PTSD and Substance Abuse
Understanding treatment for PTSD and substance abuse begins with understanding PTSD. When a person is subjected to a terrifying, shocking or traumatic event, they can develop what is known as posttraumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. PTSD United estimates that roughly 70 percent of Americans have experienced something stressful or terrifying in their lives. Of this percentage, 20 percent typically experience PTSD afterward.
People who suffer from PTSD are also likely to develop substance abuse problems and can often use drugs or alcohol as a coping method to deal with the symptoms of the disorder.
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What are the Symptoms of PTSD?
Before you can understand the symptoms of PTSD, it’s important to understand the varying degrees of it. There are two main types of PTSD. Chronic PTSD is when the person suffers from ongoing symptoms while acute PTSD has more short-term effects.
Symptoms of PTDS can be onset right away, but they can also begin to be present months or even years after the incident. Some of the most common PTSD symptoms include:
Experiencing a number of these symptoms could point to PTSD and can leave a person at a higher risk to develop substance abuse problems.
Who is at Risk to Develop PTSD?
Although it is most commonly associated with soldiers and veterans, almost anyone could be at risk of developing PTSD. The disease itself relates to changing of brain function, therefore almost anyone who experiences a traumatic event can be in danger.
With that being said, statistics from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs shows that women are more likely to get PTSD than men. This can be attributed to the fact that women are more liable to experience sexual assault or other traumatic events of a similar nature. PTSD United reports that one in nine American women develop PTSD; this makes them twice as likely to develop it as men.
How Does PTSD Relate to Substance Abuse?
The symptoms of PTSD are uncomfortable and upsetting. Many people who suffer from it may turn to drugs or alcohol to escape from their own thoughts or use it as a crutch to cope with the unpleasant nature of the disease. What is often not considered is that alcohol or drug use can make PTSD symptoms worse.
The effects of alcohol and inebriation can worsen symptoms such as feeling numb to your surroundings as well as feelings of isolation, anger and depression. Alcohol and drugs can also prevent you from getting a restful sleep, which is something that most PTSD sufferers already struggle with. The withdrawal symptoms from quitting drugs or alcohol can also make the symptoms of PTSD reach new levels: Nightmares can increase, and it can make dealing with the disease even more strenuous.
What to Expect with Dual Diagnosis Treatment for PTSD
Treatment for addiction combined with PTSD often needs to be approached strategically. Since PTSD can often be a severe and unpredictable condition, it’s important to seek help from professionals who are experienced. In many cases, people who are suffering from both PTSD and substance abuse are reluctant to seek help for their issues and, therefore, need a lot of support from friends and family.
Once the client has entered the rehab facility, they can expect rigorous group and private therapy sessions to help identify and handle the triggers that can lead to relapse. At Beachway, we use the holistic approach when treating addiction and co-occurring conditions. This means that we focus on healing the mind, body and soul. In many cases, it can also be therapeutic and helpful for clients to interact with others who have the same disorder, and find support in a group of like-minded peers.