Healing From Trauma at Passages Addiction Treatment Centers

Healing From Trauma at Passages Addiction Treatment Centers

Published November 2018

What is Trauma? 

When someone experiences a deeply distressed or disruptive event in their life, physical, mental, or emotional, they have been exposed to what is known as trauma. This event or experience can disturb a person’s thought process, emotional response, and behavior patterns that show significant psychological troubles. That is why it is important to get help for any trauma-related issue. 

The Connection Between Trauma and Substance Abuse

Those who have trauma-related issues and are triggered by subtle yet similar events that originally caused the deeply rooted disruption. When this happens, it’s not uncommon for the individual to seek quick relief from the pain and discomfort they are feeling. That’s when someone who is not practicing healthy coping mechanisms, such as working with a therapist, exercising, meditating, and practicing deep breathing techniques, will, unfortunately, reach for drugs and alcohol to suppress their pain and anxiety. 

Who Has Trauma?

Many people have experienced some type of traumatic experience in their life; some have resolved and healed from the event and found peace. Others have unresolved trauma that affects many aspects of their lives and need one-on-one therapy, such as the treatment that is offered at Passages Addiction Treatment Centers. 

Common types of trauma are:

• Breakup or divorce
• Cancer or loss of health
• Death of a loved one, including a pet
• Loss of a job
• Financial crisis
• Physical, mental or emotional abuse
• Devastation in the local community
• Unwanted relocation
• Selling or losing the family home
• Miscarriage
• Stressful legal battle

Most common emotional responses to unresolved-trauma: 

• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Drug and alcohol abuse
• Increased arousal 
• Anger
• Irritability
• Guilt or shame
• Isolation
• Cynical views on self-image
• Neglect of responsibilities
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Dramatic changes in sleep patterns
• Feelings of being threatened
• Re-activeness in thoughts and behavior
• Lack of appetite
• Feelings of hopelessness
• Difficulty maintaining healthy relationships

The Connection Between Trauma and Self-Harm

Someone who is struggling with a past traumatic situation in their life may harm themselves due to poor self-esteem, guilt, and shame. This could be because of past abuse brought on to them by a loved one or experiencing direct violence by anyone else, such as rape. There is a lack of healing and forgiving with someone who is harming themselves because of the unbearable pain they are currently experiencing. At Passages Addiction Treatment Centers, our team of therapists works with clients every day to help treat and heal the underlying conditions causing substance abuse and self-harm related issues through one-on-one holistic therapy methods.