Traumatic experiences mold you. These experiences, whether they occurred as a youngster or as an adult, have an influence on how you see the world and yourself. It is not uncommon to hear that someone who has gone through a traumatic experience is now battling with addiction. Trauma typically leads to alcohol or drug abuse.
What is the reason for this? Addiction and trauma are intricately intertwined. If you or someone you love has an addiction problem as a result of trauma, your tale is not finished. You can find hope and healing, as well as a treatment for trauma and addiction in alcohol rehab in Murfreesboro, TN.
Various Kinds of Trauma
Trauma is more than a negative event. It is an event or series of events that has long-term implications for your mental, emotional, physical, social, and spiritual well-being. Because your mind and body interpret the event as physically, emotionally, or life-threatening, trauma boosts stress levels. Stress triggers the release of hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which govern your body’s fight-or-flight response.
These physiological chemicals can be helpful in an emergency, but in high concentrations, they can be dangerous. Your body gradually loses the ability to discriminate between an actual fight-or-flight emergency and your recall of an incident. Survivors of trauma may become stuck in a rut, unable to move on from what happened.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a serious psychiatric disorder. This condition is commonly associated with veterans returning from a battle or war, but it can also afflict traumatized children. Some people use drugs and alcohol to self-medicate or mask their emotions.
Trauma can occur for a variety of causes. The most common are:
- Assault
- Rape
- Domestic violence
- Verbal and emotional abuse
- Negligent parenting
- Persistent harassment and bullying
- Accidents
- Natural disasters
These are only a few of the many ways that surviving conditions in which your life was in danger might result in PTSD.
Symptoms of Trauma
People who have undergone childhood trauma may develop a variety of psychological and behavioral adverse effects. Although your brain may attempt to conceal stress, the impacts of trauma can still be felt. Some symptoms may result from a traumatic encounter.
- Dramatic mood shifts
- Unusual conduct
- Excessive and improper emotional expression
- Persistent fear, worry, or anxiety
- Irritation or persistent agitation
- Insecurity (timidity)
- Eating problems
- Avoiding things that bring back painful memories
- Reliving the incident
- Difficulty connecting with others
- Social and romantic concerns
People who have had a traumatic event as a youngster are more likely to develop a drug or alcohol addiction.
The Relationship Between Childhood Addiction and Trauma
One of the most adaptive and brilliant things on the planet is the human brain. Because of plasticity, your brain can change and respond to each environment you face throughout your life. This skill is essential in all aspects of your life. As you explore the world, you may build new memories and master new talents.
Every action you do, good or harmful, causes the neurons in your brain to alter, develop, and even break. To keep them working, you’ll need to tweak the settings. Patients suffering from traumatic brain damage might benefit from this technique to restore their capacity to talk or walk. Your brain has the ability to physically rewire itself in order for you to continue functioning.
What is the connection between this and trauma and addiction? What is the connection between a difficult childhood and adulthood? These encounters shape how you act, think, and react to circumstances and others. Because of this, there is a significant link between childhood trauma, drinking, and other addictions.
This link between child abuse and drugs develops because childhood trauma and maltreatment may be the source of anomalies in brain structure. These anomalies can lead to a variety of cognitive and behavioral issues. Cortisol and other stress chemicals, which are frequent in childhood trauma, impair proper brain growth.
Trauma can result in a number of long-term mental health problems, including PTSD. As many as two-thirds of all people with addictions suffered some type of trauma as children. These people may also model their substance misuse and self-medication after actions they experienced with loved ones as children. These concerns cause many people to self-medicate, laying the groundwork for the relationship between trauma and drug dependence.
How To Deal with Addiction and Recover from Trauma
Detoxification is the first step in every trauma or addiction rehabilitation program. This permits your body to remain free of the chemical while being monitored by a doctor.
A caring team of addiction specialists will then concentrate on tailored behavioral recovery. By trusting and cooperating, you can eventually overcome trauma and substance misuse. You’ll feel more empowered and stronger as you learn alternatives to self-medicating.
Key Takeaway
Comprehensive addiction treatment and counseling begin with detoxification in a medically supervised setting to wean your body off the substance. Then, a caring team of addiction specialists may focus on tailored behavioral recovery. Finally, you may overcome substance abuse and trauma through trust and partnership. You’ll begin to feel empowered and strong as you develop coping techniques other than self-medication.
