Trauma and Addiction: The Connection Explained
Trauma and addiction often go hand-in-hand. People may overlook the connection between the two but it is both complex and significant.
A person with unresolved trauma might become addicted to one or more substances as they try to deal with their pain. Trauma-informed care can help them overcome the trauma, start on the path to recovery, and have a higher quality of life.
How Trauma May Lead to Addiction
A traumatic experience in a person’s life changes them. Their mental and emotional health is affected, and they may be unable to cope.
This trauma might come in many forms, and all are devastating. To numb the pain and feel better, the person might use drugs or alcohol. They self-medicate with the selected substance and get relief from the pain they feel.
A person will not fully recover from addiction until they address the trauma that played a role in its development. This person needs comprehensive support to have the highest quality of life. Treating both trauma and addiction will lessen the likelihood of a relapse.
Prevalence of Co-Occurring Disorders
Research shows a strong correlation between trauma and addiction. Up to 60 percent of trauma victims also suffer from addiction, and many individuals obtaining addiction treatment have been diagnosed with PTSD.
Trauma isn’t something a person gets over quickly. In fact, the victim might suffer emotional pain and distress for years after the actual event. They might develop anxiety, become depressed, or disconnect from themself and others.
They turn to substances to cope, as the substance allows them to numb the overwhelming emotions temporarily. They take control when they use the substance. Sadly, this use often leads to addiction, compounding the person’s struggles.
Until they receive help for the trauma, they won’t be able to overcome their addiction completely. They may be able to suppress it but the chances of a relapse are high.
Trauma-Informed Care
Trauma-informed care is designed to help a person understand how the trauma is impacting their life. They can then use this knowledge when working to overcome the addiction. This care serves as a bridge between the two, as it addresses both the trauma and the addiction for a complete recovery.
The individual has a safe environment where they can recognize and respond to potential triggers. They learn what they are sensitive to. This knowledge is important because it can help them avoid being traumatized again. The care gets to the underlying cause of the addiction so it can be resolved. Why is this important?
Addressing the Underlying Cause
A person might go through addiction treatment and think they are on the road to recovery even if they don’t address the trauma they experienced. When they encounter a trigger or sensitivity, however, they struggle to cope.
The only thing they know will help is to use the substance again and they relapse. This can be avoided by treating the addiction and trauma simultaneously. Practitioners use a holistic approach that treats the whole individual rather than their symptoms. Doing so improves treatment outcomes.
Researchers are well aware of the connection between addiction and trauma. They understand untreated trauma adds to the severity of the addiction and interferes with the person’s ability to recover completely. Trauma-informed care resolves this issue by treating both problems at the same time. It is an option every person struggling with addiction should consider.
