Trauma and Addiction are Often Linked to Each Other: Addiction Frequently Occurs as a Result of Trauma
Trauma and addiction have lasting effects on our ability to function mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally and in relationships. It changes the brain and the body in ways that may permanently alter how we see the world and interact with it. PTSD stands for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. That is a misnomer. It is not “post” because it continues to negatively affect us throughout life unless we allow it to be a part of what happened and discover the meaning within it and the possibility of emerging into growth. It is not a “disorder” either, but rather a normal and highly intelligent, natural survival response to adverse experiences.
Trauma Comes in Many Forms
The perceived experience is very important. What one individual perceives as overwhelming and traumatic may not be for another. Elements that define trauma are any event or series of events that are fast, out of your control, painful, stressful, involving a feeling of not having a choice and has ongoing uncomfortable effects. Childhood neglect, abuse, witnessing domestic violence, combat, natural disasters, sexual assault, mental illness in the family or in oneself are just some of the examples of trauma. It comes in many forms.
Trauma precedes addiction 100% of the time. Like a wound that continues to hurt and fester, trauma is an overwhelming feeling of being stuck in the past, prompting enormous energy in an attempt to quiet the irritation around that wound. Addiction itself is a traumatizing experience. At first the substance or behavior seemed like a solution but turned the original wound into a bigger problem that bled into other areas of life.
Too Much to Bear
Trauma is an overwhelming feeling of being stuck in the past with that wound still fresh time and time again. I am going to refer to trauma and addiction as the same because the experience in the brain seems to be the same. Because of the continuous pain, a natural survival response is to disconnect from the pain in the body and in the mind. We disconnect from feeling what is too much to bear and seek other ways to comfort ourselves. If drugs, alcohol and unhealthy behaviors do not quell the pain, what can be done to relieve the overwhelming suffering and have a lasting effect?
Mindfulness can heal the brain, movement can heal the body and breathing practices can remind us of our essential nature. Mind, body and breath are the foundation of yoga. Yoga means union of body, mind and spirit, effectively gathering all the disconnected parts of ourselves back into balance.
Emerging Into Growth?
Recovery involves a process of re-connecting to the body, thoughts and breath with methods that feel safe and progress slowly enough so it feels personally tolerable. By practicing returning home to feeling sensations in the body with self-compassion, it is possible to mindfully emerge from addiction into a life of connection, purpose and kind regard for others who suffer. The gradual evolution from shattered to whole can be described as post-traumatic growth.
How do we move from thinking about trauma as always having detrimental effects to trauma that has the potential to become a growth enhancing event or series of events?
Support Means Everything
First we can understand recovery from trauma/addiction as a sensitive period in life. Just as infancy, adolescence, pregnancy, birth, menopause and old age are highly sensitive phases in the arc of life, so is recovery. When a person is well cared for and nourished, both emotionally and physically during a sensitive period in their lives, they can grow through it and elevate their level of functioning permanently. On the flip side, if there is harshness, stigma, punishment, isolation and lack of compassion in that sensitive period, a person may regress in their development. Their ability to function well might be lowered significantly as a result of ineffective trauma treatment.
The most direct and proven path to thriving rather than just surviving trauma is by including the body. Nourishing the body, mind and spirit simultaneously with self-compassion, self care and self acceptance offers profound support.
If You Are in Recovery or Have a Loved One in Recovery:
- Be Present: It is the highest expression of love and compassion for yourself and for others. When they speak, turn toward them, make eye contact and listen. You can say, I am here for you.” or “I might not know the answer but I can listen and hold space for you to feel your feelings.” Real support is not rescuing someone but rather allowing them to discover their own ability to dig deep and find their strength as you hold a safe space. Supporting someone who has experienced trauma means letting go of fixing and coaching. The needs of your loved one and the types of support you provide may change over time as your relationship continues to evolve.
- Validate and Encourage Small Progress: Look for and affirm any small progress you notice. For many, healing includes giving themselves permission to feel worthy and deserving of good things and happy thoughts and feelings. Encourage them to voice their fears, concerns, joys and celebratory milestones.
- Include the Body in Recovery: The body remembers trauma and stores it inside. The body tells the truth, it gives us accurate information moment to moment. Stress can be released through mindful movement such as yoga, dance, qi gong, massage, breathwork and other forms of body based slow, simple and safe movements. Encourage walking in nature, being immersed in water, progressive relaxation, shaking and meditating on body sensations. A loving gesture such as a hug, holding hands or a gentle pat on the back can go a long way toward guiding a loved one back to a kind relationship with their own body.
- Consider Therapeutic Forms of Body-Centered, Trauma-Informed Care: EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Breathing Practices, Somatic Experiencing, and Trauma-Sensitive Yoga are just a few evidenced-based therapies.
- Rituals of Release: Power can be regained through intention setting. We can state our intention starting with “I am” and fill in a positive word. An intention combined with a body-based action creates a ritual that can be returned to often to release unwanted distressing thoughts or habits. Example: wearing a stretchy bracelet or special ring and changing it to the other wrist or finger as you state your positive intention. Another example: Imagine yourself picking up a huge boulder. The boulder represents your heavy, unwanted thought or destructive habit. With all your physical power and mental imagery, hold it over your head until your body feels the intensity of effort. Let your muscles contract and shake. Stay for a duration of time that feels like a 7 out of 10 level of intensity for you. Then take a big breath in and imagine crashing it over a cliff and seeing it in pieces below, dust rising and body relaxing back to equanimity.
You Can Reclaim Who You Are!
Working with trauma is a continuous process of reclaiming our natural wisdom, strength and joy. Practicing radical self compassion, self-care and self-acceptance is a sure path to gathering ourselves back together and modeling for others what it means to be a whole and healthy human with potential to experience growth through adversity.
The label PTSD does not need to be worn as a permanent identifier. It is possible to shift to a new perspective; one that evolves into PTG (post traumatic growth) which implies a process leading toward growth and thriving.
This is the right webpage for anyone who hopes to understand this topic.
You understand so much its almost hard to argue
with you (not that I personally will need to…HaHa).
You certainly put a new spin on a subject that has been discussed for many years.
Wonderful stuff, just excellent!