It's hard to pinpoint one direct cause of substance use disorder (SUD). A number of factors can lead to its development. However, addiction and mental health professionals consider trauma one of the root causes of addiction. Trauma and addiction typically have a cyclical relationship. That's why individuals must seek treatment for both. Untreated addiction can lead to further problems, and the cycle of trauma continues over and over again.
NorthStar Transitions has many programs to help you heal from trauma and addiction. Our levels of care can address the cycle and encourage holistic healing and wellness, but you must take the first step. Don't let your past traumas or current struggle with addiction prevent you from living well – consider treatment with NorthStar today.
Many people experience trauma in some way, shape, or form. People go through distressing situations, responding to stress in many different ways. Trauma is how we react emotionally to stressful events. That may include our response to an accident, natural disaster, or violent assault.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) describes individual trauma as a situation that causes physical, emotional, or life-threatening harm. This distressing situation also causes adverse effects on a person's mental, physical, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being.
Many individuals who experience trauma require professional mental health treatment. The longer it's left untreated, the more trauma will begin impacting your ability to function day-to-day. A few scenarios may occur in this case. For example, you may develop more trauma or additional mental health conditions.
These effects can be long-lasting if left untreated. Symptoms can be so adverse that individuals develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is one of the most common mental health conditions experienced by individuals with severe trauma. However, it's not the only risk of untreated trauma. You may also develop anxiety, depression, and SUD.
As mentioned, trauma and addiction are connected, and many professionals describe trauma as the root cause of addiction. Traumatic experiences can impact people emotionally and psychologically. Without proper coping mechanisms, people sometimes inadvertently turn to substance use.
This is a dangerous form of self-medication, which occurs when someone attempts to manage their emotions, mental health, or physical pain alone. Regarding trauma, people use substances to cope with their mental health symptoms and past trauma. However, self-medication is destructive in nature, doesn't get to the root of the problem, and leads to dependency.
Signs that you may be struggling with trauma and addiction include:
People often think childhood trauma or abuse is the only direct cause of a SUD. However, the kinds of stress-inducing experiences that may cause you trouble are endless. That's why identifying concerning thoughts and behaviors and recognizing the cycle of trauma and addiction is vital.
When struggling with any mental health condition, it's easy to fall into harmful or toxic cycles. For example, individuals with depression or bipolar disorder may have trouble managing their disorders because of the intense emotions they experience. The same goes for those stuck in the cycle of trauma and addiction.
In a nutshell, the cycle of trauma and addiction describes when someone can't get free from the bounds of their symptoms. This is common when a person has SUD and a co-occurring disorder. Symptoms of one condition exacerbate symptoms of the other, and the person falls into a vicious cycle.
Individuals with trauma are more vulnerable to addiction because of the changes that occur in the brain. The cycle continues when substance use causes a person to experience more distressing situations and develops more trauma as a result.
To break the cycle, a person must seek dual diagnosis treatment. A program like this treats al all conditions involved, helping you heal from your trauma and addiction. However, there are other things you can do to help break the cycle of trauma and addiction in your life.
Treatment is, undoubtedly, the most effective way to recover from trauma and addiction. Other ways to begin the healing process and break the cycle of trauma and addiction are:
To learn more about breaking and healing from your cycle of trauma and addiction, consider treatment with NorthStar Transitions today.
It's not unusual for people who experience distressing situations in their life to develop trauma. To cope with this trauma, these individuals may turn to substance use. Self-medication is a route taken by many individuals. However, it ultimately causes more harm than good. Trauma causes changes in the brain, making people more vulnerable to developing substance use disorder (SUD). With untreated trauma and addiction, people fall into a vicious cycle where their symptoms make it hard to function day-to-day. Thankfully, you can break the cycle of trauma and addiction by attending therapy, support group meetings, and seeking addiction treatment. To learn about your treatment options, call NorthStar Transitions today at (303) 558-6400.
