Signs That Rage Has Turned Into An Addiction

All addictions have symptoms, which allow us toaddiction is not theproblem; it's "them." Ignorance of
recognizethese problems as addictive diseases. Theaddiction and theinability to examine ourselves, work
signs ofaddictive diseases are self-stimulation,together to keeprageaholics stuck. Knowing no other
compulsion,obsession, denial, withdrawal and cravingway to live, we denythat there is anything wrong with
syndrome, andunpredictable behavior. Like alcoholismus. This system of denialensures that the process of
or drug use, angermeets many of the criteria.rage and righteous indignationwill continue. Righteous
Self-Stimulationindignation keeps our focus off ofourselves. This is
For those who are rageaholics, expressing anger iswhy ragers seldom are able to say, "I amwrong."
self-stimulating. It triggers the compulsion for moreWithdrawal and Craving
anger. Forexample, let's pretend that we are going toAs with any addiction, anger has a detoxification
providetreatment for alcoholics. On the way to theperiod.
treatmentcenter we stop and buy a case of beer.Craving is high during this time. Those who abstain
When we get to themeeting, we tell the alcoholics infromname-calling, profanity and yelling during this
therapy that they justneed to do a lot of drinking to getperiodreport more depression than usual for the first
it out of their systemonce and for all. This is similar tothreemonths. Typically, during the first 90 days of
when therapist tellmen with rage problems, "You justabstinence,ragers feel vulnerable and spend a lot of
need to express yourselfand get it out of yourtime thinking andhoping for a situation that will allow us
system." It is just as absurd. Themore alcoholics drink,to use violencefor some heroic purpose. Afterward,
the more they want. The more ragersrage, the morehowever, if we haveachieved complete abstinence
they want to rage.and maintained it for 90 days,we find we no longer
Compulsionthink in profane or disparaging terms.
Anger addiction or "rageaholism" is the compulsiveIt may even become shocking when we hear others
pursuitof a mood change by repeatedly engaging indo it.
episodes of ragedespite adverse consequences.Unpredictable Behavior
Rageaholics continue to ragecompulsively withoutAnother definition of alcoholism is that when an
regard to the negative consequences.alcoholicdrinks, there is no way to predict his or her
Compulsion or loss of control is the inability tobehavior. Hemay drink appropriately from time to time,
stopexpressing anger once we have begun. Thejust as therageaholic may express anger appropriately
inability tocontrol angry words is a certain sign offrom time totime. However, when the alcoholic starts
rageaholism. Lossof control--that is addiction.to drink alcohol,all bets are off. No one knows what is
Obsessiongoing to happen.
Rageaholics are frequently preoccupied withWhen rageaholics start to express anger, no one
resentment andfantasies of revenge. Those thoughtsknows whereit is going to go. The most likely think is
sometimes risepowerfully and allow no other thoughtsthat they willexplode, rant and rave. Rageaholics would
to enter. The forceof anger is sometimes irresistiblelike to learnhow to express our anger appropriately
and followed by action.just like alcoholicswould like to learn how to drink
Therefore, the preoccupation with the "wrongs" ofappropriately. While thereare some exceptions, I
othersand revenge continually leads to rage.encourage those with rage problemsto abstain from
Progressively, thesethoughts crowd out all others untilthe expression of anger for one year.
our life becomeschronically revenge-oriented. At thatThis plan is only for that small percent of the
point, anger controlsour thoughts.populationwho have rage or violence problems. The
Denialapproach describedhere is not for everyone; but for
Denial keeps anger addicts trapped. It is thethose addicted to rage,it won't work to express your
mentalprocess by which we conclude that theanger.