Role of Trauma in Addiction and Recovery

This may encourage them to experiment with healthier coping mechanisms and lessen their need for alcohol or drugs.
When it comes to dealing with traumatic experiences, EMDR is the therapy of choice. To aid in the processing of traumatic memories and lessen the emotional pain associated with them, this technique employs a sequence of directed eye movements.
Trauma survivors who are also addicted may benefit from EMDR therapy because of its success in treating post-traumatic stress disorder.
One form of therapy that seeks to mitigate the psychological damage caused by trauma is called trauma-focused therapy.
Healing from trauma, learning effective coping mechanisms, and strengthening resilience are all possible outcomes of this treatment modality. It can aid in the diagnosis and treatment of any psychiatric disorders that may be related to an individual’s addiction.

Understanding the types of trauma

Trauma is more than just a bad event. It’s something that has an impact on your life in every way: psychologically, emotionally, physically, socially, and spiritually.
High levels of stress are caused by traumatic experiences because both the mind and the body see them as dangerous or even life-threatening. Hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which regulate the body’s “fight or flight” response, are released in response to stress.

These compounds from the body have their uses in an emergency, but in large quantities they can be harmful. The ability of your body to differentiate between a real threat necessitating a fight-or-flight reaction and a recollection of a threat declines over time. Those who have experienced trauma may find themselves in an endless cycle of reliving the traumatic event. As a result, some people develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a serious mental illness. Veterans returning from war or battle are often the first to be diagnosed with PTSD, but anybody who has experienced trauma in their formative years can suffer from the same physiological fight-or-flight responses. Drugs and alcohol are a convenient way for some people to self-medicate and hide their emotions.

Childhood trauma and addiction

The human brain is incredibly adaptable. The brain’s ability to change and grow as a result of experience is called “plasticity.” This talent affects every aspect of your existence, allowing you to acquire knowledge and create experiences as you go.
Because trauma and maltreatment in childhood may contribute to structural differences in the brain, there is a correlation between the two. Cognitive and behavioural issues may stem from these anomalies. Traumatised children often have elevated amounts of cortisol and other stress hormones, which can stunt mental growth.
PTSD is just one of several long-term mental health problems that can develop after experiencing trauma. Two-thirds of those who struggle with addictions report having suffered childhood trauma.
The substance abuse and self-medication patterns they observed in their families as children may act as a model for them. This is why many people who have experienced trauma turn to substances as a kind of self-medication.