Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that impacts millions of Americans every day. PTSD impacts 3.5 percent of American adults every day, or, one in 11 people will get diagnosed with it. It is a disorder defined by stress that has been induced by trauma. That trauma is the result of a serious incident that happened in their lives. It could be that they were victimized by crime, witnessed a crime or a tragic life-changing event, saw someone die, or went to war. That list is not exhaustive.
Experts like those at http://oceansrecovery.com/ know that addiction and PTSD often go hand-in-hand. That means that those that are impacted by PTSD have a higher chance of becoming an addict. Learn more about the connection between addiction and PTSD, and how to find support if you or a loved one is struggling.
The PTSD and Addiction Connection
The PTSD and addiction connection is well-documented. PTSD is considered one of the leading causes of addiction in the world. In one study of a population with a high degree of trauma in their lives, substance dependence rates were high. Approximately 39 percent were addicted to alcohol, 34 percent were addicted to cocaine, 6 percent were addicted to heroin and 45 percent were addicted to marijuana.
Many studies will indicate that early years child abuse is a predictor for addiction, however, any trauma at any age can trigger it. Many first responders after 9/11 became addicted and some even committed suicide.
You don’t have to be exposed to the trauma every day to be triggered into trauma. You can still feel trauma every day, and this is why the addiction rates are so high.
Signs and Triggers of PTSD
A victim of trauma or PTSD patient will have high levels of anxiety that leads them to addictive drugs and alcoholism. Support for trauma victims is geared towards preventing those triggers as much as possible. A trauma victim is more likely to take a drink, or feel like they need drugs when they are feeling triggered.
- Anniversaries of the event
- People that remind victims of the event or are connected to it
- Having feelings of helplessness that were experienced during the event
- Objects or things that remind of the trauma
- Scents, tastes, noises
- Anniversaries
- Specific words
When a victim is exposed to trauma, their brain produces a fight or flight response that triggers a number of other experiences in the brain. The brain has trouble processing short-term memory while in trauma, and they will have high levels of anxiety. Even the feeling of fear or worry can trigger trauma.
It is not uncommon for PTSD victims to have panic attacks either. This is another trigger that could lead them to use drugs.
Seek Support for Trauma and Addiction
Support centers across the country that can help trauma victims overcome their need to drink or use drugs during trauma. Help from residential treatment to individualized counseling is available to treat the addiction, and the trauma at the same time.
If you or a loved one is suffering from trauma and addiction, know that trauma will be in their lives for the rest of their lives. Help will promote healing and normal functioning is possible, with less exposure to these triggers.
