xResearch has proven that trauma can ignite survival skill behaviors that can lead to addiction. While not everyone who experiences trauma will become an addict, research indicates an obvious link between trauma and addictive behaviors. If you developed a substance abuse problem after going through a traumatic event, professional treatment can help you. A rehab program that includes trauma therapy in its curriculum could help you make great strides towards achieving successful rehabilitation.
Trauma and Addiction
For some people, addiction becomes a coping mechanism following a traumatic or life-changing event. Overwhelming events can stir up many negative emotions in an individual, such as anxiety, fear, and vulnerability. Addiction can help alleviate the stressful sensations that post-trauma changes produce. While it is perfectly normal for a person to use their survival instincts, using addiction to manage unpleasant situations and feelings is an unhealthy form of coping.
Many people who struggle with addiction can look back at their life and see when their addictive behaviors started. Some people are easily able to identify a single (or recurring) traumatic event or issue that changed their outlook on life. Perhaps they experienced an event that was the opposite of wholesome and nurturing. Maybe they went through a moment that diminished their ability to cope with real life. Or possibly they experienced a situation that altered their perception of their self and their place in the world around them. Any of these types of traumatic ordeals can act as an underlying source for addiction and related addictive behaviors.
Recognizing the Link Between Trauma and Addiction
When an individual is able to recognize how their past traumatic experiences have shaped their struggle with addiction, quitting becomes possible. It is possible to turn this negative behavior into positive behavior, and trauma therapy can help.
A quality addiction treatment program should include trauma therapy for anyone who has lived through a life-shifting event. This exhaustive type of therapy gives individuals the chance to work through their issues and develop recovery skills that they can use for the rest of their life.
Once a person learns how trauma affects their behavior, letting go of old addictive behaviors becomes easier. For a person who is caught in the cycle of abuse, addiction represents safety and control. Learning to recognize addiction as a negative coping mechanism is key to getting sober and maintaining sobriety.
Rehab and Trauma Therapy for Addiction
If you or a loved one is dealing with addiction as a result of a past trauma, there is professional rehab available that can put an end to the abuse. Our facility Silver Pines Treatment Center near Hazleton, Pennsylvania, offers individuals the chance to heal and recover in a safe and private environment, away from the pressure of the real world. Our treatment plans help individuals get clean and back on their feet. Discovering positive coping mechanisms and life skills is an integral part of our programs.
We offer:
- Residential Inpatient program
- Trauma Therapy
- Dual Diagnosis
- Recreational therapies
Get Help for Trauma Related Addiction Now
If you’ve developed an addiction after experiencing trauma, don’t beat yourself up. Your addictive behavior likely comes from your conscious or unconscious desire for safety and control. By choosing Silver Pines Treatment Center near Hazleton, Pennsylvania, you can learn other ways to achieve the positive outcomes you want and put addiction away for good. If you’re ready to get started on this exciting life journey, we invite you to call 866-345-2147 today!