Post traumatic stress disorder, known as PTSD, is a mental health condition caused by serious, dangerous life events. PTSD can be a trigger for addiction, driving an individual to drink or use drugs to cope. Substance use disorder brought on by PTSD requires mental health treatment in addition to addiction treatment.
What is PTSD?
PTSD is complex, and approximately 4% of the population worldwide will experience the condition. Some of the main events that can cause post traumatic stress disorder in individuals include war, car accidents, natural disasters, sexual abuse, and domestic violence.
PTSD goes beyond normal fear, it is long-term extreme distress that an individual seemingly can’t escape. It is possible to recover from the trauma itself, but the co-occurring conditions that come along with it can be harder to treat.
Signs of post traumatic stress disorder can include:
- Re-experiencing the event mentally
- Avoiding triggering situations
- Having intense paranoia of danger
These symptoms may be hard to spot, especially because many of them are mental. Unless the affected person outwardly says how they feel – others may have no idea what’s happening.
PTSD Triggers Addiction
Post traumatic stress disorder often results in an addiction to cope. In a study published by the U.S. Department for Veteran Affairs, over 40% of individuals with lifetime PTSD met the criteria for substance use disorder. That number is quite high when you consider how many people experience PTSD globally.
There are several reasons why someone experiencing post traumatic stress disorder may turn to drugs and alcohol. Some may be trying to self medicate and alleviate their recalling thoughts or triggers. For others, their brain chemistry may have been altered. They may seek reward or happiness from substances that they don’t feel they can find elsewhere.
Substance use disorder often comes after PTSD, not the other way around. This impacts the way we treat the co-occurring conditions.
Treatment Options for PTSD & Addiction
The best treatment plan for those with both PTSD and addiction is an inpatient facility that specializes in mental health and addiction care. At Solution Based Treatment, we do just that. We begin the treatment process with medically supervised detox, which is designed to keep clients feeling safe and supported during their initial recovery days. Once detox is completed, the client will move into residential rehab and mental health treatment where they will have a customized treatment plan made for them.
After the client is ready to begin integrating themselves back into their community and routine, they will graduate to intensive outpatient treatment or a partial hospitalization program. These programs are designed to provide consistent recovery support while allowing the client to branch out and put what they’ve learned to the test.
Find PTSD & Addiction Treatment Near Me
If you or someone you know is experiencing the effects of PTSD and addiction, give the team at Solution Based Treatment a call. Our team of doctors, nurse practitioners, licensed therapists, and other clinicians provides you with the highest level of care possible. We offer a 24-hour hotline to ensure you receive the help you need, whenever you need it. Free yourself from the shackles of PTSD and get back to living your life to the fullest.
About Solution Based Treatment
Solution Based Treatment is a national leader in detox and rehab programs. We offer inpatient medical detox, substance rehab, intensive outpatient programs, partial hospitalization programs, faith-based recovery, and sober living options. We maintain a 2:1 client to staff ratio to offer the best support possible to our patients within upscale living environments. At Solution Based Treatment, we support better living for brighter futures, all starting with our detox and rehab services. For more information visit our website at solutionbasedtreatment.com or give us a call at (833) 999-1941.