An anger addiction is when a person cannot control their anger and may enjoy getting angry, often blaming others for their problems. It can negatively affect relationships and is caused by a reinforcement cycle of feeling powerful when angry. Treatment involves taking responsibility for actions.
An anger addiction is a condition in which the sufferer becomes unable to control, or even enjoys, getting angry at another person. This is usually because the person has a feeling of power when he gets angry. Most people with an anger addiction also blame others for everything that goes wrong in their lives, because this allows them to get angry. An anger addiction can have an extremely negative effect on a person’s relationships, because loved ones are often the recipients of angry outbursts.
Almost everyone gets angry in certain situations, but some people have an anger addiction that negatively affects their lives and the lives of those around them. It can be difficult to distinguish between someone who is simply very stressed and quick to get angry and someone who has an anger addiction. A person who gets angry regularly without considering the consequences shows a common sign of such addiction, as does a person who constantly focuses on what others are doing wrong and denies that there is a problem with their behavior. A person with such an addiction may also behave unpredictably when she is angry.
There is still some debate about what causes an anger addiction to start. It is thought to occur when a person learns that they are more likely to maintain control of situations through anger. If, for example, a person realizes that people tend to give him what he wants or allow him to be in control when he gets angry, then this can create a positive reinforcement cycle. Over time, this can lead to an addiction.
A person – male or female – with an anger addiction often goes through a cycle of anger and guilt. In most cases, she will direct the anger towards a loved one. This can lead to strained relationships and a strong sense of guilt when the anger passes. If the person has a true anger addiction, however, the feeling of empowerment outweighs the feelings of guilt, which is why the cycle is hard to break.
Treatment for an anger addiction focuses on helping the person break the anger cycle. Blaming others, often unfairly, for personal problems is a common sign of an anger addiction, because it allows the person to get angry on a regular basis. One of the first steps in treating such an addiction is to teach the person how to take responsibility for their actions.
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