In substance use disorder treatment, co-occurring disorders are common. Addiction and trauma, in particular, often go hand in hand. As difficult as dealing with two mental health disorders at the same time can be, starting a dual diagnosis treatment program can provide you with evidence-based treatment to help you achieve recovery.
To learn more about dual diagnosis treatment and how it can support you on your wellness journey, reach out to the skilled and compassionate team at Promises today by calling 844.875.5609.
The Effects of Trauma
Living through traumatic experiences can change the course of your life for years to come. But trauma isn’t about the event itself; instead, trauma involves how people react to events. It is an internal experience that affects everyone differently.
Two people in a car accident, for example, can have vastly different experiences. One person may be able to brush it off and not deal with the lingering effects of trauma, while the other may experience intense anxiety, stress, and mood changes, and may receive a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder.
The effects of trauma are widespread. Some common symptoms include:
- Difficulty sleeping
- Being easily frightened or startled
- Intense guilt or shame
- Anger or irritability
- Self-destructive behavior
- Difficulty concentrating or focusing
- Flashbacks
- Nightmares
- Hypervigilance
These symptoms can be intense and debilitating and can lead to disruption in nearly every aspect of your life.
Why People Turn to Substance Use
As a result of these intensely negative experiences, people will often turn to drugs or alcohol in an attempt to cope. At first, substance use may provide some temporary relief, but this is typically extremely short-lived.
If people continue to use substances in this way, they often develop a substance use disorder, which can be difficult to break free from on its own.
The Impact of Addiction and Trauma Occurring Together
Since this pattern of turning to substance use to cope with trauma is so common, the rates of co-occurrence of addiction and trauma can be high. People can easily fall into a destructive spiral where:
- They experience negative symptoms of trauma
- They turn to drugs or alcohol for relief
- Once the substances wear off, symptoms of trauma return in greater severity
- They use more substances to cope with the greater trauma symptoms
This spiral quickly leads to escalating rates of drug and alcohol use, worsening symptoms of PTSD, and ultimately, the development of an addiction, which has its own set of physical and mental health consequences.
How Dual Diagnosis Treatment Can Help
Dual diagnosis treatment is a specialized form of substance use treatment that treats addiction and mental health concerns simultaneously. Clients who enroll in a dual diagnosis treatment program receive evidence-based substance use treatment, as well as targeted trauma treatment and therapy to help resolve their symptoms.
For people with co-occurring disorders, dual diagnosis treatment is essential. Treating only one disorder at a time can quickly lead to substance use relapse or setbacks in trauma recovery.
But by treating both trauma and addiction simultaneously, people can achieve sobriety and mental health recovery and start living better and healthier lives.
Start Your Recovery With Dual Diagnosis Treatment at Promises Today
For people living with both addiction and trauma, dual diagnosis treatment is an effective option to help you achieve a long-lasting recovery. Beginning dual diagnosis treatment at Promises can help you treat the root cause of your addiction and develop a healthy set of coping skills to manage trauma symptoms.
Recovering from co-occurring conditions is never an easy task, but by getting the evidence-based support you need, it is absolutely possible. When you’re ready to begin your treatment journey, call the experienced team at Promises today by calling 844.875.5609 or using our online contact form.