How Addiction and Trauma are Interrelated
Addiction is a condition in which a person engages in the use of a substance or in a behavior for which the rewarding effects provide a compelling incentive to repeatedly pursue the behavior despite detrimental consequences. It is also a brain disorder characterized by compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli despite adverse consequences. Additionally, addiction can also refer to a physical dependence on a substance, which may lead to withdrawal symptoms if use is abruptly halted.
Trauma refers to a deeply distressing or disturbing experience that may have long-lasting effects on an individual’s mental, emotional, and physical well-being. It can be caused by a wide range of events, including physical or emotional abuse, neglect, accidents, natural disasters, or other traumatic events. Trauma can affect how a person processes emotions, forms memories, and responds to stress, and can lead to a variety of mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and others. Trauma can also have physical symptoms such as headaches, chronic pain, and sleep disturbances. There is a strong link between addiction and trauma. Trauma can lead to the development of addiction, and addiction can worsen the symptoms of trauma. Trauma can lead to the development of addiction in several ways:
- Traumatic events can cause emotional and psychological distress, which can lead to self-medication with drugs or alcohol as a means of coping with the pain.
- Trauma can also lead to changes in the brain that make an individual more susceptible to addiction. For example, traumatic experiences can lead to changes in the brain’s reward system, making an individual more susceptible to the pleasurable effects of drugs or alcohol.
- Furthermore, trauma can also lead to the development of mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression, which can increase the risk of addiction. This is because individuals with these conditions may turn to drugs or alcohol as a means of coping with their symptoms.
It’s important to note that the relationship between trauma and addiction is not always straightforward. For some individuals, addiction may develop before they experience trauma, while for others, trauma may occur after they have already developed an addiction. Additionally, not all individuals who experience trauma will develop an addiction, and not all individuals who struggle with addiction have a history of trauma.
However, it is clear that trauma and addiction are closely linked and that individuals with a history of trauma are at a higher risk of developing an addiction. Therefore, it is important for individuals who have experienced trauma to be screened for addiction, and for individuals who struggle with addiction to be screened for trauma. This can help ensure that they receive the appropriate treatment and support to address both their addiction and their trauma.
Treatment for addiction and trauma often involves a combination of therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, and pharmacotherapy. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) can also be effective in treating addiction. Trauma-focused therapy, such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Prolonged Exposure therapy can also be very effective in treating trauma.
References:
Relationship between interpersonal trauma exposure and addictive behaviors: A systematic review | BMC Psychiatry | Full Text. (n.d.). Retrieved February 1, 2023, from https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-017-1323-1
Trauma and Addiction: The Link We Can’t Ignore. (n.d.). Retrieved February 1, 2023, from https://www.carriedejong.com/blog/trauma-addiction-link
Why Trauma Can Lead to Addiction | Psychology Today. (n.d.). Retrieved February 1, 2023, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/understanding-addiction/202109/why-trauma-can-lead-addiction
Writer, G. (2018, December 17). When Trauma Slips into Addiction. The Imprint. https://imprintnews.org/child-trauma-2/when-trauma-slips-into-addiction/32462