Trauma and Addiction

You are shaped by traumatic situations. Whether it was a childhood experience or something you went through as an adult, these experiences impact how you perceive the world and yourself. It’s not unusual to hear that someone who has been through a horrific situation is now dealing with addiction. Trauma frequently leads to drinking or drug misuse.

What causes this to happen? Trauma and addiction are inextricably linked. If you or someone you care about suffers from an addiction issue as a result of trauma, your story is not over. You can discover hope and healing, as well as a solution to treating trauma and addiction.

Different Types of Trauma

Trauma is more than just a bad experience. It is an occurrence or series of events that have long-term consequences on your mental, emotional, physical, social, and spiritual well-being. Trauma raises stress levels because your mind and body perceive the situation as physically, emotionally, or life-threatening. Stress causes the production of chemicals such as cortisol and adrenaline, which regulate your body’s fight-or-flight response.

These physiological compounds can be useful in an emergency, but in excessive doses, they become hazardous. Your body eventually loses the ability to distinguish between a true situation requiring a fight-or-flight reaction and your recollection of an event. Trauma survivors might become caught in a rut, unable to move on from what happened.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a significant psychological condition. This illness is most usually linked with soldiers returning from conflict or war, but it can also affect traumatized youngsters. Some people use drugs and alcohol to self-medicate or disguise their feelings.

Trauma comes in numerous forms and reasons. The most typical are:

• A physical attack
• Assault on a female
• Rape
• Domestic abuse
• Abuse, both verbal and emotional
• Neglectful parenting
• Bullying and persistent harassment
• Car accidents and fires are examples of accidents.
• Natural catastrophes
• End-of-life care

These are just a handful of the various ways that surviving circumstances when your life was in danger might lead to PTSD.

Signs of Trauma

A variety of psychological and behavioral side effects can be experienced by people who have suffered from childhood trauma. Although your brain may try to hide trauma, the actual effects of trauma can still be felt. A traumatic experience can lead to some symptoms.

• Dramatic mood changes
• Erratic behavior
• Excessive and inappropriate expressions of emotions
• Fear, nervousness, or anxiety that is persistent
• Irritation or prolonged agitation
• Insecurity (timidity)
• Eating disorders
• Avoiding things that trigger trauma memories
• Reliving the event
• Difficulty relating to others
• Social and romantic issues

People who have suffered from a traumatizing experience as a child are at high risk for developing an addiction to drugs and alcohol.

The Connection Between Childhood Trauma and Addiction

The human brain is one of the most adaptable and intelligent things on earth. Your brain can adapt and respond to any situation you encounter throughout your life, thanks to plasticity. This ability is a key component of every aspect of your life. It allows you to make new memories and learn new skills as you travel the world.

Every action you make, good or bad, causes your brain’s neurons to change, grow, and even break. You will need to adjust the settings to keep them functioning. Patients with traumatic brain injury can use this skill to regain their ability to speak or walk. Your brain can literally rewire itself to allow for you to continue to function.

What does this have to do with trauma and addiction? What does a bad childhood have to do with adulthood? These experiences influence how you behave, think, and react to situations and people. That is why there is a strong connection between childhood trauma, alcoholism, and other addictions.

What Do the Trauma and Addiction Statistics Show?

Trauma and addiction statistics indicate that 75% of women and men in drug abuse treatment have a history of abuse or trauma. 97% of homeless women with mental illnesses had been subjected to serious physical or sexual abuse. PTSD affects around one-third of those who have been exposed to trauma.

The link between childhood trauma and addiction is due to the possibility that brain abnormalities may result from childhood trauma or maltreatment. These abnormalities can lead to a variety of problems in cognition and behavior. Normal brain development is impeded by high levels of cortisol or other stress hormones, which are common after childhood trauma.

Two-thirds of those with addictions have experienced trauma in their childhood. They may also imitate their parents and siblings for inspiration in their self-medication and substance abuse. Many people self-medicate because of these issues, which is the basis for trauma and substance abuse.

In fact, trauma can lead to a myriad of mental health problems, including PTSD.

Dual Diagnosis: Addiction and PTSD

Dual diagnosis, or a co-occurring disorder, is when you have PTSD and an addiction to alcohol or drugs. Although PTSD can affect anyone, it is not limited to veterans who have served in the military. However, 35%-75% are reported to use alcohol and drugs to cope with their experiences. Individuals suffering from PTSD might use alcohol or drugs to manage their symptoms, which include:

• Agitation
• Hypersensitivity
• Depression
• Social withdrawal
• Insomnia

The patient might decide to “cure” himself or herself by using drugs and alcohol, depending on their symptoms. It doesn’t work. They’ll eventually develop a tolerance to the drug they choose, which can often leave them even worse off. This cycle creates a link between trauma and addiction.

Dual-diagnosis is a combination of a mental illness and a substance abuse disorder. This includes people with severe anxiety, depression, or schizophrenia. Dual diagnosis -PTSD requires that a facility can address both the addictive cycle as well as the underlying trauma. This could include an analysis and discussion of trauma-related triggers.

Although it is important to treat both of these issues simultaneously in the case of dual diagnosis, it will prove difficult to get to the root trauma or triggers if you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

How to Recover from Trauma and Treat Addiction

In every trauma and addiction recovery, detoxification is the first step. This allows your body to be free from the substance under medical supervision.

A compassionate team of addiction professionals will then focus on personalized behavioral rehabilitation. You can ultimately move beyond the trauma and substance abuse by trusting and working together. You’ll feel empowered and stronger as you learn other coping strategies than self-medicating.

Although trauma can be part of your history, it doesn’t have to be the end of your life. Haven House Recovery’s drug rehab in Nashville, TN, provides individualized treatment for trauma and addiction recovery. We will give you the tools and solutions to treating trauma and addiction.

Do not let addiction and trauma affect your daily life. Get in touch with us today!