Unresolved traumatic experiences are among the leading causes of alcohol and drug abuse. Traumatic experiences can have a prolonged effect on the mind of an individual, especially when the experiences are not addressed appropriately. It is quite common for a person with PTSD or another form of trauma to experience intense flashbacks that could likely lead to isolation and self-medication with drugs and alcohol. This is why trauma therapy for addiction treatment is an essential part of recovery. 

Trauma therapy addresses both the trauma that a patient has suffered, as well as the addiction that has resulted from it. 

According to a number of studies, exposure to traumatic experiences can significantly increase the risk of substance abuse and addiction. For example, people who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder are twice, or even four times, more likely to abuse alcohol or drugs. 

The high rate of co-occurring trauma and addiction has made trauma therapy for addiction treatment an important part of the recovery process. Trauma can be a result of a wide range of unfortunate events which includes the following: 

  • Childhood neglect and emotional abuse
  • Sexual abuse
  • Stressful divorce
  • Violent experiences in military combat
  • Physical assault
  • Death of a loved one
  • Painful experiences from a motor vehicle accident
  • Serious injury
  • Prolonged domestic violence
  • Bullying at school
  • Chronic illness
  • Frightening robbery experience
  • Witnessing a loved one undergo trauma
  • And any other emotionally stressful experience

If a person undergoes repeated exposure to traumatic experiences, he or she will likely develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Trauma Therapy for Addiction Treatment

Trauma therapy, also called trauma-informed therapy, focuses on helping patients who have undergone traumatic experiences in the past come to terms with their tough experience and put the past behind them. It aims at helping patients resolve the long-term effects of trauma. Trauma therapy is especially useful to people who suffered some form of trauma in their childhood. 

A trauma therapist helps the patient reconstruct the scene which assists them in finally getting a resolution to the problem. In most cases, trauma results from external causes but the individual often believes he or she is to blame for the experience leading to a life of guilt and shame. Ultimately, the guilt could easily lead to a drug or alcohol addiction. 

Trauma therapy helps to eliminate the shame and guilt derived from the inaccurate sense of responsibility. Therapy also fosters forgiveness and allows patients to let go of the pain caused by others. It helps to reduce mental health problems associated with a traumatic past, which is important in the addiction recovery process. 

Benefits of Trauma Therapy for Addiction Treatment and Recovery

There are many benefits of addressing trauma during recovery. For instance, there are people who may not be fully conscious of their trauma if it occurred at a young age. Unfortunately, unresolved trauma can be a cause for frequent relapses that the individual seems unable to overcome. It is therefore important to address trauma when it is identified as the root cause of the addiction problem. 

Some of the many benefits of trauma therapy for addiction treatment include the following: 

  • Helps the individual learn to overcome fear. When the person is able to confront anxiety and other insecurities caused by trauma, they become more empowered to overcome their addiction. 
  • The therapy increases self-confidence. The therapist teaches the individual how to regulate emotions under stressful conditions.
  • Reduce stress and anxiety which could potentially trigger a relapse. Trauma often causes stress, fear, and anxiety. The individual learns how to manage stress and develop coping skills, which helps to build a calmer and more confident life. 
  • Trauma therapy also helps patients to develop healthier less destructive thought patterns by overcoming the fear and negativity caused by the traumatic experience. 

An experienced trauma therapy professional can be of great help in addiction recovery. Once you get past the trauma that led to addiction, you can move on to live a life without the harmful thoughts that led you to substance abuse in the first place. 

Start Your Recovery with Trauma Therapy For Addiction Treatment at Georgia Addiction Treatment Center

At Georgia Addiction Treatment Center, we offer trauma and addiction recovery programs as a necessary step in recovery. We understand how hard it can be to cope with trauma but regardless of how hopeless you think your situation is, we can help.

There is hope- Call Georgia Addiction Treatment Center today to talk to one of our admission specialists. We will help you to customize the right treatment plan for your specific needs. You can also check out our website to learn more about our trauma therapy for addiction treatment programs. 

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