Navigating Recovery: How to Heal When Trauma Fuels Addiction

Some helpful facts about trauma:

• Trauma is a natural emotional response to a deeply distressing event, and when experienced during childhood, its effects can be incredibly profound and long-lasting.
• For many individuals with unresolved trauma, substances like drugs or alcohol become a way to numb emotional pain, often leading to addiction.
• Trauma-informed addiction care recognises this connection, shifting the focus from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?.” This compassionate approach helps individuals heal by addressing the root causes of their struggles rather than just the symptoms.

In the recovery space, the narrative around addiction and our understanding of its causes and treatments have significantly advanced over the years, bringing a sense of hope and optimism for the future of recovery.

It’s important to note that substance use is often intertwined with emotional pain, frequently stemming from traumatic experiences. 

This understanding helps us see addiction as the complex condition it truly is rather than an isolated issue.

Trauma, which is a term used to describe an emotional wound or injury, can have a profound and lasting impact on an individual’s body and nervous system. 

These imprints can persist long after the traumatic event, whether due to childhood adversity, abusive relationships, or other distressing experiences.

When trauma is left untreated, painful memories can become ‘stored’ in the body, which may cause many different symptoms, including anxiety, depression, persistent emptiness, emotional numbness, and dissociation, to name just a few.

In addition, trauma survivors frequently turn to substances as a way to numb their pain, which can lead to a cycle of addiction and dependence.

This article looks at ways you can begin to heal from addiction, particularly if you have experienced trauma in your past or present.

Let’s get started.

What the research says

Many studies show that people with a history of trauma are significantly more likely to develop substance use disorders compared to those without such histories.

This is because of the way trauma affects the nervous system. 

For instance, traumatic experiences such as childhood neglect or abuse can cause the nervous system to become dysregulated, leading to challenges in emotional regulation and more heightened stress responses. 

This dysregulation can carry through to adulthood, leading to a state of constant distress, which an individual may try to alleviate through substance use, putting them at significant risk of addiction.

Treatment programs that adopt a nervous-system-informed approach are instrumental in the recovery process. 

These programs focus on restoring the nervous system to balance and helping individuals develop resilience and healthy coping mechanisms. 

This approach involves understanding how trauma affects the nervous system and using this knowledge to tailor treatment to each individual’s needs.

Without these resources, addiction can become a way to self-medicate, or as many trauma experts explain:

“Addiction is an attempt to regulate a dysregulated nervous system.”

Signs and symptoms of trauma-related substance use

Each individual experiences addiction differently. However, according to the DSM-5-TR, substance use can include many of the following symptoms and behaviours:

• Repeated unsuccessful attempts to reduce, stop or control the use of a substance.
• Taking a substance in more significant amounts to achieve the desired effect (tolerance).
• Experiencing significant cravings or urges to use a substance.
• Spending significant amounts of time trying to obtain, use, or recover from the effects of a substance. 
• Continuing to use a substance despite any negative consequences it may cause to your health, relationships, and other areas of your life.
• Using the substance in an unsafe or risky way.
• Giving up hobbies or social activities to engage in substance use.
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not using the substance.

If any of the above symptoms sound familiar, you must seek the support of a professional who can help you get a handle on your addiction, including the root causes, allowing you to get your life back on track.

How we can help

At White River Manor, we understand the profound connection between addiction and trauma. 

We provide individuals with comprehensive, holistic treatment programs that not only address their addiction issues but also the root causes of these behaviours, ensuring a secure and caring environment for their recovery.

Our team continuously engages in advanced trauma training to help us stay up-to-date and informed on trauma’s best practices, including treatments and how to recognise the various symptoms and presentations of trauma that are not always obvious or easy to pinpoint.

We provide a range of different treatments and therapies to help you address your addiction challenges and reprocess your trauma so that you are no longer held back or limited by your past experiences; instead, you can learn to manage your life in new, more empowering ways.

Our recovery programs include the following:

• EMDR (eye movement desensitization reprocessing) therapy.
• Trauma-specific therapy.
• Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT).
• Medication (if needed).

Contact our friendly team today to learn more about our addiction and trauma treatment programs and begin your journey to healing your past and living the life you always imagined.

We are always here to lend a listening ear and offer guidance and support whenever needed.

How to heal when trauma fuels addiction

To begin recovering from addiction, you must work with a trauma-informed therapist or counsellor who understands the complex dynamic between substance use and trauma.

Here, we will examine several ways you can navigate the recovery process and begin living a healthy, fulfilling life.

1. Trauma-informed therapy

As mentioned, individuals seeking help and support for addiction issues related to past trauma must work with a trauma-informed professional trained in the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions.

The most effective treatment programs for co-occurring conditions like addiction and trauma integrate a variety of therapies and approaches to address the different aspects of these disorders, including mind, body, and spirit.

These approaches include:

• Behavioural therapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). CBT helps you explore and address maladaptive thought and behaviour patterns related to trauma and substance use.

• Body-based healing methods, including EMDR therapy (eye movement desensitization reprocessing). EMDR is a pioneering trauma treatment that is particularly effective for processing traumatic memories and reducing emotional distress. 

• Exposure therapy. This treatment is a form of CBT that can be used to help reduce the fear and anxiety associated with emotional triggers caused by traumatic experiences.

• Schema therapy. This approach explores and addresses unhealthy beliefs and deep-seated emotional patterns that might have developed in response to past trauma.

2. Nervous system regulation

As mentioned earlier, trauma significantly disrupts the nervous system, which can lead to all types of issues, including keeping the body in a heightened state of alertness or stress.

Individuals with trauma histories are often highly dysregulated and may constantly believe they are in some danger or threat, even when there is no evidence of this being true.

You must work with a nervous-system-informed therapist or treatment team who can provide techniques and strategies to help you recalibrate your nervous system, cultivating a sense of calm and balance.

Techniques that can help restore balance, reduce anxiety and promote emotional regulation include:

• Meditation
• Deep breathing
• Somatic experiencing
• Mindfulness therapy

3. Support networks and community

Healing from addiction and painful experiences from the past cannot be done in isolation.

We need others’ support to help us understand our past and reframe our experiences in new, more empowering ways.

Studies show that social isolation can worsen the symptoms and outcomes of addiction and trauma over time.

Therefore, engaging with support groups, such as group therapy, peer support, and trusted family and friends, provides individuals with accountability and connection, which are vital aspects of long-term recovery.

4. Be patient with yourself

Addiction (and indeed trauma) recovery can take time. 

The road to healing is often bumpy and filled with various setbacks and milestones; both are needed to achieve sustainable sobriety and wellness in the long term.

Practising self-compassion and patience is imperative as addiction and trauma recovery are self-reflective processes that require a lot of understanding and self-exploration, such as counselling, group therapy, and other approaches.

It’s important you celebrate any achievements or milestones you make along the way and reflect on any setbacks with compassion and empathy for how far you have come.

Drawing on the support of your treatment team and friends and family can be incredibly beneficial. 

They can help you navigate any challenges or setbacks you experience along the way and encourage you to celebrate your success, which is vital to long-term sobriety and well-being.

Bottom line

It’s important to note that not everyone who experiences trauma will develop an addiction, and not everyone who develops an addiction has a history of trauma.

However, these conditions co-occur more often than not, leading to various challenges for the individual experiencing them.

While substance use is not a formal symptom of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), research shows that approximately 59% of individuals diagnosed with PTSD develop challenges with substance use and dependence. 

This significant correlation highlights the need for trauma-informed care that addresses both the emotional wounds of trauma and the coping mechanisms individuals may develop in response, such as alcohol and drug use.

If you or someone you care about are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned in this article, you must speak to a mental health professional for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.

Next steps

White River Manor provides individualised treatment for a wide range of mental health conditions like addiction and trauma, offering a combination of behavioural therapy, inpatient treatment, trauma-informed therapy, and experiential approaches to help you achieve lasting recovery.

With decades of knowledge and experience, our multidisciplinary, world-class team is equipped to assist our clients gain the breakthrough they need and deserve.

Like a light shining in through a dark room, it is possible for you to recover from your past and the coping mechanisms you may have used to survive through proper treatment and support. 

We are here to guide you every step of the way.

Contact our professional team in South Africa today and begin your journey to lasting healing and transformation.