Today’s therapists understand that treating addiction goes beyond physically overcoming dependency issues. It involves addressing the underlying cause of addiction, which is often an emotional disorder. It’s not uncommon for trauma to be at the heart of the issue.
Fortunately, therapists have identified ways to specifically treat trauma and related addictions. This article will outline the approach.
What is Trauma?
Trauma refers to an unpleasant incident that happened in someone’s past. Various types include:
- Acute trauma: A single event such as an accident, assault, or disaster
- Chronic trauma: A repeated or prolonged experience, such as ongoing abuse or violence
- Complex developmental trauma: Ongoing interpersonal harm and attachment disruption in childhood
- Secondary/vicarious trauma: Exposure to another individual’s trauma, such as a caregiver or first responder
- Collective/historical trauma: Experienced by groups over time, such as war or oppression
- Physical vs. psychological trauma: Bodily injury vs mental damage- these can co-occur
What are the Effects of Trauma?
Often, people who experience trauma become sensitized. The amygdala in the brain becomes hyper-alert to danger, easily going into fight-or-flight mode. Pre-frontal regulation drops, and the hippocampus encodes fragmented memories. Stress hormones also stay elevated, impacting mood, sleep, and health.
Various conditions can stem from trauma, including:
- PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder): Stems from a single traumatic or short-term event with symptoms lasting over a month.
- ASD (Acute Stress Disorder): Immediate trauma response in the days after a traumatic event, lasting less than a month.
- (CPTSD) Complex PTSD: Long-term symptoms tied to prolonged or repeated trauma
Regardless of the type of trauma experienced, symptoms are similar and may include:
- Difficulty managing emotions
- Feelings of worthlessness, guilt, failure, and shame
- Trouble forming and maintaining healthy relationships
- Intrusive memories, flashbacks, and nightmares
- Avoidance of people, things, and places that remind the individual of the trauma
- Psychosomatic symptoms like pain, headaches, and digestive issues
What is the Relationship Between Trauma and Addiction?
According to a 2018 PMC study, 3.9% of the population, about 250 million people worldwide, experience PTSD. However, disparities in treatment access exist. Only about 52.5% of people in high-income countries, 22.8% in low-income countries, and 28.7% in middle-income countries receive help.
Clearly, a lack of access to care plays a role, but some may not seek out care due to stigmas or denial. They may want to hide their problems from others for fear of negative judgment, or they may not think their issues are that bad.
Rather than get help, they turn to drugs and alcohol. In fact, a study published in the Wiley Online Library reveals that 20% of people with PTSD self-medicate instead of seeking out professional services.
Although substances temporarily relieve some PTSD symptoms, they tend to negatively impact mental health in the long run, disrupting brain chemistry and causing legal, financial, and interpersonal difficulties.
Addressing Trauma and Addiction
Fortunately, today’s providers understand the severity of co-occurring disorders and often take a dual diagnosis approach, treating both the addiction and its underlying cause. Here’s what that could look like in trauma-informed care.
Detox
The first step involves addressing the physical aspects of addiction. The patient will undergo a supervised ‘drying out period’ which typically lasts about a week. They will experience severe physical symptoms as their body gets used to functioning without drugs, but providers will do everything they can to provide comfort.
They may:
- Use medications: Medically assisted therapy (MAT) is often used in detox. Medications are provided to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
- Provide Comfort: Providers will ensure that the patient is as comfortable as possible throughout the process.
- Relapse Prevention: Patients understand that going back to drugs can help relieve their symptoms. A provider will prevent them from relapsing, ensuring a successful detox.
- Monitoring Symptoms: In rare cases, withdrawal can lead to serious symptoms like seizures and elevated heart rate. The provider monitors patients for warning signs and calls emergency services if necessary.
Trauma-Informed Care
After detox is complete, the patient will undergo trauma-focused therapy. A counselor will work with them to determine which approach is best suited to their mental health needs. Common techniques include:
- Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT): CBT is a type of therapy that helps individuals reprocess negative emotions to avoid harmful behaviors. With TF-CBT, emotions are directly related to the trauma.
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): Requires patients to perform bilateral movements, typically eye movements, while recalling unpleasant memories, to help them reprocess their feelings and reduce their emotional intensity.
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT): Cognitive interventions are used to help patients identify, evaluate, and modify unpleasant thoughts tied to trauma.
- Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE): Patients are repeatedly exposed to the trauma-related memories they’ve been avoiding, helping them learn that they aren’t dangerous, reducing fear and avoidance patterns.
An article in Psychiatry Advisor shows high success rates for patients who undergo trauma-focused therapy with the following statistics:
- EMDR producing up to 86% remission
- Cognitive processing therapy and prolonged exposure: 44-50%
- Cognitive therapy for PTSD: 76%
- Cognitive behavioral therapy: 61%
Long-Term Wellness
Addiction management is typically a long-term journey. Once the initial stages of therapy are complete, therapists will work with patients to develop a plan for long-term well-being. This may include:
- Ongoing Therapy: Patients may continue therapy on a less intensive basis, attending sessions once a week or as needed. They may engage in various group and individual therapies for the support they require.
- Meditation and Mindfulness Exercises: These techniques are often recommended because they reduce stress, improve self-control, and increase self-compassion.
- Nutrition and Exercise: Patients are often recommended a diet and exercise program that increases health awareness, boosts self-esteem, and helps with emotional regulation.
- Community Connections: After treatment, patients should focus on avoiding toxic friend groups and make connections with people who will support their sobriety. Families are often included in therapy to ensure they provide a healthy environment for their loved one.
- Healthy Habits: Therapists may recommend healthy habits like journaling, scrapbooking, studying art or music. These habits take the individual’s mind off addiction and promote a soothing environment.
BlueCrest Counseling Offers a Comprehensive Approach in Trauma-Informed Care
BlueCrest understands the devastating impact of trauma and its connection to addiction. We use an evidence-based approach, ensuring patients get the best possible care. Our therapies are customized to individual needs, leading to high success rates. Beyond trauma, we address a wide range of emotional disorders and addictions, offering a holistic, personalized approach.
Contact us for the assistance you need in overcoming addiction.
FAQs
How does trauma-informed counseling differ from traditional addiction treatment?
Traditional addiction treatment focuses on stopping substance abuse. Trauma-informed counseling addresses trauma as the underlying cause of substance abuse. It focuses on promoting safety, trust, empowerment, and holistic healing rather than just symptom management.
What are the benefits of trauma-informed counseling?
Trauma-informed counseling offers several benefits. It reduces the risk of re-traumatization, improves engagement in recovery, enhances mental health and emotional regulation, decreases the likelihood of relapse, promotes resilience, and growth. It supports sobriety and overall well-being.
How does trauma-informed counseling promote a safe environment?
Trauma-informed counseling promotes a safe environment by establishing clear boundaries, ensuring patient confidentiality, and addressing signs of discomfort or stress. Therapists build trust through consistent, respectful interactions, encouraging patients to take an active role in their recovery.
What can I expect from trauma-informed counseling?
The trauma-informed counseling process begins with a consultation. The provider will ask questions to better understand their patient’s mental health issues and source of trauma. They will then develop a personalized approach that may include trauma screenings, evidence-based therapies, holistic health support, and group sessions. Care is always administered in a safe and supportive setting.
How do I find a trauma-informed counselor?
Many rehab facilities have a trauma counselor on staff who can provide continuing care or may refer patients to another counselor when the initial rehab is complete. If you are seeking care outside a rehab facility, you may consider private therapists or community resources for more affordable options.
