Working through trauma can be challenging for any individual, but it’s doable. It will require a lot of strength, courage, and vulnerability. It’s necessary to understand what trauma is to work through it fully. Trauma is defined as “a deeply distressing or disturbing experience.” It can be caused by many different life experiences, such as abuse, neglect, witnessing violence, or being in a natural disaster. When someone experiences trauma, it can have a lasting impact on their mental and emotional health.
It can be difficult to address trauma head-on. However, it is necessary to seek help from a professional to heal from addiction caused by trauma. Many different trauma-informed therapies can help individuals work through their trauma. These include eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and trauma-focused yoga. At Texas Recovery Center, we offer our co-occurring disorder treatment and EMDR therapy to help people working through trauma and addiction. Call us at 844.230.5931 to learn more.
Understanding Trauma
Anyone who has suffered from trauma understands the emotional impact it has on their life. Clinically, the Substance Use And Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) defines trauma as a situation that “causes physical or emotional harm from which you cannot remove yourself.” This situation could be a one-time event, like an accident or natural disaster. Or, it could be an ongoing situation, like abuse or neglect.
Trauma can have a lasting impact on your mental and emotional health. It can cause you to feel disconnected from yourself and the world around you. You may feel numb, disconnected, and alone. It can be a very isolating experience. You might also experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), such as:
- Flashbacks
- Nightmares
- Anxiety
- Depression
If you’re struggling with trauma, it’s important to seek help from a professional. An expert can help you understand your trauma and develop a plan for healing.
Problems Caused by Trauma
Unfortunately, not everyone can manage this stress and trauma, and post-traumatic stress disorder creates a physical and mental imbalance that can throw a person’s life off balance. While death is probably the most common cause of trauma, it can be caused by many problems. Common traumatic incidents include:
- Near-death situations
- War situations
- Death of a loved ones
- Car accident
- Childhood bullying
- Parental use
- Witnessing something shocking
- National tragedies
Without a doubt, trauma can cause problems in all aspects of life. Professionally, trauma can make it hard to succeed or maintain a job. In terms of personal relationships, trauma can cause people to feel disconnected or even distrust others. It can also lead to addiction as a way to cope with pain and negative emotions.
Treating Trauma as the Root of Addiction
Most often, medical professionals and experts in the addiction treatment field will look to address trauma as the root cause of addiction. This is because trauma can impact your mental and emotional health, leading to unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as substance use. To better understand why you chose to use a substance to cope with trauma, it’s essential to look at how trauma affects your brain.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, trauma affects three areas of the brain: the amygdala, the hippocampus, and the prefrontal cortex. When trauma occurs, it can cause changes in how these areas of the brain function. For example, the amygdala may become more reactive to triggers, causing you to feel more fear and anxiety. When these changes occur, they can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as substance use.
Treating trauma as the root cause of addiction can be difficult. It requires you to address the pain of trauma head-on. But, it’s possible to heal from trauma and addiction with the help of a professional. At Texas Recovery Center, we offer our co-occurring disorder treatment and EMDR therapy to support people working through trauma and addiction.
Therapies to Help with Trauma and Addiction
Many different trauma-informed therapies can help you work through your trauma. These include eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and trauma-focused yoga. Some other therapies and treatments include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)
- Exposure therapy
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
- Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT)
- Psychodynamic therapy
When working with our team at Texas Recovery Center, we will customize your treatment plan to fit your specific needs and situation. We understand that trauma and addiction are unique to each person. That’s why we offer a variety of therapies and treatments to meet your needs best.
Find Help with Trauma and Addiction at Texas Recovery Center
Trauma is a severe problem, but with the right help, you can recover from this serious problem and get through your addiction happily and healthily. At Texas Recovery Center, we have various resources that can help set you up with a rehabilitation environment that will give you the positive atmosphere you need to grow emotionally and spiritually through recovery. With our team by your side, you can finally overcome trauma and addiction and get your life back on track. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us today. Call us at 844.230.5931.
