Sadly, many people have suffered through traumatic events in their lives. Whether the trauma occurred over many years or was a single traumatic event, there is an all too common connection between trauma and addiction. Trauma often causes severe psychological and physical reactions in people and, for some individuals, the pain is extreme enough to push them toward drugs and alcohol. A trauma therapy program then offers a safe and effective way to manage both childhood trauma and addiction. Learn how individual counseling for addiction can help you lead a happy and healthy life.
The connection between trauma and addiction trauma and substance abuse are intrinsically tethered. In fact, 75% of people in substance abuse treatment programs report histories of abuse and trauma. A trauma therapy program works because it can uncover and make sense of the traumatic experiences and PTSD through individual counseling for addiction. At the same time, medical professionals work on addressing the roots of the addiction as a way of healing the whole self and pointing an individual toward a brighter future. Some of the most common forms of trauma that can lead to addiction to include:
- Childhood neglect
- Abuse (sexual, physical, emotional)
- Domestic violence
- Death of a parent or a child
- PTSD from military action
- Acts of nature
- Surviving an accident
When suffering simultaneously from trauma and substance abuse, a person may feel overwhelmed and alone while attempting to cope with the harmful issues caused by childhood trauma and addiction. It is important that a trauma therapy program is staffed by a compassionate team who understand and appreciate the connection between trauma and addiction. When being treated properly, an individual will come to learn that they are not alone, that their trauma and addiction is seen, and know that it is possible to overcome a traumatic past and enjoy a happier, healthier future.
Trauma impacts not only a person’s emotional state but their physical well-being too. When suffering from intense trauma and PTSD, plus an ensuing substance use disorder at the same time, a person may experience:
- Abnormal sleeping patterns
- Respiratory issues
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Muscular pain
- Cardiovascular issues
- Neurological problems
The Importance of a Trauma Therapy Program
No one should have to handle their trauma and substance abuse alone. When they do, the connection between trauma and addiction unfortunately becomes even more evident. This is because people who are fighting two battles without a strong support network or the professional help they deserve to receive will turn to drugs and alcohol to cope with the hurt, anger, memories, and regret. Self-medication offers only temporary relief for the PTSD caused by the traumatic events of the past but, in the long term, a substance use disorder will appear and the drugs will dig a deeper hole, ultimately making the mental health problems already present even more difficult to manage on a daily basis.
You need and deserve to receive professional help for your trauma and addiction. Thankfully, through the skilled, expert help offered in a trauma therapy program, you will be treated holistically in order to discover if there are any co-occurring disorders that may be causing you further mental, physical and emotional distress.
There is no one size fits all approach to treating trauma and addiction. In a trauma therapy program, a personalized treatment plan must be designed with you and only you in mind. This way, your post traumatic stress disorder, trauma and addiction issues are addressed properly, allowing you to begin to recover. A trauma therapy program is a proven way to also learn coping mechanisms and life skills to help overcome both the trauma and addiction, avoid relapse, and ultimately show you a way forward for a lifetime of recovery.
A trauma therapy program offers hope. Get the help you deserve today.