Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be challenging to cope with without having addiction impacting its symptoms. However, it is not uncommon for these two disorders to go hand in hand. Often, individuals struggling with PTSD will turn to drugs and alcohol as a form of self-medication to numb their pain or try to get control of their lives. The effects of the substances may relieve the pain at first, but repeated use will often worsen symptoms. Self-medication can keep the person trapped in a cycle of addiction and PTSD symptoms, causing further distress.
Understanding how addiction impacts PTSD can help those struggling with these co-occurring disorders get the help they need or prevent those already struggling with PTSD from developing an addiction. This is how addiction affects post-traumatic stress disorder.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs when a person undergoes one or several experiences in which they are under extreme stress or anxiety after personally experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. The trauma that results from the event, if left untreated, can result in PTSD symptoms. The disorder is often associated with war veterans, but it can affect any person from any background. Aside from military combat, common causes of PTSD include sexual assault, natural disasters, childhood abuse or neglect, or violent assault. Symptoms usually involve flashbacks of the event that leave the person feeling fearful as if they are present at the past event. Panic attacks, severe anxiety, and depression can also occur.
It should be noted that not everyone will develop PTSD after a traumatic event. Some individuals heal the trauma and can move on with their lives while others remain stuck, unable to move past what happened to them. The differences in a person’s ability to move forward stem from the fact that not every situation will be seen as traumatic by all individuals involved. What may traumatize one person may not traumatize another, so one person could end up with PTSD while another may not.
Symptoms of PTSD will vary from person to person depending on what they experienced, how they have dealt with symptoms so far, and the person’s overall health. Symptoms can occur at any time, but they are often present when a trigger occurs. Triggers are environmental cues or reminders that may bring a person back to the traumatic event in their mind, resulting in various symptoms as a result of the memory.
Common PTSD symptoms include:
The symptoms of PTSD can vary and be severely distressing. Symptoms can have a significant impact on a person’s overall ability to function and day-to-day life. To cope with these symptoms, many individuals turn to drugs and alcohol for relief. However, using drugs and alcohol often only serves as a temporary fix that gets worse over time.
The combination of addiction and PTSD often stems from endorphin withdrawal. The body produces more endorphins, chemicals that create a sense of pleasure that help reduce pain to help the person cope with the traumatic event. However, after the event, the body will typically experience an endorphin withdrawal. An endorphin withdrawal can result in feelings of anxiety, depression, physical pain, and emotional distress. Taking drugs and alcohol is a temporary relief that many survivors of traumatic experiences take advantage of to deal with their PTSD.
However, drugs and alcohol only provide temporary relief, not a long-term solution to a profoundly distressing problem. As the person begins to use the substances more and more, their tolerance builds, and they will need increasing amounts to achieve the desired effects. Over time, this can worsen PTSD symptoms as the substances cause further anxiety, stress, and depression. Once caught in this vicious cycle of addiction and PTSD, the only way out is through seeking addiction treatment to put you on the path towards recovery.
When a mental health disorder occurs alongside a substance use disorder, this is known as a co-occurring disorder. The best way to treat co-occurring conditions is to treat them simultaneously, as this gives the patient a better chance at long-term recovery. Treatment usually consists of clinically supervised detox, individual and group therapy, family therapy, traditional therapies, holistic therapies, mindfulness and meditation, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and relapse prevention. Over time, the patient will learn how to manage their PTSD symptoms and prevent relapse. Managing symptoms and preventing relapse will help them be more successful in lifelong sobriety.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can impact any person that goes through a traumatic experience or experiences. This disorder’s symptoms can be distressing alone, but coupling them with addiction can exacerbate their intensity. This exacerbation is why seeking dual diagnosis treatment from an accredited facility such as NorthStar Transitions is crucial for a successful recovery. Our team works diligently to address your mental, physical, and emotional needs, tailoring our services to what will help your recovery the most. We provide all of the modalities listed above and more to help you manage your PTSD symptoms and addiction triggers. We understand the difficulty of living with co-occurring disorders, so we promise to help you overcome them at your own pace and in a way that makes sense to your overall recovery. To learn more about our programs, visit the NorthStar website or call us today at (303) 558-6400. Healing begins with NorthStar.
