Trauma affects people in deeply personal ways. It often leaves scars that other people cannot see, and it has a life-altering impact on individuals who struggle with it. In many cases of substance use disorder, trauma is a contributing factor. People who suffer from PTSD and other trauma-related challenges can develop a dependence on medications, illicit drugs, or alcohol as a way to cope with the effects of trauma. This, sadly, can lead to a dual diagnosis of trauma and addiction.
Milton Jefferson Recovery is here to help, though. If you’re suffering from past trauma and you have found yourself drinking more often or using drugs to help numb the emotional pain, you’re not alone. And there is hope for recovery through trauma-informed therapy.
Understanding Trauma and PTSD
Trauma is a physical and emotional response to a distressing situation, event, or series of events. Trauma can be caused by grief after losing a loved one or a friend. Witnessing or being involved in a major accident can also contribute to the development of psychological trauma. Another cause of trauma is sexual or physical assault or abuse. Individuals who have been in military combat are also at risk of having trauma.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health disorder that develops as a result of a traumatic event.
Fear is a normal response to frightening or dangerous situations. It triggers the body’s fight-or-flight response, releasing stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, raising heart rate and alertness. After a while, those effects typically subside, and everything returns to normal.
Trauma is different. With trauma and PTSD, the emotional impact of a distressing event doesn’t fade. Instead, people continue to relive the experience, long after the event has ended.
Why Does PTSD Develop?
Researchers do not yet fully understand why some people develop PTSD and others don’t. However, several factors may increase the risk. For instance, women are more likely to develop PTSD. Also, people who experienced trauma during childhood or went through a prolonged traumatic event are at risk of developing this mental health disorder. Receiving little or no support after the event can cause PTSD to develop. Experiencing intense feelings of horror, helplessness, or fear during the event can also raise the risk of developing PTSD.
Additionally, individuals who face other stressors after a traumatic event are at risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder. Stressors like pain or injury, job loss, home loss, or the death of a loved one can all play a part in this. Finally, a history of mental health challenges or substance abuse can also contribute to the development of PTSD.
Types of Trauma
The 3 main types of trauma are:
- Acute Trauma: Develops after a single traumatic incident
- Chronic Trauma: Develops as a result of repeated and prolonged trauma, such as domestic violence or abuse
- Complex Trauma: Stems from exposure to multiple traumatic events, often of an invasive or interpersonal nature
Symptoms of Trauma and PTSD
Trauma can show up in many ways before a formal PTSD diagnosis, including:
- Irritability
- Mood swings
- Erratic behavior
- Persistent fear or nervousness
- Avoiding things that trigger memories of the trauma
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Trouble trusting others
- Changes in appetite
The symptoms of trauma and PTSD include:
- Re-experiencing: Flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive thoughts that bring the fear of the trauma back to the surface
- Avoidance: Staying away from people, places, or situations that serve as reminders of the event, or keeping yourself busy to avoid thinking about it altogether
- Arousal and reactivity: Feeling on edge, easily startled, tense, or irritable; difficulty sleeping or managing anger
- Cognition and mood: Negative thoughts about yourself or the world, memory gaps around the event, feelings of guilt or blame, loss of interest in things you once enjoyed, and trouble concentrating
The Relationship Between Addiction and Trauma
Trauma is a known risk factor for addiction. In the United States, more than 4 out of 10 adults who have PTSD also struggle with drug or alcohol use.
When someone experiences severe trauma, the brain responds by releasing high levels of stress hormones like cortisol and norepinephrine. Over time, chronic exposure to these hormones can physically reshape brain structure and dull the brain’s reward system. When everyday life stops feeling rewarding or manageable, substances can become a way to cope.
Drugs and alcohol may offer temporary relief from flashbacks, anxiety, hypervigilance, or emotional numbness, but that relief is short-lived. Over time, the brain begins to rely on substances to regulate mood and stress, and what started as a coping mechanism becomes a dependency.
This cycle is difficult to break because trauma and addiction reinforce each other. Substance use can intensify PTSD symptoms, and worsening PTSD symptoms can drive further substance use. Without treatment that addresses both conditions at the same time, recovery is much harder to sustain.
How Trauma-Informed Treatment Helps With PTSD and Addiction
When PTSD and addiction occur together, it is called a dual diagnosis. Treating one condition without addressing the other is rarely effective and can actually increase the risk of relapse. That is why integrated, trauma-informed treatment is so important.
At Milton Jefferson Recovery, our clinical team takes a whole-person approach to care. We recognize that addiction is often a symptom of something deeper, and that lasting recovery requires addressing the root causes, not just the surface-level behaviors. Trauma-informed therapy is built on this principle.
This approach creates a safe, supportive environment where patients can begin to process their traumatic experiences without fear of being re-traumatized. Our team is trained to understand how trauma affects the brain, the body, and behavior, and that understanding shapes every aspect of the care we provide.
Trauma-informed care can include evidence-based approaches such as:
- EMDR: Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing helps patients process traumatic memories and reduce their emotional intensity over time.
- CBT: Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy helps people recognize and replace unhealthy thought patterns that developed as a result of trauma.
- Individual therapy: This type of counseling takes place in a private, one-on-one setting to explore trauma at your own pace with a trained clinician.
- Group therapy: This therapy provides the opportunity to build connections and community with others who understand, reducing the isolation that often comes with trauma and addiction.
No two people experience trauma the same way. That is why personalized, trauma-informed care matters. At Milton Jefferson Recovery, we meet you where you are and walk with you toward lasting healing for trauma and addiction.
Begin Your Journey to Healing at Milton Jefferson Recovery
Living with trauma and addiction is an enormous burden, and it is one that no one should have to carry alone. If you or someone you love is struggling, reaching out for help is one of the most courageous things you can do.
At Milton Jefferson Recovery, we are committed to providing compassionate, evidence-based care that treats the whole person. Our Ohio team will work with you every step of the way, from the earliest stages of treatment through long-term recovery. You deserve to heal, and we are here to help make that possible.
Contact us today to learn more about our dual diagnosis treatment program and take the first step toward healing and recovery.
