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Anger Management in recovery Anger Management in recovery

Anger Management and Recovery

Written by MARR on . Posted in MARR Articles, Resources.

Anger management is an essential skill in early recovery. We learn the lesson at an early age that anger is a negative emotion. As a result, we often suppress anger.

There are destructive ways to express one’s anger. But it can also be a constructive and healthy emotion if appropriately managed. This basic, natural feeling serves as a warning sign that something is not right in our environment. Anger serves as an important part of the brain’s fight-or-flight response to a perceived threat.

Addiction turns substance use into the primary form of anger management. Anger is always unhealthy and dysfunctional when combined with substance abuse. The addict uses drugs and/or alcohol as a means to suppress the unpleasant feeling.  But the anger is merely exacerbated. This requires further use of substances to cope. This vicious cycle must be addressed in addiction treatment.

Everyone gets to decide how angry he or she wants to be. Anger can be controlled. The human body cannot distinguish between physical and emotional threats. Both result in similar symptoms. These include shallow breathing, high blood pressure, clenching of the jaw, sweating, and accelerated heart rate. In addiction recovery, we teach the addict or alcoholic to acknowledge these warning signs before exploding.

At MARR in Atlanta, clients acquire new life skills like anger management. They deal with anger without the use of drugs or alcohol. They also learn healthy ways to manage this intense emotion. These include talking it over with another person, exercising, pausing, and praying. In short, our clients learn to confront natural feelings of anger positively.

Women and Addiction: Surrounded by Shame

Written by MARR on . Posted in MARR Articles, Resources.

Until recent years, women who struggled with drug and/or alcohol addiction were often chastised by society. Consequently, it remained a hush-hush subject that was surrounded by shame. Even when chemically dependent women received treatment, they were treated in the same way as men. Today, experts in the addiction and recovery field have made great strides in determining and addressing the specific issues women face in active addiction.

In 1946, E. Morton Jellinek handpicked a small group of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) members to fill out a self-reporting questionnaire. The results of this study revealed a valley curve of alcoholism and thus, became known as the Jellinek Curve. Of the 113 valid responses, 98 showed similar patterns; the remaining 15 responses “differed so greatly” that they were thrown out (sample too small to analyze separately). As it turned out, these 15 questionnaires were filled out by the women of the group.

The Physiological Factors
Because women generally have less body mass and water content than men, they become intoxicated faster. They also become addicted sooner. The higher Blood Alcohol Level (BAL) in women not only impairs them more when they drink but also accelerates damage to the brain and other organs. The mortality rate for chemically dependent women is 50-100 times higher than their male counterparts.

The Evolutionary Factors
Women have an instinctive need for connection; they are biologically wired to sustain, nurture and respond to relationships. When primary relationships are ruptured by physical abuse, sexual abuse, or abandonment, women tend to experience the distress, pain, or suffering associated with such ruptures as a trauma. As a result, they often self-medicate to alleviate symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Trauma breeds more trauma.

Differences in Addiction Treatment
Oftentimes drug and alcohol addiction in women is tied into their relationships. Historically, more than half of the women who come to MARR for addiction treatment have a history of abuse. Our goal is to provide a safe environment so they feel comfortable facing these underlying issues that so often contribute to chemical relapse if left unresolved. During treatment, we address their trauma history as well as dual disorders, including depression, anxiety, bipolar, PTSD, and disordered eating.

At MARR, we understand that women flourish when they can connect to others in a healthy way. Therefore, we establish an environment geared toward healing, which includes safety, connection, empowerment, and health. At our Women’s Recovery Center, clients are given the appropriate tools for setting boundaries, nurturing relationships, and prioritizing self-care. Gender-specific addiction treatment programs are not only recommended—we see them as essential for lasting recovery.

Alumni & Clients Thanksgiving Dinner 2020

Written by MARR on . Posted in MARR Articles.

On November 26, 2020, the Alumni Association will be hosting separate Thanksgiving Day lunches from noon to 3 pm (with an AA meeting at 2 pm) for our women clients at Traditions and the male clients at the Men’s Recovery Center.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we will be hosting the men and women currently in treatment that are unable to leave to be with their family as well as any alumni who are local and want to get away from their own family for a couple of hours.

We are asking for financial donations or volunteers who are willing to bring prepared foods to Traditions or MRC on Wednesday or Thursday morning.

You can donate to the alumni association on the MARR website or by calling Ashley Rose at 678-805-5140 to pay by credit card. Tell her it’s for the Alumni Association Thanksgiving Day dinner.

Robin W. will be coordinating the MEN’s feast in terms of prepared food selection; we don’t want to have 32 pecan pies and no stuffing! Contact Robin to volunteer or to attend and eat. He can be reached at 828-406-2734 or kosay888@gmail.com.

Sharon M. will be coordinating the WOMEN’s feast for prepared food selection (same reasons as Robin) or to RSVP to volunteer or attend to eat. She can be contacted at 678-427-7438 or sharonmaxfield@comcast.net.