Drug addiction and anger issues often go hand in hand, and this relationship is especially apparent with cocaine. Whether using cocaine to increase sociability at a party, help one stay up late to study for an important exam, or to escape daily stress, you may be setting yourself up for a relentless cycle of anger and addiction.
Cocaine abuse can quickly lead to addiction, so it is essential to get help as soon as possible. If you or someone you know is experiencing anger, aggression, and other effects of cocaine abuse, you can count on Promises Brazos Valley for help. Contact our team online or call 979.426.0086 to learn more about our cocaine rehab in Texas.
How Are Cocaine and Anger Related?
Cocaine is known for providing ample energy and feelings of confidence and even invincibility in some. This explains the use of cocaine as both a party drug and a study drug. But how can these desirable feelings turn into anger? The answer lies in how cocaine affects the brain’s dopamine levels.
Dopamine is a brain neurotransmitter associated with feelings of pleasure and reward. Engaging in enjoyable activities like the following can naturally increase dopamine levels:
- Doing yoga
- Getting a massage
- Going for a walk
- Listening to your favorite music
- Petting an animal
- Eating dark chocolate
Since these activities produce pleasure, you are motivated to participate again. The same holds for using cocaine.
While increased dopamine levels can feel good, having too much of a good thing is possible. Cocaine stimulates dopamine production to exceptionally high levels, which can have the opposite effect. Excessive dopamine in a person’s system can result in various adverse effects, including anger, anxiety, and aggression. It may also lead to hallucinations, impulsivity, insomnia, and even mania.
In addition, the stimulating properties of cocaine increase the heart rate and blood pressure, which further fuels existing feelings of anger and triggers aggressive behavior. This leads to a vicious cycle where anger and cocaine use become intertwined. Although you may turn to cocaine as a means of escape from negative feelings, the drug’s effects only exacerbate these emotions in the long term.
Other Side Effects of Cocaine Abuse
Apart from anger and aggression, other adverse effects of cocaine abuse can threaten your health and well-being. You also put yourself at risk of:
- Cardiovascular complications, like irregular heart rhythm, stroke, and heart attack
- Worsened mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, and psychosis
- Accidents or injuries due to impulsivity and engaging in risky behaviors, like driving recklessly, having unsafe sex, or getting into physical altercations
Generally, long-term cocaine abuse can harm your physical and mental health while possibly introducing you to legal and financial troubles.
Managing Dependence on Cocaine and Anger Issues
One of the best things you can do to address cocaine addiction and anger issues is to enroll in an addiction therapy program. These programs offer various therapeutic modalities like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, and mindfulness-based approaches that can help you overcome cocaine addiction and manage anger by:
- Addressing the underlying causes of cocaine use and addiction
- Teaching healthier coping mechanisms
- Providing tools to manage or regulate anger
- Enhancing overall emotional well-being
- Building a network of support and accountability
By helping you understand your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors better and providing tools that empower you to regulate your emotions, addiction therapy can be critical for reducing your risk of relapse and helping you stay on track for lifelong recovery.
Reach Out to Promises Brazos Valley for Cocaine Rehab
The anger, aggression, and other adverse effects of cocaine can destroy your relationships and potentially affect your job and financial security. Protect your quality of life by getting the support you need to ditch cocaine permanently. There is no better day than today to take back your life from addiction. Contact Promises Brazos Valley online or call 979.426.0086 to learn more.