Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Addiction

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating mental health condition impacting a person’s ability to navigate daily responsibilities due to past trauma and its impact on current life events. For some people, the intensity of PTSD leads to the use of substances. Over time, that can lead to substance use disorder (AUD), often called addiction. It’s a constant cycle that can worsen and become life-threatening.

Solutions exist, including treatment for both PTSD and addiction. Dual diagnosis treatment at Mental Health Hope can provide you with a path forward filled with opportunity.

What Is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?

PTSD occurs when a person experiences some type of traumatic event, and the brain does not process and work through that event properly. PTSD may occur when a person is faced with the loss of a loved one, watching someone else die, or facing some type of violence themselves. Natural disasters, long-term abuse, and threats to well-being can all trigger PTSD in some people.

Those who have PTSD have more than memories. Often, they experience debilitating symptoms such as:

Intrusive thoughts
Negative thinking about themselves, sometimes with guilt and shame
Avoidance of people, places, or things that relate to the trauma
Flashbacks or vivid images in the mind of what occurred
Triggers such as sounds, smells, or people that create intense physical symptoms, such as a racing heart
Reliving the traumatic event in your mind

These symptoms and others are debilitating. It can be hard to walk through a store without facing a flashback or get enough sleep due to a constant stream of nightmares. Over time, this worsens until it becomes challenging to navigate daily tasks and responsibilities.

Why PTSD and Addiction Are Linked

People with PTSD struggle with being able to block and navigate the intensity of their emotions and behaviors because of a mental health disorder. PTSD isn’t something that can just stop or go away. As a result, many people turn to self-medicating as a way of calming symptoms and reducing their impact on daily life.

Alcohol and other drugs trigger the release of “feel-good hormones” into the bloodstream. They can help to calm the racing thoughts and intensity of physical symptoms from PTSD. This can make you feel better, but it only lasts for a short period of time. Then, your body needs more to continue to receive that type of ongoing relief.

The more substance used, the more dependent the brain becomes on the substance. The substance becomes the most important part of the day as you seek relief from mental health symptoms. Over time, your brain becomes so dependent on the substance that you crave it and experience withdrawal symptoms when you lack access. This is what most people recognize as addiction.

The types of substances used by those with PTSD can range widely. That may include:

Alcohol is a natural central nervous system depressant. It calms the brain’s function.
Cocaine, a stimulant, can create out-of-this-world experiences, which allow for the avoidance of thoughts of past trauma.
Opioids, including the misuse of prescription medications or illicit forms like heroin, are often used as a way to numb themselves and reduce the function of the central nervous system.
Marijuana, offering a short-term high to stop thinking about or focusing on the trauma
Ecstasy and other types of psychedelic drugs create an escape for the mind from memories and pain.

There is one thing that relates to all types of substances used like this. That is, they all only offer a short-term level of relief for the person with PTSD symptoms. Once those symptoms come back within a matter of hours, you need to seek out more of the substance, leading to a high risk of overdose and dependency.

Interested in Leading Mental Health Treatment? Contact Our Treatment Specialist’s Today!

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How to Get Treatment for PTSD and Addiction

Anyone facing PTSD and addiction can find relief through a comprehensive treatment program. In some situations, where there are psychotic breaks or a person is at risk of self-harm, seeking immediate help from 988 is critically important.

For many others, mental health retreats, residential treatment centers, and partial hospitalization programs can offer solutions. They allow individuals to receive individualized therapy from a licensed therapist. This may occur at a treatment center for several days or longer.

Treatment focuses heavily on breaking the past link to the traumatic event, helping to heal a person’s traumatic responses. This also requires treatment of addiction at the same time. Medication management, cognitive behavioral therapy, and EMDR are common types of treatment methods used for those with PTSD and addiction.

Seek Treatment for PTSD and Addiction From Our Team

Turn to Mental Health Hope now for immediate guidance and support. We can connect you with the type of care you need for PTSD and addiction treatment at the same time.

Interested in Leading Mental Health Treatment? Contact Our Treatment Specialist’s Today!

424-622-6369

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Private Mental Health Retreats

Depressive Disorders

Depression can become so debilitating that its makes normal day to day activities seem impossible. There are a range of depressive disorder and levels of severity. There are numerous treatment options for depression which can be offered in residential and outpatient treatment levels of care. Treatment for depression elements may include medication intervention, individual therapy (CBT, DBT, EMDR), yoga, meditation, exercise, and other holistic elements.

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Anxiety Disorders

Proper treatment for anxiety health conditions is key to prevent the conditions from becoming worse. Anxiety conditions include social anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD, panic disorder, OCD, and phobias. Residential and outpatient treatment programs are available options. Evidence based and holistic treatment services include individual therapy, medication intervention, yoga, meditation, experiential therapies, journaling, and exercise.

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Psychotic Disorders

Psychosis can feel very scary, for the person experiencing it and for their loved ones. Stabilization is the first phase of treatment which is typically done in an inpatient or residential level of care. Medication intervention is often a second phase of treatment to help the individual manage the severe symptoms of psychosis. Once stabilized, a variety of treatment methods can be used, such as therapy, meditation, yoga, exercise, journaling, and medication management.

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Mood Disorders

Mood disorders include bipolar disorder I and II, cyclothymic disorder, major depressive disorder (MDD), persistent depressive disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. To stabilize a mood disorder, residential treatment and medication intervention is often the preferred method. Program elements include individual therapy sessions, group therapy, meditation, yoga, exercise, experiential therapies, and additional adjunct therapies.

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Trauma Disorders

Trauma disorders can stem from various life experiences ranging from childhood abuse, domestic violence, military warfare, grief and loss, and other tragic life experiences. There are private mental health retreat options in an inpatient and residential environment where you can start the healing process. The treatment program often includes individual therapy, support meetings, yoga, meditation, and other holistic and experiential therapies.

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Self Harm Disorders

Receiving support and treatment for self harm disorders is often sought in a residential level of care to prevent any further injury. Extensive therapies and medication intervention will often be implemented right away to stabilize the client and to begin the healing process. Many people who suffer from self harming behavioral fully recover with the proper individualized treatment plan.

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Residential Mental Health Retreats & Treatment Programs

Confidential & Private Mental Health Retreats

In the residential level of care, clients reside in a private setting, offering the comforts of home. The treatment residences are often in private and secluded houses that offer the client increased confidentiality. The treatment programs offer options for a private or semi-private rooms in a tranquil and therapeutic environment.

How Mental Health Hope Helps

When you call, you will be connected with a Treatment Specialist will provide guidance and assistance with regards to: Work related matters such as FMLA, Travel Assistance & Health Insurance guidance to help you overcome barriers to treatment.