Can My Childhood Trauma Impact My Recovery?
Contrary to what one may believe, lasting recovery from substance use disorders (SUDs) and other types of addictions require more than solely ceasing an addictive behavior. Addiction develops from a combination of risk factors, all of which must be addressed throughout treatment and long-term recovery. Trauma is a known risk factor that often contributes to addiction. While many individuals may only address recent traumas during treatment, childhood trauma, in many cases, may be even more vital to address.
Traumatic experiences during childhood can have long-lasting consequences on an individual's overall well-being. Many individuals may have buried these experiences deep in their subconscious mind and forgotten that they ever happened. However, if these traumas are left unaddressed, they can cause disruptive patterns of thought, emotion, and behavior years after they occurred. Working with a professional to address and overcome childhood trauma during treatment is essential to not only achieving initial sobriety but also maintaining long-term recovery.
Childhood Trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) defines trauma as a circumstance that causes physical, emotional, and/or life-threatening harm. Additionally, the event causes lasting consequences for a person's mental, physical, and emotional health, as well as their social and/or spiritual well-being.
Childhood trauma can be used synonymously with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ACEs are “potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood (0-17 years).” These events also result in lasting, negative effects on an individual's overall health and well-being and are linked to chronic health problems, mental health disorders, and addiction.
According to SAMHSA, “More than two thirds of children reported at least 1 traumatic event by age 16.” Understanding the high prevalence of trauma can help individuals feel less alone in their own experiences. It can also encourage individuals to work through trauma with loved ones and professionals to avoid worsening consequences throughout adulthood.
Examples of Trauma and ACEs
It is important to understand that trauma and ACEs are subjective. Likewise, any event or circumstance can be considered traumatic. Whether or not an event is considered traumatic depends on the unique perspective of the individual who experienced it.
Still, there are many universal experiences that are often categorized to be traumatic. Some of these include:
Experiencing violence, abuse, or neglect
Witnessing violence, abuse, or neglect
Being raised by a parent with untreated mental health issues
Being raised by a parent who abuses substances
Divorce
Natural disasters
The sudden death of a family member
Being diagnosed with a chronic illness
Bullying
Childhood Trauma and Substance Abuse
According to Depression and Anxiety, “Exposure to traumatic experiences, especially those occurring in childhood, has been linked to substance use disorders (SUDs), including abuse and dependence.” Additionally, SUDs often co-occur and are highly comorbid with other mental health disorders.
One of the main reasons why childhood trauma often contributes to substance abuse is that early exposure to traumatic experiences can make an individual more vulnerable to turning to alcohol and other drugs to self-medicate. This can be especially evident for those that may have grown up in a home where substance use was normalized and/or encouraged.
Trauma Dysregulates the Biological Stress Response
According to the aforementioned journal, traumatic experiences can dysregulate an individual's biological stress response. Also known as fight-or-flight, this stress response is necessary for survival. Under threatening circumstances, this response prepares us to fight a threat or flee from it.
As a result of single or multiple instances of trauma or severe instances of trauma, this stress response becomes dysregulated. This can cause an individual to feel like they are living in constant fear or anxiety, which can be extremely distressing. In an attempt to manage these challenging physical symptoms and potential intrusive thoughts, both adults and adolescents may use alcohol and other drugs as a form of self-medication.
Lasting Effects of Trauma
There are many long-lasting effects of trauma. To name a few, consider the following:
Grief
Loneliness
Isolation
Depression
Emotional reactivity
Numbness
Confusion
Sleep disturbances
Interpersonal conflict
When an individual is working to achieve lasting sobriety from substance use and other addictive behaviors, they must work through the lasting effects that trauma may have caused them. There is no question that these effects can perpetuate substance abuse; therefore, they must be addressed in treatment.
If trauma and its lasting impacts are not addressed in treatment, it can increase an individual's risk of relapse long-term. If an individual is exposed to a traumatic event in the future, they will likely return to substance abuse as they are ill-equipped with healthy coping mechanisms that are needed to work through their distress.
The Value of Trauma-Informed Treatment for Recovery
One of the most effective treatment approaches for SUD, co-occurring mental health disorders, and other types of addictions is trauma-informed treatment. When professionals utilize this approach, they assume that the person they are working with has likely experienced trauma at some point throughout their life.
Trauma-informed treatment acknowledges the importance of establishing a client's safety during treatment, especially when discussing trauma. Additionally, this approach is both compassionate and collaborative as it encourages an individual and therapist to work together to develop an effective treatment plan. Trauma-informed treatment actively prevents retraumatization for individuals with intense histories of trauma.
Recovering from substance use disorder, co-occurring conditions, and other types of addictions can be overwhelming. Often, treatment for these conditions requires addressing underlying childhood trauma, which tends to contribute to substance abuse and other addictive behaviors. Childhood trauma can have long-lasting consequences on an individual's well-being when it is left unaddressed. At Next Level Recovery Associates, we offer a personalized experience for individuals working to recover from addiction. Our expertly trained team knows what it's like to be in your shoes, which is why we are dedicated to providing valuable knowledge and support in your healing process. To learn more about our services, give us a call today at (561) 735-2590.