Trauma and Addiction
What about drug rehab, does everyone with an addiction need professional help? All of these questions are understandable, and there are many things that play a role in addiction; however, there is another factor that is known to have a significant impact on the development and continuum of an addiction.
Can Trauma Lead to Addiction?
Neglect, physical violence or sexual abuse during childhood, vetarans with PTSD, or witnessing a terrible accident are scenarios that most people know about. It is well known for some to come home from a hard or stressful day at work and have a drink to take the edge off. Thus, it might make sense that people who have gone through a traumatic event to turn to alcohol or drugs to ease their suffering and/or ignore their pain.
Trauma can lead to addiction. If you or a loved one has an addiction and can relate to what is below, trauma may be the underlying cause of the addiction. It is important for you to understand that various kinds of trauma can be addressed along with the addiction. When this is done correctly, typically at a drug rehab, you can learn how to live a life of enjoyment and happiness.
Unresolved Trauma Can Lead to Addiction
Perhaps you have known about someone who experienced a trauma and ended up becoming addicted to drugs or alcohol. It is estimated that up to 75 % of men and women who attend alcohol and drug rehab for addiction report a history of some kind of trauma.
Childhood Trauma – Experiencing a trauma during childhood can be incredibly impactful, so much so, that years after, the individual is still suffering. The reason for this is associated with the development of the brain during childhood. When a child is going through high levels of stress, which occur during a trauma, their brain development can be impeded. A number of studies have shown that such high levels of stress associated with childhood trauma leads to vulnerability towards a substance addiction in adulthood.
Anyone who has been physically or sexually abused, or otherwise neglected, can be affected. However, when a child is subjected to one of these traumas, they can be impacted in a greater way. This is because a child relies on their parents, family members, or other adults for care, support, and guidance. If these people abuse that level of trust and are the cause of the trauma, the child loses their support system. Overtime, the child’s brain can become wired differently. As such, it can hinder the childs’ childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.
Can a Person Overcome a Trauma That Happened in Their Childhood?
While it might seem impossible to overcome a trauma, there are a number of different treatment options available. Many drug and alcohol rehabs, including Siam Rehab, provide dual diagnosis treatment to address the addiction and the trauma. If you are the survivor of a childhood trauma, it is important that you know you’re not alone. It is possible for trauma to lead to addiction and it is possible to get help at a drug rehab that cares.
Trauma During Adulthood
If you were to compare childhood trauma to trauma experienced as an adult you might think that the latter is not as serious; however, adult trauma is still very much real and can cause an addiction. You might know an adult who has been sexually assaulted. Perhaps you know someone who lost someone to a tragic accident or witnessed a terrible accident. Or, you may know an adult who was involved in an accident that impacted their life. If so, it is possible for these traumas to cause an addiction to drugs or alcohol.
When an adult experiences a trauma, they might have painful flashbacks or recurring memories of the incident. High anxiety, panic attacks, emotional outbursts, or lacking the ability to feel emotions are just some of the outcomes a trauma can have on an adult. Psychiatrists have been known to suggest that although a childhood trauma can cause addiction later on in life, it is possible for a trauma in adulthood to cause more physical and mental damage than a childhood trauma.
Veterans with PTSD
War is considered to be one of the most harrowing experiences a person can go through in their life. Approximately one in three veterans who go to rehab for a drug addiction also suffer from PTSD. The remaining two thirds of veterans may not have been diagnosed for PTSD or may have other mental health issues, such as depression. Many of these veterans have engaged in combat and have seen things that are practically unimaginable. Alcohol and drugs may become a veterans’ escape and a way to numb the pain they’re feeling. Apart from alcohol and drugs, veterans are especially vulnerable to developing an addiction to anxiety and pain medications such as Ambien, Xanax, and prescription opiates (i.e. OxyContin). A drug rehab that understands how trauma can lead to an addiction may be the best treatment options for veterans suffering from PTSD and addiction. A rehab can help the individual to identify the root cause of the addiction and cope with the mental health issues that is accompanying it.
Statistics for Trauma and Addiction
- Between 25 and 75 percent of people who survived an abusive or violent experience report having problematic alcohol abuse.
- Approximately 10 – 30 percent of people who survived an accident, disaster, or illness, say they have an alcohol problem.
- Up to 80 percent of veterans with PTSD abuse or are addicted to alcohol.
- Children and adolescents who’ve been sexually abused are 4 times more likely to abuse alcohol, 4.5 times more likely to abuse cannabis, and 9 times more likely to abuse hard drugs.
- People who have experienced a trauma are 3 times more likely to experience depression.
It is possible for a person to get help for their traumatic experience and addiction at the same time. Furthermore, it is essential for treatment to be sought after any traumatising experience. Many people who go through a trauma, and who don’t get help, may fail to understand how to cope with what happened. This is when drugs or alcohol might act as the coping method. If you are concerned about a person who has experienced a trauma, you should get them help.
Getting Help for aTrauma and Addiction
Opening up about a trauma takes strength, courage, and trust. Siam Rehab, a drug rehab in Thailand, offers treatment for a broad range of addictions, as well as, trauma informed care. Our team of staff can help you or a loved one to move forward and get on a path of recovery that promotes health, positivity, and happiness.
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