All addictions have symptoms, which allow us to recognize these problems as addictive diseases. Signs of addictive illnesses are self-stimulation, compulsion, obsession, denial, desire and withdrawal syndrome, and unpredictable behavior. Like alcoholism or drug use, anger meets many of the criteria.

Self-stimulation

For those who are addicted to anger, expressing anger is self-stimulating. Unleash the compulsion for more anger. For example, imagine that we are going to treat alcoholics. On the way to the treatment center we stopped and bought a case of beer. When we get to the meeting, we tell alcoholics in therapy that they just need to drink a lot to get it out of their system once and for all. This is similar to when the therapist tells men with anger issues, “You just need to express yourself and get it out of your system.” It is equally absurd. The more alcoholics drink, the more they want. The more enraged the rabid, the more they want to rage.

Compulsion

Anger addiction or “anger addiction” is the compulsive search for a change in mood by repeatedly engaging in bouts of anger despite adverse consequences. Anger addicts continue to rage compulsively regardless of the negative consequences. Compulsion or loss of control is the inability to stop expressing anger once we have started. The inability to control angry words is a true sign of anger addiction. Loss of control: that is addiction.

Obsession

Anger addicts are frequently preoccupied with resentment and revenge fantasies. Sometimes those thoughts come up strongly and do not allow other thoughts to enter. The force of anger is sometimes irresistible and is followed by action. Therefore, concern for the “evils” of others and revenge continually leads to anger. Progressively, these thoughts crowd out everyone else until our life becomes chronically revenge-oriented. At that moment, anger controls our thoughts.

Denial

Denial keeps addicts trapped in anger. It is the mental process by which we conclude that addiction is not the problem; are they”. Ignorance of addiction and an inability to examine ourselves, we work together to keep addicts stuck in rage. Knowing no other way to live, we deny that there is something wrong with us. This system of denial ensures that the process of righteous anger and outrage will continue. Righteous outrage keeps our focus off of ourselves. This is why rabid people can seldom say, “I am wrong.”

Withdrawal and longing

As with any addiction, anger has a detoxification period. The craving is high during this time. Those who refrain from name calling, profaning, and yelling during this period report more depression than usual for the first three months. Usually during the first 90 days of abstinence, the rabid feel vulnerable and spend a lot of time thinking and waiting for a situation that allows us to use violence for some heroic purpose. Afterwards, however, if we have achieved complete abstinence and have maintained it for 90 days, we find that we no longer think in profane or derogatory terms. It can even be shocking when we hear others do it.

Unpredictable behavior

Another definition of alcoholism is that when an alcoholic drinks, there is no way to predict his behavior. He may drink appropriately from time to time, just as the rage addict may express anger appropriately from time to time. However, when the alcoholic begins to drink alcohol, all bets are off. Nobody knows what will happen. When rage addicts start to express their anger, no one knows where it will go. They will most likely explode, rant and rave. Anger addicts would like to learn to express our anger appropriately, just as alcoholics would like to learn to drink appropriately. While there are some exceptions, I encourage people with anger issues to refrain from expressing anger for one year.

This plan is only for that small percentage of the population that has anger or violence problems. The approach outlined here is not for everyone; But for those addicted to anger, it will not work to express their anger.