MenuClose

Can Past Traumas Increase the Risk of Substance Abuse?

Person contemplating the link between trauma and substance abuse

Trauma is an emotional response to a distressing or disturbing event such as abuse, assault, or childhood neglect. It is not uncommon for someone who had a traumatic experience to have feelings of shock or denial. Over time, if left untreated, trauma can limit a person’s ability to cope, cause feelings of helplessness, and impact their daily functioning. A traumatic experience can happen to anyone at any time, regardless of race, gender, or age.

Unresolved past trauma can significantly impact a person’s mental and emotional well-being. Some people may even resort to self-medicating with drugs and alcohol to cope with negative and unwanted feelings. However, abusing substances will only worsen a person’s mental health and lead to addiction. At Northpoint Nebraska, we provide trauma therapy to help our patients heal and understand the connection between trauma and addiction. Call 888.351.3834 to learn more about trauma therapy and how it can help you improve your quality of life as you improve your overall health.

Understanding the Connection Between Trauma and Addiction

A trauma therapy program understands the connection between trauma and addiction. When a person struggles with unresolved trauma, they are more at risk for substance abuse. Trauma leads to significant mental and emotional impacts on a person’s life. A traumatic experience or childhood is difficult to cope with, especially without the help of a professional. Individuals who do not treat or heal from their trauma are more susceptible to other issues like substance abuse.

Recognizing the signs and symptoms of a person struggling with trauma can help you or someone you know gets the professional help needed to overcome it. Some of the signs and symptoms of trauma include:

  • Avoiding places or things that remind you of the traumatic experience
  • Continually reliving the event
  • Continued feelings of fear, nervousness, and anxiety
  • Dramatic changes in mood
  • Erratic behaviors
  • Problems in personal, romantic, and social relationships

Trauma can be what causes a person to abuse substances. When a person is struggling with both trauma and substance abuse, they can enhance each other in negative ways. Seeking professional help may be overwhelming, but trauma and substance abuse require proper treatment in a safe environment. At Northpoint Nebraska, we offer a variety of treatment and therapy programs to help our patients through addiction and mental health disorders.

Treatment Options for Trauma and Substance Abuse

Treatment for trauma and substance abuse can be challenging. Confronting past trauma is often uncomfortable. Since trauma usually significantly impacts a patient’s experience with addiction, it is critical to address and understand their traumatic experience. In trauma therapy, patients work with a therapist to examine their trauma, their response to it, and how it has impacted their life. Understanding how they have been affected by trauma helps patients heal and begin to move on from it. While the traumatic experience will never go away, trauma therapy helps patients find healthy ways to cope with the event and their negative emotions.

At Northpoint Nebraska, we also provide many addiction treatments and therapy programs for our patients, apart from trauma therapy, such as:

  • Alcohol detox and rehab
  • Drug detox and rehab
  • Co-occurring disorders treatment
  • Relapse prevention program
  • Medical detox program
  • Vivitrol treatment
  • Anxiety treatment program
  • Bipolar disorder treatment program
  • Depression treatment program
  • Group therapy program
  • Family therapy program

Our goal at Northpoint Nebraska is to help our patients recover from addiction or a mental health condition. We provide a safe, supportive environment to help our patients improve their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Consider Trauma Therapy at Northpoint Nebraska

If you or someone you know is struggling with past traumas and addiction, you are not alone. There are many treatment options available for trauma and substance abuse. Contact Northpoint Nebraska at 888.351.3834 to learn more about how our team can help you.