Question

I need help determining the relationship between trauma and addiction?

Davis, J. (2019). Using connection to transform addiction. 14-minute YouTube on this page, Everything you thought you knew about addiction is wrong.

Edwards, K. M., Murphy, S., Palmer, K. M., Haynes, E. E., Chapo, S.,Ekdahl, B. A., Buel, S. (2017). Co-Occurrence of and recovery from substance abuse and lifespan victimization: A qualitative study of female residents in trauma-informed sober living homes. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 1-9.

Answer 1

When a person has experienced a lot of emotional, physical, mental pain then it can be rightly said that the person is traumatised. The trauma generally causes a lot of impact on the person's life. The impact that the person feels can actually vary from person to person. For example- a breakup, sexual abuse, verbal abuse, physical abuse, a natural calamity, domestic violence. When a person is traumatised he/she tries to ease the pain or the traumatic experience by using some or the other kind of addiction. these addiction can be drug based or alcohol, an Dif the traumatic feelings are not resolved then the person can feel a lifetime of effects on himself/herself.

THE CONNECTION BETWEEN TRAUMA AND ADDICTION

There were many researchers which were conducted so as to understand why some drug users have the history of feeling traumatised in their past. It was seen that the people who were exposed to a lot of childhood trauma were more likely to end uo as drug and alcohol users. the relationship between trauma and addiction is quite complex. Sometimes people who have experience trauma in their lives often turn to drugs and alcohol so as to self mediate and to bring themselves at ease. If the person suffers from PTSD then most likely the symptoms like agitation, restlessness, hypersensitivity, social withdrawal become more manageable and the person feels calm for that time but it does not take long for the single use of alcohol and drug to turn into an addiction.

In some cases the drugs and alcohol work and are useful in a way that the person is not able to recall the memory of the trauma and the only problem left is the addiction through which he/she was able to forget about the trauma. the person who has successfully suppressed the traumatic experience find another way to stay sober and catch up other addictive behaviours like compulsive overeating, starving, gambling etc. however, dealing with the traumatic experience and the addiction side by side is a very tough task. that's why therapist mainly focus on the addiction first and then on the traumatic experience that the person is dealing with. There are many kinds of therapies that the therapists uses like trauma-focused therapies, PTSD intervention, medication for depression and anxiety etc.

If someone needs help in coping with the traumatic experiences as well as sustance abuse, then they should seek out a well trained professional who would guide them through and help them overcome the challenges by using several therapies and medications if required.