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Trauma therapy can be a powerful tool when helping clients overcome a substance abuse problem. Since the experience is highly personal, what one individual perceives as traumatic may not elicit the same response in another. For this reason, therapists working with people in addiction counseling will do well to listen for distress responses. If you\u2019re struggling with a drug or alcohol problem, you might also be dealing with an unresolved experience.<\/p>\n
Within the definition of trauma therapy, experts assist clients who underwent personal injuries or witnessed them. Examples would include child abuse, sexual assault, combat, significant personal losses, and physical attacks. At the heart of trauma<\/a> is a feeling of profound helplessness, terror, or fear. Memories of these incidents trigger patterns of feelings, thoughts, and behaviors today.<\/p>\n Individuals who underwent such experiences may respond in a variety of ways. Some blame themselves, suffer from low self-esteem or carry guilt. Others suffer from thoughts and feelings that come on at inopportune times. During trauma therapy, it becomes evident that many self-medicate with drugs or alcohol to quiet these feelings and thoughts.<\/p>\n Experiencing a traumatic incident heightens your risk of abusing a substance. But it also works the other way around. Being high or drunk makes it more likely that you may undergo a traumatic event. Ironically, those who could benefit the most from trauma therapy will typically try to wave it away. They don\u2019t usually feel that what they underwent is as bad as what some other people experienced.<\/p>\n What these clients don\u2019t realize is that it\u2019s impossible to measure traumatic experiences side by side. Rather, what matters is simply the fact that the experience was more than you could handle at the time. Because the event went beyond your coping abilities, you deal with unresolved issues that affect current situations. That said, it\u2019s important to recognize that there isn\u2019t a quick fix.<\/p>\n You probably won\u2019t leave the facility feeling that you\u2019ve completely finished your healing. Instead, you\u2019ll be able to recognize triggers, trigger responses, and counteract intrusive thoughts and feelings with what you learned in addiction counseling<\/a>. This type of trauma therapy comes with a variety of adjunct modalities such as:<\/p>\n When combined with these modalities in a therapeutic setting, trauma therapy makes it possible to work through these unresolved experiences. For example, seasoned therapists will assist you in transferring reactions to traumatic events in a place of reason. Doing so renders the experiences powerless to elicit strong emotional reactions that may result in negative patterns.<\/p>\n Relaxation techniques assist this process. The more frequently you have an opportunity to practice this step, the more likely you are to overcome adverse reactions. At the same time, you gradually examine the event in a scientific manner, which can help with perception changes. Going through these exercises lessens the volatile nature of your reactions and the potential need for self-medicating with drugs or alcohol.<\/p>\n Healing Springs Ranch therapists recognize that the connection between drug addiction and traumatic experiences is strong. Moreover, they understand that you cannot tackle addiction without getting to the root of the problem. While not every client will suffer because of an unresolved past event, many do just that. Helping them overcome the experience provides a greater degree of relapse prevention.<\/p>\nWhy Addiction Counseling and Trauma Therapy Must Address Past Events<\/h2>\n
Overcoming Traumatic Experiences Against the Backdrop of Addiction Counseling<\/h2>\n
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Do You Need Help Processing Experiences to Move Past a Substance Abuse Problem?<\/h2>\n