Trauma and PTSD

Trauma and addiction fuel one another. Break the cycle.

Addressing Trauma and Substance Abuse

The relationship between trauma and substance abuse is well established. It’s hardly surprising that people struggling with the difficult physical and emotional effects of both trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) may reach for drugs and alcohol as a way of self-medicating. For instance, those experiencing depression as a result of trauma may reach for stimulants such as meth or cocaine. Others, whose trauma manifests as anxiety, may try to counteract those symptoms by using prescription downers or alcohol. 

Unresolved trauma and PTSD can be debilitating. But attempting to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol can compound the original symptoms, and lead to a substance abuse disorder in the process. Meanwhile, addiction often involves risky behavior and dangerous situations, which can lead to new traumas on top of the original ones.

Our Commitment to Measurement-Based Care

We are committed not only to achieving the best outcomes for our clients, but to measuring those outcomes. Based on outcome studies, NBH clients who stayed in treatment at least 30 days or longer experienced reduced symptoms of depression, anxiety, and trauma as well as improvements in daily functioning.

Stats

Signs of Trauma and PTSD

Whether the traumatic situations are decades old or more recent, severe or more subtle, they manifest both in the body and in behavior. Some signs of trauma and PTSD include:

  • Depression
  • Sleep disturbances, including nightmares
  • Fatigue
  • Guilt
  • Low self-esteem
  • Detachment
  • Dissociation
  • Anxiety
  • Panic attacks
  • Flashbacks 
  • Self-harm
  • Avoidance of triggers
  • Physical pain and/or chronic illness
  • Suicidal thoughts and behaviors
  • Substance use or abuse

If you recognize yourself or someone you love in these symptoms, know that there is help. You don’t have to be defined by your trauma any longer. The clinical experts at Niznik Behavioral Health are here to help you heal.

Treating PTSD, Trauma and Substance Abuse

Treatment for trauma and PTSD is important, but first, we want to make sure you’re physically stable. If substance abuse is a component of your trauma and PTSD, you’ll likely want to start off with detox. Don’t worry — you’ll have a dedicated medical team to make sure you’re managing any withdrawal symptoms safely and comfortably. 

Niznik Behavioral Health facilities provide a variety of therapeutic options that can help you resolve and process your trauma. Some of our locations offer trauma therapy, which uses EMDR (or Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) to the brain in ways that reprocess the traumatic event(s). Also, talk therapy techniques like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy can give you the tools to move forward. Together, these therapies can help you achieve healing and balance — so your trauma no longer controls your emotions and behavior.  

We understand that talking about your trauma can be very intense and emotional, but it can provide a powerful sense of relief — both psychologically and physically. You deserve the opportunity to heal and move forward. To learn more about how Niznik Behavioral Health treats trauma and substance abuse (or PTSD and substance abuse), please reach out today. 

Our Full Continuum of Care

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(888) 699-1409

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