?
Not everyone finds it easy to attend in-person therapy sessions or anger management classes. This may be especially true for those who have faced legal and financial consequences resulting from excessive substance use. Telehealth therapy offers a convenient alternative. ReachLink’s virtual therapy platform allows you to connect with licensed therapists remotely using your computer or mobile device. The physical distance may also make it easier to overcome feelings of shame and discuss tense or difficult feelings related to anger and substance use. This flexibility allows for consistent support, which is crucial in managing both conditions effectively.
In conclusion, the interplay between substance use and anger is complex and influenced by multiple factors including personality traits, neurological effects, and environmental influences. Substance use may not always cause anger directly, but it can amplify existing tendencies toward anger and aggression, especially when combined with lowered inhibitions and impaired social perception. This cyclical relationship often requires a multifaceted approach, combining self-awareness, healthy coping mechanisms, and professional support.
By recognizing the underlying triggers and patterns, individuals can take meaningful steps toward breaking this cycle. Whether through mindful practices, journaling, or therapy—traditional or virtual—the path to healthier emotional regulation and substance use management is possible. Taking the initiative to seek help demonstrates strength and commitment to lasting change.
