How the Brain Reacts to Anger and Conflict

When looking to analyze responses or conflict, one first must understand rational reasoning. Unfortunately, many individuals struggle with frustration, conflict with situations, and the challenges of a substance use disorder (SUD) because the logical reasoning may be ungoverned by a conscious self synapse. Those who learn about emotional reactions and conflicting behavioral thoughts can further address why repeated substance abuse is part of their lifestyle and how to manage it to live a healthy life.

The Brains Reaction and Rational Reasoning

Human behavior is part of an individual's consciousness and helps them make appropriate decisions and react to various experiences. Natural and rational reasoning can begin to decline when emotional conflict is unregulated because of substances entering the brain.

It is normal for many people to have rational reasoning and feel anger or frustration, and venting or airing their responses helps resolve most conflicts. This is because the natural responses go through a vetting process through the brain’s filtration. A healthy brain responds accordingly depending on the experience or situation at hand.

When Substances Come Into Play

When substances start taking over healthy rational reasoning, they tend to escalate powerful emotions without the filtration of emotional venting. For example, emotions play a vital aspect in how people react to anger or conflict. When feelings are powerful, and there is a conflict with the filtration system, the individual may not be able to identify the correct amount of emotion or how to vent out the feeling as they would without substances. Many people look at emotions as harmful elements of life; yet, they are how the brain rationalizes how to respond with reason.

When an individual struggles with SUD or has a heightened risk for repeated use of substances, managing emotions or cognitive-behavioral thoughts becomes a challenge. Because of the competing variables of substance use and emotions, rational reasoning can turn unhealthy, thus promoting the continual use of substances.

Since emotions can feed off one another, those who choose to vent their anger outwardly or utilize powerful emotional escalation can quickly turn scenarios into significant conflicts. Some individuals may struggle with prolonged conflict simply because the powerful emotional escalation cannot vent correctly, or they may feel challenged in suppressing the anger itself.

Learning Emotional Regulation in Treatment

When individuals understand that emotional regulation is part of existence and a natural response to life, they can further dive into why they may struggle with SUD. Those who struggle with SUD find it challenging to regulate their emotions, and they may be more prone to escalating conflict in various situations because of unhealthy habits.

In substance abuse treatment, individuals learn to address the triggers that start emotional reactions, such as anger, before a conflict arises. When they learn about what triggers the anger, they will not have to be blindsided by the conflicting scenarios. They can utilize coping techniques to manage their emotions healthily and respond accordingly.

Increasing Self-Awareness

Likewise, when individuals go through substance abuse treatment, they increase their self-awareness to avoid conflicting triggers to manage their frustration, and help create a balance in their bodies. Those who choose to suppress emotions such as anger often find themselves feeling more emotional over time, and the anger will start to build as a ticking time bomb. It is vital to discover different effective techniques for managing the emotional responses and paying attention to what stimulates the reaction before it leads to significant conflict.

Techniques Learned in Treatment

Substance abuse treatment teaches mindfulness to help individuals identify the triggers and learn how to vent their emotions without feeding the anger itself. Treatment also allows individuals to express their feelings without the need for substances. Rather than individuals feeling held back from expressing themselves, they are pushed in a positive direction where they can experience the emotion of anger but have a way to produce it in a healthy way to help negate conflict.

Finding Help for Dealing With Anger and Conflict

Those who struggle with substance abuse may find it challenging to modify and control their emotions because drugs and alcohol inflict the brain’s response reactions. Therefore, it is vital for those who struggle with SUD to acknowledge that the analysis of emotion can cause repeated substance abuse.

A key component to helping individuals identify the emotion of anger or the response reaction is through coping mechanisms and managing triggers in a professional environment. In addition, the professionals in a treatment facility will use techniques to address characteristics, motives, internal conflicts, and more, all to help individuals rebalance their emotional regulation. At NorthStar Transitions, we understand that SUD requires additional attention with emotional regulation identification and are here to help anyone struggling.

Finding treatment for substance use disorder is a critical component in identifying triggers to help teach you how to control your emotional responses without escalating conflict. Substance abuse can be challenging to overcome, but when emotional regulation impedes the drugs or alcohol, the brain may react negatively to anger and conflict. If you or your loved one struggle to negate conflict and want to build a shared understanding or better communication, eliminating substance abuse is the first step. At NorthStar Transitions, we are here to help you find emotional regulation with a caring team who understands how substance abuse can impede life’s choices. We can successfully guide you through our treatment program to find authentic healing, making real-life recovery possible. For more information on our treatment programs and how we can help you discover the skill of emotional regulation, call NorthStar Transitions at (303) 558-6400.

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