Alcoholism is a serious, debilitating illness that can have a lasting impact on individual and their relationships. One of the less exaggerated behaviours associated with alcoholism is anger, something that many alcoholics experience and display in extreme amounts. The reasons for this may vary but are largely rooted in the physiological, emotional and psychological changes caused by chronic drinking.
Physically, alcohol acts as a depressant on the central nervous system, slowing down one's ability to think and act in a logical manner due to reduced brain functionality. When faced with certain stressors or difficult situations, alcoholics can become cognitively impaired resulting in difficulty managing emotions such as fear or anger which can manifest as rage.
Emotionally, the alcoholic may be straining an already tenuous relationship with family or friends due to drinking which can lead to resentments and mixed heated emotions over time. These feelings of betrayal and frustration among other things can all result in irritability or short-temperedness when engaging with those close to them; or even strangers.
Psychologically, there are other underlying personal triggers that could make it difficult to cope such as childhood trauma or victimization which may lead to self-medicating with alcohol; in essence avoiding dealing with underlying mental health issues that need dealt with professionally. Here too this could cause feelings of resentment towards those closest who attempt to confront them about their addiction which may further deteriorate any solid form of interpersonal connection further fueling their behavioural outbursts.
Overall, these three main factors contribute largely to why many alcoholics display bouts of anger throughout their time struggling with the disease of addiction. It should be noted however that alcoholism does not doom one's future prospects for living a carefree life without fear of temper tantrums. Through proper counselling, people suffering from alcoholism can learn techniques for managing their feelings of anger constructively and regain control of your life again through meaningful recovery from addiction.
Why do people suffering from alcoholism tend to become hostile or aggressive?
Being an alcoholic comes with a range of adverse effects, one of them being aggressiveness or hostility. Although this has been seen in a number of individuals, there is unfortunately no single concrete reason why this occurs. Most often, the reasons can span across a range of underlying causes.
The first possible reason could be withdrawal symptoms which can come with physical and mental irritability as well as violent outbursts. This is one of the main reasons why for someone getting into rehabilitation for alcoholism, it's crucial to have adequate medical supervision to ensure that the withdrawal symptoms can be addressed accordingly. As withdrawal symptoms subside over time and with adequate treatment, these outbursts tend to reduce in many cases.
Secondly, studies suggest that those who are suffering from alcoholism often have an altered perception due to long-term intake of alcohol. This does not necessarily mean that aggression will always follow; yet, hostile actions occurring during or after their drinking sessions could very well be due to an impaired judgement and a limited control over psychological wellbeing that's associated with alcohol abuse. In situations like this it's critical to seek professional help in order to address any underlying issues and help regain control over emotions and behaviour stemming from reflexive responses while under the influence of alcohol.
Overall, being an alcoholic triggers a wide range of changes both physically and mentally so it is highly likely that people might showcase aggressive behaviours without necessarily having any intentions of doing so in the first place. It’s thus best practices to seek professional help at all stages when dealing with alcoholism issues - which include proactive measures in order to ensure regression towards specific behaviour patterns doesn’t take place and doesn’t become worse over time.
What causes a person with alcoholic tendencies to become hostile?
Alcoholism is a chronic disease characterized by an uncontrollable, compulsive need to drink. When an alcoholic is unable to access alcohol, the natural process of detoxification can lead to increased agitation and hostility. Since the body is accustomed to having alcohol and cannot function normally without it, the lack of alcohol results in physical symptoms such as shaking, increased heart rate and sweating. These symptoms can also lead to a heightened emotional state ranging from anxiety, depression and irritability all the way up to anger and aggression or "hostility".
Alcohol has a direct effect on emotions because it temporarily alters brain chemistry by mimicking natural neurotransmitter chemicals. When someone drinks excessively, their brain stops producing those important neurotransmitter chemicals, causing feelings of depression once the effects of the alcohol have passed. Withdrawal symptoms are typically extreme and may include depression, anxiety, insomnia and irritability which can easily manifest as hostility when combined with a persons existing personality traits.
It's important to remember that drinking alcohol in moderation doesn't usually lead to hostile behavior so it's important not to generalize all individuals who are under the influence as inherently violent or hostile. In addition, it's possible for factors other than alcoholism (relationship/family problems/unemployment)to contribute towards more severe episodes of hostility in some people who abuse alcohol. Ultimately however it's important to recognize that people with alcoholic tendencies can be made hostile by their addiction - sometimes even in situations where they don't realize their behavior is inappropriate nor remember their actions later on. Understanding why alcoholic's may become hostile helps us develop better treatment methods for those with addiction issues in general.
What other emotions might someone with an alcohol addiction experience?
When discussing alcohol addiction, the common misconception is that those individuals only experience feelings of guilt and shame for their actions. In reality, the spectrum of emotions felt by alcohol addicts extends far beyond this. In fact, an apt analogy to explain the experience of someone dealing with an alcohol addiction is that of being on an emotional roller coaster.
At the onset, one might feel denial regarding their reliance on alcohol and even enthusiasm in anticipation of drinking. Some people may even feel a fleeting sense of relief or enjoyment during the initial part of drinking a substance substance which ultimately leads to addiction. They may also experience intense physical cravings for more when the effects wear off - a sort of empty feeling upon coming out from under its influence.
However, it doesn’t stop there - guilt and shame typically come into play during periods when one is sobering up from drinking too much, recognizing what they did wrong or failed to do after drinking. Many people with alcoholism also harbor feelings of regret and embarrassment due to their destructive behaviors while under the influence. A difficult emotion to endure is loneliness – isolation caused by broken relationships due to excessive drinking or because friends no longer want to be associated with them for fear of enabling them further.
Ultimately, people with alcohol addiction are just ordinary people who have become trapped in an endless cycle due to their dependence on alcohol; but they don’t have to deal with it alone this condition can be effectively treated so they can regain control over their lives and reclaim what they’ve lost in addiction’s wake – including relationships, employment opportunities or passions and ambitions left behind.
What behaviors might someone with a drinking problem exhibit?
Someone with a drinking problem can display a wide range of behaviors that may vary depending on the individual and their circumstances. Common signs of alcohol dependence include an increased tolerance to alcohol, an inability to quit or moderate drinking after trying to do so, frequent blackouts or memory loss, difficulty performing daily tasks such as work, school or home chores, financial issues due to spending too much money on alcohol and neglecting responsibility, mood swings and irritability.
It is also common for someone with a drinking problem to limit other activities in order to prioritize their alcohol consumption. This can be seen in spending more time alone, avoiding social events and activities that do not involve drinking or using substances. They may also be dishonest about their drinking habits whenever it becomes the center of conversation or shun any criticism about their behavior and deny having a problem even if observation suggest otherwise.
It's important for family members and loved ones of people with this struggle to remain alert for these signs and practice open communication without judgement so that the individual can receive all necessary help without feeling judged. People who are substance dependent are more likely than others to suffer from depression, anxiety or other mental health issues. Formal treatment from addiction professionals such as counselors and therapists is key in improving quality of life towards recovery.
