Addiction is a complex condition that impacts every part of a person’s life. Addiction affects a person’s physical health, emotional well-being, relationships, and more. The effects of addiction can be wide-ranging and require specialized care.

Mental health and addiction experts believe many factors can contribute to an addiction. They believe a person’s genetics, behaviors, environments, and past experiences can lead to substance abuse and addiction. Many believe there is also a strong link between trauma and substance use disorder (SUD).

This article will explore how trauma and addiction are connected.

If you or someone you love struggle with substance abuse and trauma, you are not alone. Find compassionate, effective treatment for trauma and addiction at The Best Treatment. Contact our intake team to learn about our programs or to schedule an intake appointment.

What Causes Trauma?

Trauma is an emotional response to an extremely stressful event. People may develop trauma after a traumatic event, such as:

• A natural disaster
• Community violence
• Living in a war zone
• Surviving a physical or sexual assault
• Experiencing childhood neglect or abuse
• The death of a loved one
• A serious accident or injury

Some people may develop a mental health condition called post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). People with PTSD live with long-term symptoms of trauma, including:

• Flashbacks
• Anger or mood swings
• Insomnia
• Anxiety
• Low self-worth
• Feeling overly alert much of the time
• Avoiding things that remind the person of the traumatic event

The symptoms of PTSD can impact a person’s daily functioning and emotional well-being. It can also put people at increased risk of substance abuse and addiction.

How are Trauma and Addiction Connected?

Traumatizing experiences can leave a lasting mark on a person’s mental and physical health. The symptoms of trauma and PTSD can impair a person’s daily functioning. It can cause significant distress and chronic low self-esteem.

People with PTSD may not have the coping mechanisms to manage these symptoms in healthy ways. Without healthy coping skills, people may turn to drugs and alcohol for relief. The effects of drugs and alcohol may temporarily relieve some of the symptoms of PTSD. However, heavy or prolonged substance abuse can lead to tolerance and physical dependence.

People who live with PTSD and substance use disorders must receive trauma-informed care in specialized co-occurring disorder treatment programs. These programs provide tailored care and therapies that can help to address trauma. People learn new coping skills, find support, and work toward lifelong addiction recovery while healing from trauma.

What is the Role of Trauma Therapy in Addiction Treatment?

Addiction is not just a physical condition. This complex condition has roots in a person’s environment, past experiences, behaviors, genetics, and more. People living with trauma and SUD may have even more complex recoveries. People living with trauma and addiction need treatment that focuses on identifying and healing the trauma contributing to substance abuse.

Trauma therapy provides a safe place for people to explore the roots of their trauma and addiction. People work with a caring, licensed mental health practitioner to address the complex physical, emotional, and behavioral aspects of their substance abuse.

Types of Trauma Therapy in Substance Abuse Treatment

Mental health practitioners use a variety of techniques to help people identify and work through trauma. Here is an overview of some types of trauma therapy used in SUD treatment.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most common forms of therapy used in addiction treatment. CBT helps people make connections between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. People work with a licensed therapist to identify goals and work toward them. They learn to identify and change destructive patterns of thoughts and behaviors. These changes can result in significant improvement in the way people feel and their functioning.

Prolonged exposure therapy

Prolonged exposure therapy allows people to think about their traumatic experiences in new ways. People work with a licensed mental health practitioner to approach memories, feelings, and situations related to their trauma.

This type of therapy can help people confront their fear head-on instead of avoiding it. This can give people a sense of control over their trauma.

EMDR

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy may help people process their traumatic memories differently. In this therapy, a licensed health practitioner leads the client in specific eye movements while the client recalls a traumatic event. Some mental health experts believe this may help the brain store traumatic memories differently, reducing their emotional impact.

These therapies are just some of the many techniques practitioners may use to help clients move forward after trauma. Receiving trauma therapy during addiction treatment can help people work toward meaningful, lifelong recovery.

Find Treatment Now

If you or someone in your life struggles with trauma and substance use disorder, you are not alone. Find the comprehensive treatment and support you need at The Best Treatment. Reach out to our intake specialists to explore our programs or to schedule an intake appointment.