Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorders often occur together. Many people struggling with PTSD turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with their symptoms. Understanding the link between PTSD and addiction is an important step in recovery.
What is PTSD?
PTSD is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event. Symptoms may include nightmares, severe anxiety, flashbacks, and uncontrollable thoughts about the event. People with PTSD go to great lengths to avoid situations that remind them of the trauma.
PTSD disrupts normal brain functioning. It impacts the body’s natural fight-or-flight response. People with PTSD tend to be on high alert as if danger is always present. This constant state of fear and stress wreaks havoc on daily life.
PTSD Therapy Can Help Manage Symptoms
Counseling, medications, and other treatments are effective for many people with PTSD. A type of counseling called prolonged exposure therapy helps people gradually approach trauma-related memories and feelings. Anxiety management skills and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy are also commonly used. With professional help, people with PTSD can better cope with symptoms and regain quality of life.
Why PTSD Increases Addiction Risk
There are several reasons why PTSD and substance abuse issues often occur together:
- Self-medicating – Many people with PTSD try to cope by self-medicating with alcohol or drugs. They may use substances to temporarily escape painful trauma memories.
- Brain changes – Chronic stress from PTSD physically alters the brain’s fear circuitry and reward pathways. This can increase cravings for substances.
- Avoidance – People with PTSD go to great lengths to avoid trauma reminders. Drugs or alcohol can serve as an avoidance strategy. However, this prevents healing.
- Comorbidity – PTSD and addiction share overlapping risk factors like childhood trauma. Genetic factors may also contribute to comorbidity.
- Stress – Living with PTSD is extremely stressful. Drugs or alcohol provide a quick escape from stress. But in the long run, substance abuse only leads to more life problems.
How Addiction Compounds PTSD
While drugs and alcohol may temporarily reduce PTSD symptoms, they often make matters worse in the long run. Addiction has the following negative impacts on people with PTSD:
- Triggers symptoms – Withdrawal from substances can trigger anxiety, insomnia, and other PTSD symptoms. Using drugs or alcohol to cope can become a PTSD trigger itself.
- Interferes with therapy – Active substance abuse gets in the way of making progress in PTSD treatment. Therapy is most effective when people are sober and fully engaged.
- Heightens avoidance – Relying on substances to cope with PTSD enables avoidance of the real issue. This prevents healing.
- Damages brain function – Chronic drug or alcohol abuse can “hijack” the brain. It further impairs executive functions needed to manage PTSD symptoms and process trauma.
- Contributes to instability – The chaos of addiction creates additional life stress and problems. This exacerbates PTSD symptoms.
Integrated Treatment for Co-occurring Disorders
Recovering from both PTSD and addiction requires professional help. PTSD therapy and addiction treatment addresses both disorders at the same time. Treatment may include:
- Individual and group counseling
- Medication management
- Peer support groups
- PTSD education
- Coping skills training
- Relapse prevention planning
By getting to the root issues behind both conditions, people can achieve lasting wellness. Key elements of integrated treatment include processing trauma memories, learning to manage triggers, and building a meaningful life in recovery.
PTSD and substance abuse have complex interactions. While drugs or alcohol may seem to temporarily help PTSD, they often make symptoms worse over time. Receiving integrated treatment for both disorders provides the tools needed for long-term recovery. With professional help, a fulfilling life free from PTSD and addiction is possible.
