Dealing With Emotional Trauma in SobrietyTable of ContentsDealing With Emotional Trauma in SobrietyWhat is Trauma?How Does Trauma Enable Substance Abuse?The Most Common Forms of Trauma In Addiction RecoveryPost-Traumatic Stress DisorderChildhood TraumaDomestic Abuse and ViolenceWhat it is Like to Have Emotional TraumaChildhood Trauma and the Underlying Causes of Addiction as AdultsHow to Deal With Your Trauma […]
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It’s no secret that those of us who are in recovery for a drug or alcohol addiction can suffer from a great deal of emotional trauma. When we go through a traumatic event, the emotions and memories of that experience tend to stick with us for a long time.
Because of this, it is usually pretty common that our drinking and drug use would be used to mask the pain of dark times and difficult memories. For many of us, dealing with emotional trauma in sobriety can make it hard to live our daily lives, let alone stay clean.
But there is hope for those of us who are struggling with trauma in recovery. Keep reading to learn more about how you can manage your emotional trauma and maintain your sobriety in the face of adversity.
Trauma is more than just feeling sad or tired; it is a deeply distressing or disturbing experience that overwhelms our ability to cope, causes feelings of helplessness, and diminishes our sense of self and our ability to feel a full range of emotions and experiences.
Trauma can be caused by a single event, such as a car accident, sexual abuse, or natural disaster. It can also be caused by repeated exposure to stressful or threatening situations, such as war, adverse childhood experiences, or domestic violence.
Specific trauma symptoms can vary from person to person, but they often include:
Trauma can have a significant impact on a person’s mental health and life. It can interfere with our relationships, work, and ability to function in everyday life. If you are experiencing symptoms of trauma, it is important to seek help during your recovery process.
Many trauma survivors feel like they need to carry the burden of these difficult thoughts and feelings alone. However, that is just simply not the case. Seeking medical, professional help can begin your healing process in a safe and supportive environment.
For many people struggling with addiction, there is a strong correlation between their abuse of drugs and alcohol and past trauma. Trauma can enable substance abuse in a number of ways, with some of the most common including:
If you or someone you know is struggling with trauma and substance abuse, there is help available. There are many treatment programs that can help people address both the trauma and the addiction. With the right support, it is possible to overcome both of these challenges and live a healthy and fulfilling life.
For many people who are struggling with addiction, it is not uncommon for them to have co-occurring mental health disorders that are contributing to their substance abuse issues. Unfortunately, trauma and addiction often go hand-in-hand.
In order to successfully recover from your addiction, it is essential to address the underlying causes that are contributing to this behavior. Some of the most common forms of trauma that often occur alongside substance use disorders include:
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and addiction are two mental health conditions that are often co-occurring. This means that people with PTSD are more likely to also have a substance use disorder, and vice versa.
There are a number of reasons why this might be the case. One possibility is that people with PTSD use substances to self-medicate for their symptoms. The symptoms of PTSD can be very distressing, including flashbacks, nightmares, intrusive thoughts, and avoidance of reminders of the trauma. Substances can provide temporary relief from these symptoms, but they can also make the symptoms worse in the long run.
Another possibility is that the same factors that make someone more likely to develop PTSD also make them more likely to develop a substance use disorder. These factors can include childhood trauma, exposure to violence, and genetic vulnerability.
Those who experience emotional or physical abuse, or any other kind of trauma during their childhood are also more likely to develop addictions later in life. Even though their trauma occurred in the past, they will often still experience intense emotions and thoughts in the present.
Long-term exposure to stress and violence can have serious impacts on the human body, causing permanent alterations to the nervous system. Those who are struggling with trauma often experience both emotional and physical symptoms, which can lead them to begin abusing drugs and alcohol as a means of coping.
Experiencing physical or emotional abuse, sexual assault, or any other kind of violence in a romantic relationship can be highly traumatic. Whether this has taken place in a past relationship, or you are currently experiencing this, domestic abuse and violence can increase the risk of substance abuse.
Having a partner who struggles with addiction can also make you more prone to experiencing domestic violence or experimenting with substance abuse. If you believe you are in an abusive or unhealthy relationship, help is available. You can speak with one of our representatives today to find out what resources are available to you.
The inability to cope caused by trauma can affect a person in all aspects of their lives and can hinder relationships, jobs, and emotional well-being. The onset of trauma can come in all different shapes and sizes for all people.
When we think of trauma, we usually think of some sort of life-threatening event such as a car accident, natural disaster, war, child abuse, or other serious event. For people in recovery, these traumatic experiences can often shape who we are subconsciously, and can often hinder us from really progressing in our treatment program and getting back into the flow of life.
There are multiple types of events that can cause trauma in a person that range from one-time events to prolonged experiences over time. People are most commonly affected by trauma from an event if the situation was overwhelming emotionally if it left them feeling alone and helpless, if it was something that was out of their control, and if it happened repeatedly.
One of the most difficult aspects of dealing with trauma is that it can be hard for others to relate to the affected because each person qualifies for trauma relatively. While one person could be deeply affected by an event, another person may not be as affected by it and vice versa.
Many sober addicts and alcoholics suffer from childhood trauma. This could have been a single event or series of events that most likely play a role in the development and severity of their use. It is very common for addicts and alcoholics to come from families of addicts and alcoholics, or to have been the children of divorce, abuse, and abandonment.
While this is not the case for all recovering addicts and alcoholics, it is pretty common for us to have any range of single or multiple traumatic events at one point in our past. Emotional trauma can be extremely difficult for people who are recovering from addiction.
As we all know, we have enough on our plate with kicking our habits and trying to function as responsible human beings. Adding in levels of painful memories and mental turmoil does not make the process any easier. Emotional trauma can leave a person feeling detached, anxious, and skeptical of trusting people around them.
While emotional trauma can affect everyone a little bit differently, the general symptoms and side effects of it remain along the same general categories of ailments. For example, trauma can cause anxiety, inability to sleep, night terrors, depression, suspicion, and paranoia.
Experience does show that people can overcome emotional trauma through a structured program of recovery and a strong support system. Seeking out trauma treatment can improve recovery success rates and make sure that your experience healing from trauma is as comfortable and effective as possible.
There are many options available for those seeking treatment with a trauma-informed approach, whether they are actively struggling with an addiction or are already in recovery. Some of the most popular trauma recovery programs include:
If you are struggling with trauma and substance abuse, please reach out to our recovery representatives for help. There are many resources and programs that can help you to overcome these challenges and live a healthy and fulfilling life.
When it comes to maintaining sobriety and a healthy state of mind, those who struggle with trauma-based issues can find it difficult to manage their symptoms. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to maintain long-term recovery from both your addiction and the side effects of your trauma, including:
Self-care is important for everyone, but it can be especially difficult to practice when you are struggling with trauma. Self-care is an ongoing journey, and there will be times when you slip up. But the important thing is to keep trying. Even small acts of self-care can make a big difference in your overall well-being.
Some simple ways you can make self-care a part of your normal routine include:
Many people share common reactions to everyday stress and obstacles, and those who are in addiction recovery can find it hard to feel calm in their day-to-day lives. Fortunately, there are several ways to maintain mindfulness in recovery, including:
A support system is a network of people who can provide you with practical or emotional support. It can be a lifesaver during difficult times, and it can also help you to thrive in good times. Having a solid support system is essential to your recovery.
When building a close network of trusted friends and advisors, some things you can do include:
If you have found yourself or a loved one suffering from alcoholism or addiction, you are not alone! If you are ready to change your life and live free of addiction, then Rehabs Of Armerica can help.
We give you the jump start to recovery you need. Our extensive network of treatment centers is unique in that they do not just treat the addiction, but the whole person. Many of the programs we work with offer trauma-informed care to their clients.
You deserve a chance to achieve long-term recovery from all of your ailments. Reach out to our passionate team to start your road to a happier, healthier future today!
Anna M. joined Find Addiction Rehabs with extensive experience in the field of addiction treatment. As a former Nurse Practitioner in Miami, she found her passion for addiction treatment when a family member was lost to his disease. With each article and resource, she hopes to save other families from experiencing the anguish of a loved one’s passing due to drinking or drugs.
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