I am 23 years without alcohol. Why am I angry?

Hi and thank you for your vulnerability, courage, and for reaching out to help figure out why the anger is surfacing. Congratulations on the steps toward sobriety! "One day at a time, one moment at a time", as it says in the LONG version of the Serenity Prayer.

Anger is an emotion, like a thermostat is to an oven, a gauge simply indicating that the temperature of that emotion is rising. Anger and hurt are correlated. Meaning if anger keeps rising, and perhaps even becoming noticeable to others (yelling, screaming, throwing things, hitting, impatience, etc), the therapy needs to center around what is the hurt underneath the surface. Think of it as anger is the fire and hurt is fuel, like gasoline. You being an ACoA, "adult child of an alcoholic" (multi-generational), you have weathered some early and later life hard times in life by your caretaker/parent (or others). Often ACoA's have been verbally, physically, emotionally, and/or sexually abused; maligned, bullied, etc. This creates a trauma template that can linger throughout life and affect our thoughts, perceptions, and behavior patterns without realizing it. The trauma template can also cause relationship concerns. When someone uses substances, initially it feels good, takes the edge off the unpleasant feelings. After repeated use of the substances (which may become more frequent and require more of the substance), the source of the past pain becomes masked, and later the substances can actually cause a psychological and physical dependence.

Now that you are sober, the core work is:

1. Reduce the display of angry behaviors (especially if it is harmful or threatening to self/others); 
2. Explore and process the source of the hurt; 
3. Reframe the past and release it, and install new healthier behaviors for future growth and healing; 
4. Stay connected to supportive 12 step recovery communities such Adult Children of Alcoholics and Other Dysfunctional Families (adultchildren.org) and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA.org) and/or Narcotics Anonymous (NA.org). 

Likely I have given more than you asked, and I hope this guides your path in a helpful way as you seek answers.

Much peace on your journey. :-)