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ToggleOvercoming Trauma is NOT Easy
Unresolved trauma and substance abuse go hand-in-hand. Men and women who have undergone traumatic experiences generally turn to drugs and alcohol as a means of self-medication. They have a difficult time coping with the trauma-related symptoms they are experiencing, and so they turn to chemical substances to alleviate these symptoms and regain some sense of normalcy.
Unfortunately, substance use stops working after a short period – and rather than stopping the use of chemical substances and seeking the help of a trauma specialist, they simply use more and more of the chemical substance – which ultimately leads to a vicious cycle of addiction.
Trauma Therapy and Substance Use Disorders
Men and women who are struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder exhibit a range of symptoms, the most common including:
- Recurring flashbacks
- Nightmares and other sleep-related issues
- Actively avoiding people, places, and things that remind the individual of the traumatic experience
- Psychological symptoms of anxiety and depression
- Fear of leaving the house or spending a significant amount of time in public
- Erratic behavior
- mood swings, generally characterized by the angry outburst, irritability, and agitation for no apparent reason
- Feelings of detachment
- Social isolation
The good news is that there is treatment available for even the most severe cases of post-traumatic stress disorder. Additionally, treatment centers like Agape Treatment Center offer trauma-informed programs of substance abuse recovery. If you or someone you love has been suffering from unresolved trauma and substance abuse, we are available to help.
The Best Treatment Options For Trauma
Before post-traumatic stress disorder and unresolved trauma were thoroughly understood, they were considered matters of moral weakness. Men and women who struggled with these issues were labeled as emotionally weak, and they were treated with a wide variety of invasive and ineffective techniques. Today, it is understood that there are several effective treatments for trauma – and we have outlined some of the more effective treatment options below.
- Behavior therapy. There are many different types of behavior therapy – the most common type of behavior therapy used for the treatment of unresolved trauma is exposure therapy. In this therapeutic methodology, fears are slowly faced, but they are faced head-on. For example, an individual who has traumatic memories tied to a significant car accident will take short car trips whereas they might have previously avoided automobiles of all kinds. Over time, these car trips will increase in duration until the fear is no longer controlling his or her life.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is based on the idea that the way that we think impacts the way that we act. Also known as CBT, this therapeutic method focuses on changing self-destructive thought patterns, ultimately changing the way that people behave.
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. EMDR is a non-invasive therapeutic method that focuses on eye movements and working through traumatic experiences. as clients focus on the traumatic experience, a therapist controls their eye movements and helps them process traumatic experiences without actually having to relive them.
- Dual diagnosis treatment in an inpatient treatment center. This treatment option is ideal for men and women who have been utilizing chemical substances as a means of self-medication.
Trauma Therapy With Agape Behavioral Healthcare
At Agape Treatment Center, we offer dual diagnosis options for men and women who are suffering from substance abuse and mental health conditions like unresolved trauma or posttraumatic stress disorder. For one of these conditions to be effectively treated, both must be addressed simultaneously. Up until recently, mental health and addiction were treated in separate institutions. Men and women who suffered from substance abuse disorders were put into rehab centers, and those who suffered from mental health conditions or unresolved trauma were placed in psychiatric hospitals.
It was recently discovered that both conditions are closely intertwined – now they are called co-occurring disorders. If you or someone close to you has been struggling with a co-occurring disorder our comprehensive recovery program can make all of the difference in the world. Simply pick up the phone and give us a call and we will get you started.