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It may come as a surprise to many people, but post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and addiction are closely connected. People who suffer from emotional or physical trauma often turn to substances like drugs or alcohol to cope with lingering pain. PTSD can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, such as war, a car accident, or physical abuse. In an attempt to manage these intense feelings, some people turn to alcohol or drug use. Unfortunately, numbing your feelings with substances often leads to drug addiction or alcohol use disorder. However, understanding the link between PTSD and addiction is the first step toward making a long-term recovery.

PTSD and Addiction

How Does PTSD Develop?

PTSD is a mental health disorder that typically develops after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Although the word “trauma” can differ for different people, here are some common causes of PTSD.

War

Soldiers involved in conflict or civilians witnessing war usually experience PTSD. Both soldiers and civilians witness horrors or are involved directly in violent experiences. Combat experiences can leave permanent emotional and psychological scars.

Accidents

Serious plane and car accidents can traumatize survivors. People often relive these events for years.

Natural Disasters

Natural disasters, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes, can do untold damage to people’s lives. Besides the fear they experience, they may also lose friends, family, and belongings.

Abuse

Sexual and physical abuse can lead to years of emotional and psychological pain, especially if the abuse occurred in childhood. The sense of powerlessness felt at the time can permanently affect people’s psychological and mental well-being.

Loss of a Loved One

While losing a loved one will happen to most people, PTSD can occur if the death is unexpected or especially traumatic.

The mental health impacts of PTSD are profound. Individuals often experience flashbacks and nightmares related to the trauma, which can make them feel that they are reliving the traumatic experiences. As a result, they often suffer from extreme depression, anxiety, or even hypervigilance.

What Is the Connection Between PTSD and Substance Abuse?

The nightmares and flashbacks that come with PTSD can be overwhelming, often leading individuals to use substances as a way to dull their pain and regain control. Here are some common reasons people with PTSD turn to substances:

  • Numbing the Pain: Self-medicating with substances like heroin, marijuana, and alcohol can help mask the emotional pain that accompanies PTSD. However, as tolerance builds, individuals require more of these substances to achieve the same effects, leading to drug abuse or alcohol abuse.
  • Easing Anxiety: PTSD can cause hypervigilance and extreme anxiety. Substances like alcohol and sedatives can temporarily provide relief, but this often leads to dependency and substance abuse.
  • Helping With Nightmares: PTSD can cause the prevalence of intense nightmares. Some individuals turn to substances like opioids to suppress these nightmares and help with sleep, though this can quickly lead to drug abuse and dependency.

While drugs and alcohol may provide temporary relief for those with PTSD, they are not effective long-term solutions. People with substance use disorders may begin to feel depressed, isolated, and anxious, eventually worsening their PTSD symptoms.

Having a substance use disorder can also create additional problems, including job loss, financial strain, and relationship issues with family members and close ones. Seeking substance abuse treatment tailored for co-occurring PTSD and addiction is essential for achieving a lasting recovery.

Dual-Diagnosis Treatment

If you are suffering from PTSD and addiction, recovery can be a challenge. Addressing the symptoms of one disorder and not the other can lead to setbacks. That’s why healthcare professionals need to treat both disorders at the same time. This is known as dual-diagnosis treatment.

Dual-diagnosis treatment is important when treating PTSD and addiction for various reasons:

The Symptoms Are Interconnected

Unfortunately, PTSD and addiction tend to feed off each other. The symptoms of PTSD push people towards drugs and alcohol to numb their pain, while drugs and alcohol create feelings of depression and anxiety – making PTSD symptoms worse. If the addiction is treated by itself, individuals may relapse to continue to numb their PTSD symptoms. If therapists only focus on PTSD, the addiction will continue to cause a downward spiral.

Teaches New Coping Skills

People who have PTSD turn to alcohol and drugs to cope. This prevents them from developing healthier ways to cope with their trauma. Treating their addiction and their PTSD can help individuals find new ways to cope with their traumatic experiences.

Helps Individuals Avoid Relapse

Therapists must address PTSD to address an individual’s emotional pain and trauma. If the addiction alone is treated, the chance of relapse will be high. To build a stronger foundation for recovery, both addiction and PTSD must be addressed in treatment.

The Symptoms of PTSD

Recognizing the symptoms of PTSD can be difficult as the signs can be subtle. However, here are some obvious red flags.

Intense Flashbacks and Nightmares

People who suffer from intense flashbacks and nightmares are often reliving past trauma. There may also be emotional or physical triggers – sounds or smells for example – that remind them of their traumatic experience.

Hypervigilant Behavior

They may constantly feel on edge or alert that something terrible could happen at any moment. They may also be startled easily or find it difficult to relax.

Avoiding Places or Things

They may intentionally avoid places, people, or things that remind them of their trauma. They may also withdraw from relationships and isolate themselves.

Significant Changes in Mood

People with PTSD may sink into a deep depression. Alternatively, they may experience feelings of guilt and shame.

The Symptoms of Addiction

Recognizing the signs of addiction can also be challenging as users may hide their addiction well. However, here are some signs to look out for.

Higher Tolerance

Many people who become addicted to a substance end up needing more of the substance to feel the same effects. This increased tolerance is often a sign that they are developing a substance use disorder.

Loss of Control

Being unable to quit is one of the key indicators that an individual has an addiction problem. They will also spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about and seeking out their drug of choice.

Job Losses or Strained Relationships

Addicts often let the addiction take over their lives, leading to job losses, divorces, and strained family relationships. They may not show up to work on time and may be emotionally absent from any of their relationships.

Emotional and Physical Changes

People with a substance use disorder may have frequent mood changes, which match their highs and lows. There may also be a significant amount of weight gain or loss.

Treatment Options for PTSD and Addiction

Recreate Life Counseling understands the importance of a customized approach to treating PTSD and addiction disorders. Here are some of the evidence-based treatment therapies we offer, targeting both psychiatric disorders and substance use disorder (SUD) for comprehensive care.

Medical Detox

For anyone suffering from a substance use disorder, medical detox is a necessary first step before further treatment can begin. Detox helps eliminate all drugs and alcohol from the body, managing withdrawal symptoms in a supervised setting. While detox does not address the underlying causes of PTSD or addiction, it cleanses the body of toxins so actual treatment can begin.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

After detox, clients can engage in psychotherapy techniques like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for exposure therapy. Unlike psychoanalysis, which often focuses on past events, CBT helps individuals find solutions to current problems by changing negative patterns of thinking and behavior. This approach is particularly helpful for comorbidity, addressing both mental illness conditions and addictive behaviors.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

DBT is a type of talk therapy ideal for people who feel emotions very intensely. DBT treatment helps people accept the reality of their situation by providing a judgment-free environment. The goal is to then help them change their addictive behaviors by teaching them to manage and control their emotions.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

EMDR therapy was initially designed in 1987 to help people suffering from PTSD. EDMR therapy helps the brain reprocess traumatic memories so that recalling them is less traumatic.

Group Therapy

Many people benefit from sharing their recovery journey with others who have similar experiences. Group therapy also provides a safe space where clients can share, bond, and develop new skills to fight their addictive patterns and behaviors. Whereas individual or talk therapy can feel isolating, group therapy can offer a sense of community.

Alternative Therapies

Recreate Life Counseling also offers alternative therapies that clients can participate in alongside their talk and group therapy.

  • Acupuncture: Acupuncture can offer relief from chronic pain, joint pain, or any pain associated with anxiety and stress.
  • Yoga: Yoga can help clients better manage stress and anxiety by soothing tension and anxiety in the body. It can also improve flexibility and energy.
  • Adventure Therapy: Adventure therapy is also known as outdoor behavioral healthcare. Having clients spend time in nature can help decrease anxiety and stress. Immersing clients in nature can improve their mental health, too.
  • Art Therapy: Some people suffering from PTSD and addiction may gain therapeutic benefits from engaging in art activities, such as painting and drawing.

How to Seek Help

If you or a loved one is struggling with PTSD and addiction, the first step is to acknowledge the issue and reach out for support. Consider contacting a treatment center like Recreate Life Counseling, which specializes in addiction treatment programs for co-occurring disorders. We offer a range of effective treatments, including inpatient treatment, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient programs, and recovery residences. Our team also encourages clients to embrace alternative interventions such as art therapy, yoga, or acupuncture, to promote holistic healing.

Our comprehensive programs are designed to treat the whole person, addressing both PTSD and addiction to achieve lasting recovery. Find out how we can help by contacting our team today.

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Published on: 2024-10-28
Updated on: 2024-10-28