Anger is a powerful emotion that can affect individuals in various ways, impacting their relationships, well-being, and overall quality of life. While anger is a natural response to certain situations, it becomes problematic when it escalates into anger issues. Understanding the underlying causes of anger is crucial in effectively managing and addressing this intense emotion. Today, we will delve into two primary causes of anger issues: substance abuse and excessive stress. Let’s start.
Alcohol, drug and steroid abuse
Substance abuse is a popular cause of anger. Around half of the people who seek professional help for anger management and domestic violence problems start behaving aggressively after using alcohol or drugs. This does not include people who were not intoxicated when the anger broke out, but whose addiction has over time pushed them into violent, defensive or paranoid behaviour. Intoxicants undoubtedly affect our moods both in the short and long term. Unfortunately, too often, their use can change the mood from good to bad, when the opposite effect is intended.
Mood-altering substances primarily attack the decision-making centres in the frontal cortex. In extreme cases, people lose their memory completely. It is true that they may not do anything terrible in this state. When it comes to the use of intoxicants, it is impossible to predict anything with 100% accuracy. However, once intoxicated people cross the threshold of aggression, it becomes increasingly likely that it will happen again.
The key is to stay sober. Many people can do this to quell their angry mood and behaviour. It requires a strong commitment – one that really changes the brain.
For those that use anabolic steroids, you should immediately quit as well (with the help of a doctor). Taking them also negatively affects your psychological behaviour, other areas of your life as well (sperm production, liver damage, hair loss). We instead suggest looking for alternatives, like a cardarine supplement. As these types of supplements will not cause extreme damage to your body, like anabolic steroids, but will give the same, or even better results.
Excessive stress
Some people’s lives are full of long-term stressors, such as unemployment, children with serious illnesses, divorce and legal problems. If the stress is prolonged, these people’s nerves are almost at their breaking point and they can be struck by illness or stroke at any time. The human body simply cannot cope with so much stress for so long. It is no wonder that people who are under long-term stress complain of constant anxiety or anger.
Stress triggers the “fight or flight” response. However, the purpose of this mechanism is to achieve a short-term reaction to danger. Briefly, it is beneficial rather than detrimental: stress hormones are released in large quantities, breathing and heartbeat are increased, attention is focused on the danger, and the muscles are ready for action. But if these or other effects of stress are prolonged, they can cause significant damage to your body and brain over time.
Excessive stress is an important reason why people become and stay angry. That’s why breathing exercises, relaxation workouts and meditation are so good at quelling anger. These techniques reduce stress.