Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Addiction
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Addiction
The majority of males and females in addiction treatment were sexually abused or molested as children. These shocking statistics indicate the commonality of seeing trauma in combination with addiction. In fact, as an addictions therapist working in a Utah rehab center, I see individuals with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) on a regular basis.
PTSD is an anxiety disorder that results from overstimulation of the fight-or-flight response, the stress response that kicks in to help us survive in a threatening situation. Individuals exposed to abuse, natural disaster, a serious car accident, or other traumatic event, may develop PTSD.
Approximately 25% of all individuals exposed to genuinely traumatic events will develop PTSD. Recently gained knowledge, based on research and clinical practice, is resulting in changes to the new version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual V. The new manual will offer a separate diagnosis for individuals exposed to repeated trauma, as in physical abuse or sexual abuse.
Whether an individual has suffered repeated trauma or just one severely frightening event, it will impact their ability to manage addiction. In fact, for many, PTSD is what made them more vulnerable to addiction in the first place.
Because of the state of autonomic hyperarousal, in PTSD, individuals with addiction will have a harder time controlling their use of drugs. It will take treatment of the PTSD, and maintenance of the symptoms, for that addict to maintain recovery.
Addiction also causes autonomic hyperarousal, in cravings, as the brain senses the lack of the usual drug and triggers the fight-or-flight response to get the person to use again. Thus, self-soothing behaviors like meditation, prayer, and exercise, will be pivotal to the success of the addict’s recovery. Call us today to get help for yourself or a loved one 1-877-593-6777.
One Comment
Damien Woody / 06 Aug 2011 / 11:20 am