The Relationship Between Trauma and Drug and Alcohol Addiction

Did you know that 139.8 million Americas overuse alcohol? About 15 million of those people have an alcohol use disorder.

Drug and alcohol addiction has increased in the U.S. and it is strongly linked to experiencing trauma and using substance abuse as an escape. Keep reading and we will guide you through the relationship between trauma and drug and alcohol addiction.

Trauma

Traumatic events shape who you are as a person, they will stick with you from childhood or in adulthood and can change how you see yourself and the world. 

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition triggered by trauma that first came about in 1980. PTSD symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, paranoia, and anxiety. You may not be able to control your thoughts or stop the terrifying images from leaving your head.

Trauma can have lasting effects on your mental, emotional, physical, social, and spiritual wellbeing. Some common examples of trauma include:

• Physical assault

• Sexual assault

• Domestic violence

• Rape

• Parental neglect

• Natural disasters

• Accidents, such as a car cash

• Emotional or verbal abuse

There aren't limitations to trauma. Anything, where you feel like you or someone you care about is in danger, can cause PTSD and have lasting effects on your mental and physical health. You will see signs of trauma that include:

• Mood shifts

• Fear, nervousness, paranoia, anxiety

• Nightmares or Continually reliving the event

• Prolonged agitation and feeling irritated

• And yes, substance use or abuse is a common sign

Trauma can create lasting effects on you, and it can stick with you and cause other issues.

Aftermath or trauma

Trauma and alcoholism are a common pairing because the lasting effects people have, whether it's from childhood or adult trauma, can cause people to self-medicate. If you want to forget about what happened, drugs and alcohol can feel like a solution.

Studies show that children who go through trauma are five times more likely to suffer from alcoholism as an adult. However, trauma and addiction aren’t just limited to alcohol but can include other drugs as well.

Addiction can lead you down a scary and unsafe road. There are places you can go to get help and work on both your trauma and substance abuse.

Aspire Counseling’s Approach to Substance Abuse Treatment & Trauma Therapy

Aspire Counseling is here to help you, virtually or in person, whichever you prefer. We often trauma therapy as well as addictions counseling. We are incredibly fortunate that our therapist who has the most experience working with addictions is also well trained and versed in trauma treatment.

Trauma treatment is very important and we want to help you move past your trauma and stop having to deal with the pain that it has brought on you. We understand that just treating the alcoholism on it’s own is often not enough. You also need to treat the trauma that the addiction is covering up.

And we have to be honest, that it may not always feel good. There are certainly times where it would be easier to drink or get high. That’s how you’ve been escaping the memories and probably some PTSD symptoms. But if you are sick of depending on substances to cover up the PTSD, it IS possible to move forward. We CAN help you face what happened, get free from your past and move forward with your life so you don’t just get clean and sober for the moment but are able to stay that way. You deserve to live a life worth living and treating that trauma will let you start living that life free from alcohol or drugs.

Get Help with Drug and Alcohol Addiction in Columbia, MO

The direct link between trauma and drug and alcohol addiction can cause you a lot of pain and have lasting effects on your mental and physical health. Trauma can happen when you're a child or adult and can stick with you for a long time, with PTSD and having to relive the pain.

If you’ve started the road to recovery from addictions (perhaps you completed a detox program or are working the steps in AA) and are ready to treat the trauma so you can stay sober this time, we can help. Contact us today and our intake team can talk to you about which of our therapists may have openings right now.