How Trauma Can Lead to Addiction: Understanding the Connection

Trauma becomes an all-pervasive force in the survivor’s life and can potentially alter their mental and emotional existence forever. What most people understand as trauma is when one undergoes an unpleasant event that causes emotional or psychological pain, but this common understanding of what causes trauma does not also mean that it has long-term adverse consequences, inclusive of the subject of this article, detailing the link between trauma and addiction. It is well documented that there is a link between trauma and addiction, and this link is fundamental in understanding treatment and recovery. In this blog, we will discuss what trauma is, how it can result in substance use disorder, and why it should be treated in individuals aiming for sobriety.

Understanding Trauma

It is important to note that the term trauma here can be described as an internal or psychological reaction to the experience of an unpleasant and shocking event. Such events often differ and depend on the kind of maltreatment the child faces, be it physical or sexual, natural disasters, accidents, war, and many more cases of violence. Several of the ways in which trauma can occur are physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, separation from a caregiver, witnessing traumatic events or the death of a loved one, etc.

Some people will perceive trauma and never be diagnosed with long-term mental illness, but for others, trauma becomes a chronic source of psychological pain. Emotional trauma can cause thoughts of fear, helplessness, and anxiety and often give way to depression and PTSD.

The Link Between Trauma and Addiction

Whenever there is a trauma, most of the affected individuals end up abusing substances like drugs or alcohol to help them deal with the deep emotional pain. People can find some relief from these feelings of anxiety, depression, and emotional detachment through substance use and avoid having to address the trauma, at least for a limited amount of time. It is popularly known as ‘self-medication.

It simply means that a person exposed to trauma will start to use drugs or alcohol as a way of coping with the overwhelming emotions, only to find himself or herself trapped in a vicious cycle. It means the more someone relies on any substance to handle stress, the more such an individual becomes, health-wise and emotionally.

The Role of the Brain in Trauma and Addiction

To delve deeper into addressing the question of whether or not trauma can definitely lead to substance use, one should examine the neurological responses to trauma and addiction. Trauma impacts the HP axis of the brain, which relates to the stress response. This system regulates the amount of stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, which make the body ready to fight any threat.

Specifically, when a person undergoes trauma, the individual’s stress response system somehow gets disrupted, and as a result, the person becomes either hypervigilant or emotionally anhedonic. These conditions include anxiety, poor sleeping patterns, and the feeling of always being on guard or being on the lookout for something.

The Importance of Trauma-informed Care in Recovery

Traditional models of treating substance abuse primarily rely on the manifestation of substance dependency without necessarily discovering the root cause. But when the problem is rooted in trauma, then it is crucial to deal with the trauma in order to overcome the addiction. This is where the concept of trauma-informed care comes in.

Trauma-sensitive practice entails acknowledgment of the effects of traumatization in a patient’s life as well as the inclusion of this reality in the practice. This approach is considerate and does not subject the client to further anguish during the recovery process. Through identification of the relevance of trauma in substance dependency, trauma-informed care assists the patient in recovery from trauma as well as substance use.

Co-Occurring Disorders: Trauma, Addiction, and Mental Health

Another finding was that trauma survivors were also likely to have dual diagnoses wherein a person has both substance use and mental disorders. For example, it was revealed that people with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) are at higher risk of developing substance use disorders on their way to cope with the symptoms of trauma. Depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder also correlate with trauma and addiction in equal measure.

The case of dual diagnosis is critical in substance abuse treatment since most of the patients present psychiatric disorders alongside substance use disorders, and if these disorders are not treated, the patient is most likely to relapse. Such programs as those offered by the malibu recovery center also emphasize treating the client’s addiction as well as the mental health disorder that resulted in substance dependency.

Breaking the Cycle: Steps Toward Healing

It is a great struggle to overcome the intergenerational transmission of cocycles of trauma and addiction. Here are some essential steps in the healing process:

Seek Professional Help: There are no such easy solutions when it comes to trauma and addiction – professional assistance usually has to be sought if one wants to start working on his or her issues. Search for treatment facilities that prioritize trauma-informed practices and that provide complex, personalized treatment options.

Develop Healthy Coping Mechanisms: It is, therefore, essential to seek other methods of handling emotional distress after the recovery process. Psychotherapy, mindfulness, exercises, and art or music therapy can aid in the healing of trauma.

Build a Support System: Having friends or family or other recovery peers can help the individual stay motivated and encouraged to maintain recovery.

Commit to Long-Term Recovery: Trauma and addiction recovery does not happen overnight. People who are dealing with mental illnesses have to work on themselves for years and engage in therapy, self-care, and meetings with psychologists.

Conclusion

This linkage between trauma and addiction is profound yet infinitely intricate. Psychologically, trauma makes people vulnerable to feeling overwhelmed, hence seeking solace in substance or substance use disorders. It is important to have this link understood and appreciated in order to have the best approach to treatment and support given to the patient. One example of this is the Malibu Recovery Center, which understands how trauma is connected to addiction and offers quality care that can address both issues. Thus, by getting over trauma, a person can leave the cycle of addiction behind and start a new, positive life.