The Links Between Trauma and Addiction: Dual Diagnosis Treatment
The correlation between trauma, substance abuse, and addiction is undeniable. It is common for sufferers of childhood trauma, as well as trauma at any age, to turn to substances as a form of self-medication. At Oceans Luxury Rehab, we offer patients dual-diagnosis treatment so that we not only tackle the issues of addiction but also help patients work through the root cause of their substance abuse.
If you suffer from addiction and know that there is more to unpack than just substance abuse, trust our team to help you recover. The Orange Country recovery professionals at Oceans Luxury Rehab offer comprehensive treatment at a beautiful and serene luxury facility. With options for inpatient and intensive outpatient treatment, we can be your guide to a better life.
Call Oceans Luxury Rehab to discuss treatment with our Orange County luxury rehab team.
Childhood Trauma and Addiction
Childhood trauma often has a direct link to the increased risk of drug and alcohol abuse. Of course, the kind of trauma a child experiences can vary, but can include:
- Physical abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Neglect
- Loss of a parent
- Parental mental illness
- Complex trauma (multiple occurrences or ongoing trauma)
- Witnessing intimate partner violence
Childhood trauma affects the function of the brain in a variety of ways depending on the age of the child at the time of the trauma and the developmental stage they are in. The duration of the trauma also affects the resulting disruption of function, along with genetic makeup and the presence of supportive, safe, and healthy caregivers.
Trauma results in the dysregulation of the stress system, or the sympathetic nervous system, causing the brain to remain in the trauma response of fight, flight, freeze, or fawn despite the absence of a continued threat. This may cause a person to have constant anxiety, hypervigilance, and chronic stress as they mature. The results of remaining in this state may affect:
- Cognitive development
- Executive dysfunction
- Emotional regulation
- Attachment issues
- Depression
Trauma in Adulthood and Substance Abuse
Adults who experience trauma are not exempt from its psychological effects. Traumatic events in adulthood include but are not limited to physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, rape, traumatic accidents, war-related trauma, and natural disasters. Many of the ways that childhood trauma affects the brain are mirrored in its effects in adulthood. Trauma can create a variety of mental and emotional hurdles long after the trauma occurs.
Substances as Self-Medication
The psychological and emotional effects of trauma in childhood and as an adult often lead to addiction. It may begin as a way to self-medicate and to avoid the feeling associated with the dysregulation. Trauma survivors may use drugs or alcohol to:
- Regulate mood
- Quiet invasive thoughts
- Reduce anxiety or hypervigilance
- Aid in disassociation
- Relieve chronic pain and tension
Luxury Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Orange County
Treating substance abuse and addiction along with mental and emotional issues is called dual diagnosis treatment or treating co-occurring disorders. Our Orange County dual diagnosis professionals at Oceans Luxury Rehab in San Clemente can help work through the triggers associated with PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other disorders associated with trauma experiences. Let our team provide the addiction treatment you need while uncovering its root causes and helping you learn alternative options for dealing with trauma’s effects.
Learn more about your treatment options in our luxury Orange County rehab facility and how dual diagnosis can work for you. Discover the freedom that comes with sobriety with help from our team of top-tier nurses, counselors, and therapists, and our on-call doctor.
Contact the Orange County dual diagnosis professionals at Oceans Luxury Rehab today and get started on your path to sobriety.
