Alcoholics and addicts generally tend to suffer from anger, depression and anxiety when they are in recovery or when they haven’t had a drink or used in a long while. In case you’re wondering what causes the anger, depression and anxiety, it is often caused by the alcohol. What happens to most alcoholics is that when they take some alcohol, they feel this immediate rush of good feeling often interpreted as or referred to as a “high”.
This good feeling is usually triggered by the release of endorphins aka feel-good hormones into the bloodstream. Unfortunately, the body can only take so many deluges of endorphins. Therefore, when the supply of alcohol is interrupted, the endorphins stop being secreted resulting in a “low” or causing anger, depression and anxiety.
Since the body is used to the huge amount of endorphins, going without the trigger for a long time can cause anger, depression and anxiety for the individual. The same thing applies to drug addicts who are particularly addicted to meth, cocaine and heroin. The only difference is that the effects of the drugs are more powerful than alcohol and therefore, withdrawals tend to trigger more acute anger, depression and anxiety.
What Can You Do to help a Loved One with Addiction Anger, Depression and Anxiety
It is imperative for you to know that the accompanying withdrawal symptoms of anger, depression and anxiety during the recovery and pre-recovery stage of an addict can cause the addicts and alcoholics to entertain suicidal thoughts. So, the first thing you can do is make sure that there is nothing that will help make that happen. Get rid of knives, sharp objects, needles and anything that can be used to commit suicide.
Next, you should encourage them to join support groups. For addicts, you can take them to a rehab program or facility. They will find the necessary support that will help them maintain their sobriety in these groups. Usually, listening to other people share their experiences with them gives them hope that they can scale through the anger, depression and anxiety phase of their recovery.
Breaking this vicious cycle usually signifies that depression needs to be handled along with anger management- anger can be tamed. Taking an online anger management class may be beneficial to someone who is affected by anger. Anger management certification provides people with the necessary skills to work with different groups who suffer from issues relating to anger.
Get psychiatric help if necessary. Usually, the psychiatrist will find it necessary to recommend anti-anxiety pills and antidepressants. For alcoholics, this will most surely work as they are not addicted to drugs. Drug addicts on the other hand, may require an entirely different regimen. Let the psychiatrist deal with that.
You, on the other hand should do all that you can to encourage your loved to weather the symptoms. With some help from you and the support from all around, they will hopefully make it to the finish line.