Anger Management Therapy And Substance Abuse Detox

When there’s substance use in a person’s life, there’s also often anger that’s not being dealt with healthily. Some people use substances to self-medicate and manage their emotions. Others may not even feel angry until they use substances and lose control. Whatever the case may be, detox therapy programs can help people deal with substance use disorders and anger disorders. Some detox centers specifically offer anger management therapy programs.

Anger is an overpowering emotion, and it can be dangerous to yourself and others you love. When you lose control – whether you’re using a substance or not – you risk self-harm, getting into altercations with others, hurting loved ones, and other negative consequences. While anger is a normal emotion that people can experience healthily, when people hold on to it for too long, it can be an emotional barrier that keeps them from engaging in their lives happily.

When someone has difficulty dealing with anger and even develops a substance use disorder, anger management therapy can be necessary for complete addiction recovery. Note that it’s not just violent outbursts that characterize unhealthy anger – passive symptoms can also occur, such as sarcasm, apathy, and self-destructive behaviors like substance use.

If you or someone you love is looking for detox therapy programs or substance abuse detox programs like an anger management therapy program, contact our detox center online or call 833.525.0166 to find out more about the services we offer.

What’s Anger Management Therapy?

For those who need dual diagnosis treatment, anger management therapy can be an option in our substance abuse detox program. Anger management therapy helps patients deal with their anger healthily. Therapy can help patients identify stressors and coping skills to help them stay calm when managing their anger. Typically, anger management therapy is psychotherapeutic and can use strategies like cognitive-behavioral therapy.

One of the goals of anger management therapy is to help patients handle tense situations positively and constructively. The overall purpose of anger management therapy is to help patients decrease their anger in a way that reduces their physical and emotional reactions to their stressors, which may include:

• Internal events: These are situations that are perceived inwardly, such as failures, frustrations, or injustices. The places or people involved in these stressors may not even know that they are causing someone to feel anger.
• External events: These are connected to physical events, such as a loss of property or privileges. Teasing or humiliation by others may also fall under this category.

These stressors may result in internalizing or externalizing behaviors. Examples of the former include sulking or increasing depression. Externalizing behaviors are easier to spot. They include tantrums, verbal arguments, and other forms of physical aggression. Someone with an anger disorder may respond to stressors quickly or out of proportion.

Patients receiving anger management therapy will learn skills to slow their reactions to their anger and not lash out. Depression and addiction treatment therapy can help them identify why they’re feeling anger – even if the reason is buried in addiction, grief, trauma, or other issues.

What To Expect From An Anger Management Therapy Program In Substance Abuse Detox

When a patient starts to detox and go through withdrawal, the underlying anger is not simply going to disappear. In fact, the anger is likely to intensify because substances are no longer available for self-medication. This is why detox therapy programs often include anger management therapy.

If a patient has a problem dealing with their anger, therapy can help because it can provide a clear set of recovery guidelines – not just for addiction but also for unhealthy ways of managing anger. An anger management therapy program can also give a patient a controlled platform to release their emotions while also learning how to prioritize constructive and not destructive responses to them.

Patients in therapy examine what triggers their emotions, gain insights into how their bodies responded to them in past events, and properly respond to them in future events. Therapists can also help patients notice anger responses that could be defense mechanisms for other concerns like anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues.

Some techniques taught to patients in anger management therapy include:

• Breathing skills
• Frustration management
• Impulse control
• Increased self-awareness
• Keeping an anger diary
• Meditation
• Relaxation skills

Anger disorder, when left untreated, can result in aggressive behaviors that can damage properties and lives. It can also make people withdraw and turn their anger inwards. Some research also suggests that keeping your anger pent up can be harmful to your health. An uncontrolled temper can affect someone physically, mentally, and socially.

Learn More About The Anger Management Therapy Program At United Recovery Project’s Detox Center

If you or someone you love is looking for an anger management therapy program in Florida, contact United Recovery Project’s detox center online or call 833.525.0166. Let us help you take your first step towards healing.