Emerge Healing Center is a substance addiction treatment center located in Alpharetta, GA. However, we know that many other mental health disorders are often the root cause of substance addiction. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is one such mental health disorder that can lead to addiction.
What is PTSD?
PTSD is a serious mental health condition that affects the daily lives of millions of Americans every day. It is estimated that 6% of our adult population currently deals with this condition, equal to over 15 million people. While it is twice as common in women as in men, all people with PTSD share factors that influenced their development of this condition. At Emerge Healing Center’s PTSD treatment in Atlanta, countless clients have found the help and support they need to overcome their symptoms to lead a more normal life.
While many people associate PTSD with veterans, the fact is that even everyday citizens can and do end up with this condition. What ties all PTSD patients together is that they have been through a traumatic event. This event could have been physical, mental, or emotional. PTSD causes people to have several symptoms that often interfere with their daily lives, making it difficult to hold jobs, go to school, and maintain normal friendships and relationships.
In an attempt to deal with their PTSD, many people end up abusing substances.
What is Substance Addiction?
Substance Addiction, also called Substance Use Disorder, or even Substance Abuse, is a disease that affects a person’s brain and behavior and leads to an inability to control the use of a legal or illegal drug or medicine. This includes commonly used substances such as alcohol or nicotine.
Perhaps the most difficult part of overcoming a drug abuse disorder is realizing you have it in the first place. A good rule of thumb is that if your drug use is negatively affecting your life consistently, even if it’s not at rock bottom, you may have an addiction that needs treatment. SAMHSA reports that only 10 percent of those struggling with substance abuse receive treatment.
PTSD to Addiction
If you’re worried that you or a loved one may be suffering from PTSD, Addiction, or both, there are many symptoms of each to be aware of.
PTSD symptoms are typically sorted into four distinct categories:
- Having Intrusive or Unwanted Thoughts
- Avoiding Reminders Of Your Trauma
- Major Changes in Your Moods or Thoughts
- Inappropriate Outbursts
Substance addiction, whether it’s alcohol or other drugs, also comes with several signs and symptoms. These can include:
- Feelings of depression
- An overwhelming desire to use their drug of choice
- Finding reasons to increase the dosage or use more frequently
- Hiding drinking or pills
- Increased drinking frequency
- Lying about drinking or drugs
- Talking about the benefits of the drug or drinking
- Uncomfortable or defensive when confronted about drinking or drug use
Treating PTSD with Addiction
Today, there are many effective treatment options available to help you cope with the symptoms of PTSD, including a few different types of medications that are effective, including anti-anxiety medications and antidepressants. By reducing the most serious of your symptoms with these medications, you can better function in your normal daily life and focus on the second part of treatment: behavioral therapy. While many people with PTSD have spent months or years avoiding talking about their trauma, the fact is that finding a way to move past it is key to long-term recovery.
At Emerge Healing Center’s Trauma and PTSD treatment in Atlanta, you can expect more than just a one-size-fits-all treatment program. Our highly trained and compassionate staff will work with you to design the right treatment program to address your symptoms, as well as identify any co-occurring disorders you may have, such as depression, anxiety, or a substance abuse disorder. Once the best course of action is decided, you’ll be able to take treatment one day at a time, celebrate milestones as you hit them, and get continued support for long-term recovery success.
