| All addictions have symptoms, which allow us to | | | | process by which we conclude that the addiction is not |
| recognize these problems as addictive diseases. The | | | | the problem; it's "them." Ignorance of addiction and the |
| signs of addictive diseases are self-stimulation, | | | | inability to examine ourselves, work together to keep |
| compulsion, obsession, denial, withdrawal and craving | | | | rageaholics stuck. Knowing no other way to live, we |
| syndrome, and unpredictable behavior. Like alcoholism | | | | deny that there is anything wrong with us. This system |
| or drug use, anger meets many of the criteria. | | | | of denial ensures that the process of rage and |
| Self-Stimulation | | | | righteous indignation will continue. Righteous indignation |
| For those who are rageaholics, expressing anger is | | | | keeps our focus off of ourselves. This is why ragers |
| self- stimulating. It triggers the compulsion for more | | | | seldom are able to say, "I am wrong." |
| anger. For example, let's pretend that we are going to | | | | Withdrawal and Craving |
| provide treatment for alcoholics. On the way to the | | | | As with any addiction, anger has a detoxification |
| treatment center we stop and buy a case of beer. | | | | period. Craving is high during this time. Those who |
| When we get to the meeting, we tell the alcoholics in | | | | abstain from name-calling, profanity and yelling during |
| therapy that they just need to do a lot of drinking to | | | | this period report more depression than usual for the |
| get it out of their system once and for all. This is similar | | | | first three months. Typically, during the first 90 days of |
| to when therapist tell men with rage problems, "You | | | | abstinence, ragers feel vulnerable and spend a lot of |
| just need to express yourself and get it out of your | | | | time thinking and hoping for a situation that will allow us |
| system." It is just as absurd. The more alcoholics drink, | | | | to use violence for some heroic purpose. Afterward, |
| the more they want. The more ragers rage, the more | | | | however, if we have achieved complete abstinence |
| they want to rage. | | | | and maintained it for 90 days, we find we no longer |
| Compulsion | | | | think in profane or disparaging terms. It may even |
| Anger addiction or "rageaholism" is the compulsive | | | | become shocking when we hear others do it. |
| pursuit of a mood change by repeatedly engaging in | | | | Unpredictable Behavior |
| episodes of rage despite adverse consequences. | | | | Another definition of alcoholism is that when an |
| Rageaholics continue to rage compulsively without | | | | alcoholic drinks, there is no way to predict his or her |
| regard to the negative consequences. Compulsion or | | | | behavior. He may drink appropriately from time to time, |
| loss of control is the inability to stop expressing anger | | | | just as the rageaholic may express anger |
| once we have begun. The inability to control angry | | | | appropriately from time to time. However, when the |
| words is a certain sign of rageaholism. Loss of | | | | alcoholic starts to drink alcohol, all bets are off. No one |
| control--that is addiction. | | | | knows what is going to happen. When rageaholics |
| Obsession | | | | start to express anger, no one knows where it is going |
| Rageaholics are frequently preoccupied with | | | | to go. The most likely think is that they will explode, rant |
| resentment and fantasies of revenge. Those thoughts | | | | and rave. Rageaholics would like to learn how to |
| sometimes rise powerfully and allow no other thoughts | | | | express our anger appropriately just like alcoholics |
| to enter. The force of anger is sometimes irresistible | | | | would like to learn how to drink appropriately. While |
| and followed by action. Therefore, the preoccupation | | | | there are some exceptions, I encourage those with |
| with the "wrongs" of others and revenge continually | | | | rage problems to abstain from the expression of |
| leads to rage. Progressively, these thoughts crowd out | | | | anger for one year. |
| all others until our life becomes chronically | | | | This plan is only for that small percent of the population |
| revenge-oriented. At that point, anger controls our | | | | who have rage or violence problems. The approach |
| thoughts. | | | | described here is not for everyone; but for those |
| Denial | | | | addicted to rage, it won't work to express your anger. |
| Denial keeps anger addicts trapped. It is the mental | | | | |