This can then lead to an inability to control their anger and any feelings of hostility that may arise. “He’s a mean drunk.” This is a line you’ve probably heard in a movie, on TV, or even in real life. From the surface, it almost sounds like the unnamed individual is being mean because he’s drunk. Was the anger already there before this individual consumed alcohol, or was it truly a state that was brought out by the alcohol?

When you live with or care for someone who becomes abusive when they’re intoxicated, the consequences may well be more than just hurt feelings. Here are a few effects of aggressive behavior related to drinking. When it comes to anger specifically, people may experience a phenomenon called “alcohol myopia” in addition to their already heightened emotions. This scenario involves losing your sense of perception under the influence. As a result, you may be overly aggressive during a situation where you’d otherwise notice the cues that tell you to think more rationally.

Living With an Angry Alcoholic

Too much alcohol can weaken your immune system, making you more susceptible to diseases². Drinking too much causes interference in the communication pathways of the brain. It affects the way the brain is able to function, changing the person’s moods and behaviors. Some of these changes to the brain may be permanent, including memory loss. Our case management and aftercare services will make all necessary referrals for sober housing and treatment when completing our program.

They can learn to recognize potential triggers and how to safely manage them. Self-awareness is important for everyone’s mental health, but it is especially necessary for people with AUD and anger issues. Understanding your emotions and making smart decisions about alcohol consumption is the best way to avoid problems.

Why Does Alcohol Make Me Angry?

If you see someone cut in front of you in line for the bathroom at a bar or concert, you may react aggressively when you otherwise wouldn’t mind. When drinking, it becomes increasingly challenging to interpret information logically. By not seeing situations clearly, you endanger yourself or others.

As this occurs, you are less likely to restrain your impulses, so if someone ticks you off, you’re more apt to show aggression. This is also one of the reasons drunk people make calls to exes while drunk, go on a midnight grocery store binge, and so on. You over-drank alcoholism and anger and then said or did something that upset someone you cared about? Perhaps that pile of anger inside you exploded and you took it out on a loved one. Either way, at the moment, you had no fear of long-term consequences due to the way alcohol impacted your brain.

Not Everyone Gets Aggressive While Drunk

There are many reasons why you might suffer from low self-esteem, keeping you from living your best life. Read to understand the causes of low self-esteem, and how you can start to heal and reclaim your confidence. John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE is board-certified in addiction medicine and preventative medicine. For over 20 years https://ecosoberhouse.com/ Dr. Umhau was a senior clinical investigator at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health . Verywell Mind’s content is for informational and educational purposes only. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Even though they may feel more awake and energetic, this is simply a false mask put on by your brain to cover the fatigue alcohol is genuinely causing. Most people who have an alcohol addiction find they don’t have any aspirations in life. However, when you stop drinking and get sober, you can find new ambitions for your life. You can find the empowerment, motivation, and desire to live the best life possible.