The Link Between PTSD and Addiction Explained
Veterans, survivors of abuse, and accident victims each have traumatic memories. When these memories dominate a person’s life and cause interruptions that hinder their ability to work, study, have a relationship, or engage in activities, he or she may be suffering from PTSD. Also known as post traumatic stress disorder, PTSD can be very challenging to live with, and many sufferers of the condition will turn to alcohol or drugs as a coping mechanism. These addictive substances may ease the nightmares, insomnia, flashbacks, and other triggers that can occur on a regular basis in a person who has PTSD.
If you have an addiction, and you believe it is related to a traumatic event, or you can associate the addiction to something that you would prefer to forget, you may have PTSD and an addiction. At our addiction rehab in Thailand, PTSD and addiction is one of the most common co-occurring disorders we treat.
Can You Help Someone with PTSD and Addiction?
If you know a person who may be suffering from an addiction and PTSD, it is important you do your best to get them help. Addiction will worsen with time; therefore, the sooner you talk about their treatment options, such as going to an addiction rehab in Thailand, the better.
At Siam Rehab, our PTSD and addiction treatment programme provides men and women with a safe, comfortable environment to recover in. Personalised attention and opportunities to heal from unwanted memories will be provided. Our trained staff will encourage each client to participate in individual and group counselling, CBT and art therapy, as well as other forms of therapy.
PTSD is a mental health condition that is best treated with counselling, therapy, meditation, and more. Addiction is a physical and mental health condition that also requires treatment to address the underlying condition, as well as the withdrawal symptoms. If you are suffering from PTSD and addiction, or know someone who is, and help is available. There is no shame in reaching out to people who care. As a leading addiction rehab in Thailand, we at Siam Rehab, want to help you. Call us today.
The Link Between PTSD and Addiction
It is estimated that at least 70 percent of people, on a global level, have experienced some kind of trauma. Many of them will develop the symptoms of PTSD; however, most not only will be unable to recognise it, but they won’t know how to deal with the condition. Furthermore, there is a large population of PTSD sufferers who have opened up about being criticised for their condition. As a result, the personal trauma an individual experienced is minimised and can cause a person to feel ashamed. Eventually, they may shut down and attempt to mask their feelings. Alcohol and drugs might become a person’s go to vice to alleviate some of the emotions a PTSD sufferer is going through.
PTSD and addiction frequently occur together, with approximently 30-60 percent of women who are receiving treatment for a substance abuse disorder also suffer from post traumatic stress disorder. Womens’ PTSD is often the result of physical or sexual abuse that they suffered as a child.
Which Disorder Comes First?
An interesting detail that has emerged from several studies on addiction and PTSD is that it did not matter which condition came first. The two conditions, at some point in time, emerged together. It has been noted that PTSD can predispose a person to a substance abuse disorder, and abusing substances over time could cause a traumatic event that eventually causes the person to develop PTSD.
One of the curious details that emerged from the study of both PTSD and substance abuse disorder is that it doesn’t matter which came first: The two end up together over time. PTSD can predispose people to substance abuse, and abusing substances can lead to traumatic events turning into PTSD.
Signs and Symptoms of PTSD
If you recognise the following signs and symptoms of PTSD, and you are also suffering from a substance abuse disorder, an rehab for addiction in Thailand may be appropriate for your needs.
- Re-Living the Traumatic Event – People who have PTSD will often have distressing thoughts that hinder their ability to function, or even “forget” about them. They may also have flashbacks or nightmares that relate to the trauma. These things are ways that the brain re-experiences the trauma, as an attempt to process what happened.
- Avoiding Triggers – Feeling scared or anxious on a frequent basis is not something that many people want to go through. Thus, a person with PTSD may try to avoid places, people, or things that trigger the memory or cause a flashback. Turning to drugs or alcohol may be a method someone chooses to avoid their triggers, and also numb any difficult feelings.
- Hyperarousal – When a person is always on high alert, they may be hyper aroused. In other words, they are jumpy or ready to act on something that they deem to be “bad”. Overtime, this can cause excessive jumpiness, high anxiety, and exhaustion.
Understanding PTSD
Post traumatic stress disorder was first noticed in World War I. It was not recognised, officially, until 1980. At this time, it was included in the well known Diagnostic Standards Manual, a guidebook for mental health disorders. PTSD was originally seen in soldiers who were suffering from flashbacks, nightmares, high anxiety, emotional outbursts, and other triggers. Through a large number of scientific studies, the diagnosis for PTSD expanded into including anyone who experienced trauma and struggled to process the memory. Examples of traumas can include, but is certainly not limited to:
- A sexual assault
- Sexual abuse
- Physical abuse
- Witnessing a death or accident
- Being involved in an accident
- Being caught in a natural disaster
- Being a soldier in a combat zone
- Being a civilian in a war zone
It must be noted that there are certainly other experiences, apart from the above, that can result in PTSD. Furthermore, it is unfair to judge anyone for, what they consider to be, a traumatic event. In other words, practically anything could be traumatic for a person depending on their characteristics, behaviours, beliefs, ideas, and so forth.
Treating PTSD and Addiction
Living with PTSD is not easy, and when an addiction is also involved, it is prudent that treatment at a rehab is sought. As a leading addiction treatment centre in Thailand, Siam Rehab will help you to manage the symptoms of PTSD so they are minimised or alleviated. Our team of staff will also guide you through a safe, medically supervised detox so that any withdrawal symptoms are made as pain free as possible. Once you have completed the detox, you will partake in a broad range of treatment. Your personalised rehab programme will consist of various therapies, including cognitive behavioural therapy which will help you to regain control over the event; thus, feel less anxious or afraid. We want your journey towards a better life, and a healthy recovery, to be free from obstacles that may be standing in your way.
Recover and Heal at Siam Rehab
You can recover from PTSD and overcome an addiction at the same time. With the right guidance, intervention, and therapy, it is possible to live a sober life, free from triggers of bad memories. If you are interested in learning more about our addiction treatment centre in Thailand, or are ready to take the first steps now, give us a call today.
Source:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1521-0391.1997.tb00408.x
