Trauma Informed Care

In the United States, 61% of men and 51% of women have reported being exposed to at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. Everyone goes through difficult times, but those who have gone through traumatic experiences may have an extra burden on their shoulders. The trauma can bleed into several aspects of their lives and even hinder their everyday activities. When this trauma leads to substance abuse, it is important to get help immediately.

Defining Trauma 

Trauma is an emotional response to a terrible event, such as an accident, sexual assault, or natural disaster. Initially, individuals may experience shock and denial, but while some recover over time, others face worsening symptoms. Long-term trauma symptoms include unpredictable emotions, flashbacks, strained relationships, and physical issues like headaches or nausea. These prolonged symptoms can indicate severe problems, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a condition common among veterans but not exclusive to them. PTSD can affect anyone, causing intense and disturbing thoughts, flashbacks, nightmares, and feelings of detachment from loved ones.

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Types of Trauma Disorders

Before someone can begin to overcome a disorder, a clear diagnosis is necessary to inform our team of professionals about what the patient is experiencing. It will also be helpful to determine which level of care and programs will be most appropriate. Below are descriptions of different trauma and stress-related disorders and a bit more about what living with each illness is like.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

This is one of the most recognizable trauma disorders and for a good reason. Roughly 12 million people a year will experience PTSD, with 8 of every 100 women developing it during their lifetime.

PTSD affects approximately 3.5% of U.S. adults annually, with an estimated 1 in 11 people diagnosed in their lifetimes. Sufferers may avoid reminders of the trauma and experience strong reactions when exposed to them. The disorder can dominate a person's life, making daily tasks difficult. Effective trauma treatment programs are crucial in helping individuals regain control of their lives. These programs employ various therapeutic methods to support recovery and improve the quality of life for those affected by PTSD and other trauma-related issues.

It develops following a traumatic event, which can take place during a variety of circumstances, including:

  • War
  • Terrorist attacks
  • Burglary
  • Domestic violence
  • Sexual assault
  • Childhood trauma

Someone with this diagnosis will need to meet specific criteria, which would be a certain number of symptoms that are commonly categorized as key points of this disorder. 

The categories of PTSD symptoms are as follows:

  • Avoidance
  • Persistent intrusive thoughts
  • Changes in behavior
  • Cognitive symptoms
  • Detachment from oneself
  • Loss of core values
  • Difficulty remembering traumatic events

PTSD can be debilitating if not properly addressed by professionals like those found at our mental health rehab. Unaddressed trauma can lead to a number of other complications, including addiction, so don’t hesitate to get the help you deserve before any complications can occur.

Acute Stress Disorder vs. PTSD

Someone with acute stress disorder will find their symptoms may be similar to those experienced by a person with PTSD, just for a shorter amount of time. They will develop almost immediately after the event but will only last from about three days to a month. Should symptoms persist past a month’s time, then they should be diagnosed with PTSD.

Reactive Attachment Disorder

This typically occurs in children unable to form stable relationships with their parents or caregivers. Although not as common, reactive attachment disorder in adults is possible if initial treatment is not completely effective or even attempted at all. 

Symptoms include:

  • Withdrawal or detachment
  • Difficulty maintaining relationships
  • Feelings of emptiness, anger, or isolation
  • Lack of understanding regarding emotions
  • Discomfort around affection

Trauma Exposure Response

Also referred to as secondhand trauma, this occurs when a person bears witness to the first-hand trauma of another. This can affect anyone but is especially common in those who work closely with victims of trauma, including nurses, doctors, social workers, mental health professionals, and first responders. Symptoms can include feelings of guilt, negativity, hopelessness, and even consistent physical fatigue.

Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder

If someone was unable to form stable attachments as a child, it could lead them to exhibit culturally inappropriate behaviors throughout their life. This can include no fear of strangers, which can result in potentially dangerous situations if that person is not informed of the risks involved.

Adjustment Disorders

These are typically temporary and occur in response to a stressful event in a person’s life. 

These events can include:

  • Loss of a loved one
  • Breakups or divorce
  • Sudden unemployment
  • Being diagnosed with a physical or mental illness

If you find yourself struggling with any kind of trauma or stress-related disorder, Banyan Treatment Center offers a variety of effective therapy methods that can address the trauma, and teach effective ways to manage it moving forward. You don’t have to suffer in silence, and you especially do not have to face this alone contact Banyan Treatment Center for help.

The Connection Between Trauma and Substance Abuse

Without a trauma treatment program to supplement your addiction recovery, your sobriety may not be long-lasting. Poor mental health and substance abuse problems are often connected. When people are feeling down, lonely, or stressed, they will sometimes turn to drugs or alcohol to ease the pain or escape these negative emotions.

Trauma can be a trigger for drug or alcohol use as the person tries to use these substances to forget about their traumatic experience. Because of the fleeting sense of relief these substances provide, the user will continue to return to this coping mechanism even when they start to feel worse in the long run. Eventually, a dependence on these substances is created, and often, mental health continues to decline. In order to help the addict heal and keep them from returning to this self-destructive pattern after treatment ends, our addiction and trauma treatment program helps patients tackle both issues.

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What Are the Best Practices for Trauma Treatment?

When it comes to trauma treatment, various practices have arisen over time, reflecting advances in our understanding of these experiences and their effects on individuals. These therapies place a high value on a personalized, holistic approach to recovery that takes into consideration each person's particular requirements and life experiences. A trauma treatment center can pave the way for profound healing and growth by embracing evidence-based therapies, creating a secure and supportive atmosphere, and encouraging a collaborative therapeutic relationship.

Some of the best practices to address trauma and recovery include:

  • Trauma-informed care: Adopting a trauma-informed strategy that acknowledges the pervasive effects of trauma and directs healthcare professionals in fostering environments that are secure, empowering, and respectful for survivors.
  • Evidence-based therapies: Utilizing evidence-based treatments, including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) to treat the effects of trauma and encourage recovery.
  • Safety and stabilization: Establishing safety and stabilization is given priority as the cornerstone of trauma treatment, which may entail learning coping mechanisms, emotional control strategies, and grounding exercises.
  • Individualized treatment plans: Making therapy plans to fit each person's needs, understanding that trauma affects people differently and necessitates individualized approaches.
  • Psychoeducation: Giving clients thorough psychoeducation about trauma, its effects on the mind and body, and coping mechanisms can help them better comprehend it and will give them more control over their recovery.
  • Supportive therapeutic relationships: Connection should be developed to give clients the space and support they need to examine and process their traumatic experiences. This relationship should be based on trust, empathy, and collaboration.
  • Mindfulness and self-care: Utilizing self-care methods and mindfulness practices to improve emotional control, self-awareness, and resilience in the face of trauma-related difficulties.

Our Addiction and Trauma Center

Our substance abuse and trauma treatment program is designed to help addicts who have had traumatic experiences in their lives move past these problems. Alcohol and drugs may be the only way they currently know how to cope with their issues, but we want to change that.

At our drug rehab, we know that addiction recovery is difficult for everyone, but when your substance abuse stems from trauma, it can be even more challenging to overcome. Not everyone can understand what you went through or how much of an impact this trauma has had on your life. To keep your traumatic experiences from haunting you any longer, our trained staff members will help you work through these problems. We will teach patients healthier ways of coping with these painful memories instead of turning to drugs or alcohol.

Along with individual therapy sessions, patients will gather in groups to discuss their issues with peers. To ensure the comfort of our patients and encourage patients to open up in these groups.  These groups create a sense of community and support among the patients that they can lean on long after their program is complete. During this program, patients will also partake in a variety of holistic addiction treatment programs that are tailored to address their trauma alongside their addiction. After our trauma programming, successful patients should be able to recognize the role that their trauma has played in their addiction and start working towards a brighter future.

If you or someone you care for has let traumatic experiences lead to addiction, it is time to get help. Our psychological trauma and addiction treatment program is intended to help patients move past these problems and start a new life. Take the first step to regain control of your life or help set your loved one on the right path with our drug and alcohol rehabs. Get started today and call us today at (888) 981-7763 to get started.

Not all programs are available at all locations. Please contact the location for availability.