The Relationship Between Trauma and Substance Abuse
When it comes to overcoming traumatic experiences in your life, it’s not always an easy road. Unfortunately, many people who have endured various forms of trauma become addicted to substances later in life. In some cases, those who have experienced trauma may abuse substances as a way of coping with their pain. Luckily, trauma therapy can help you fight past those emotions and feelings that come back to haunt you.
As addicts, we very well know that certain substances can provide a numbing effect or a temporary feeling of empowerment. While these temporary feelings can be a welcome reprieve from the daily pain experienced by many trauma victims, substance abuse only adds to the problem. Since these individuals require increasing amounts of the same substance to experience a pleasurable effect, they run the risk of serious addiction. A situation where a dual diagnosis exists requires both trauma therapy and addiction therapy as well.