Often, trauma and mental health issues go hand-in-hand with addiction. Many people turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with underlying trauma, which causes them to become addicted. Others may start using drugs or alcohol recreationally, end up addicted to them, and go through traumatic experiences as a result. No matter what came first, when it comes to addiction treatment and trauma, it may be best to focus on both of them to speed the person’s recovery.
Focusing on the Addiction and Recovery
Focusing on the addiction itself can help the person learn how to live their life without turning to drugs or alcohol as a coping mechanism. Unfortunately, the person will have triggers that can cause them to relapse, so it is crucial for them to learn about their own triggers, how to avoid them, and what to do if they can’t be avoided. This can help them learn other ways to cope, instead of relying on drugs or alcohol to feel better. Going through an arkansas addiction treatment program can help them not only stop using drugs or alcohol but learn how to avoid them in the future, too.
Focusing on the Underlying Trauma
Focusing on the underlying trauma can help the person learn how to deal with problems in their life. They may require medications to help with mental health issues, intense therapy to work through traumatic experiences in their life, or other assistance to learn better ways to handle what has happened to them and their feelings about it.
While this can help them find other ways to handle the trauma besides drugs or alcohol, it isn’t going to solve the addiction problem. Help is needed for that, too, so the person can fully start the journey through recovery.
Treating Them Both at the Same Time
In most cases, it will be best for the person to get help for the addiction and trauma at the same time. One may not be as helpful without the other, as the person will need to learn how to avoid triggers and turning to drugs and alcohol at the same time they learn more positive and healthy coping mechanisms and work through the trauma to get to where they can start to recover from it.
Many people do find they end up being able to better manage their addiction and recovery when they can get help for both at the same time, as they are getting the knowledge and experience needed to find other ways to handle their feelings and emotions besides turning to drugs or alcohol.
Conclusion
Trauma is often linked with addiction, and it can be difficult to untangle the two of them. When someone is suffering from addiction and has gone through traumatic experiences in the past, they will want to make sure they have the help needed to recover from both at the same time. This will help their journey to recovery by giving them the tools they need to deal with the trauma of their past and to learn how to handle it without relapsing and turning to drugs or alcohol again.
With the right help, they can start to recover from both the trauma and the addiction, and they’ll have a better chance of avoiding future issues.
Beth is Cloudmineinc’s senior health editor and a certified personal trainer. She has over 10 years experience as a science journalist and is the author of two books. She deadlifts over 315 lbs.