Many people experience some form of trauma at some point in their lives. It can be difficult coping with experiencing trauma, especially if you don’t realize you’ve endured trauma. This can lead many to turn to unhealthy coping strategies, like abusing alcohol, as a means to try and cope with their trauma symptoms. In this article, we’ll explore the link between PTSD and alcohol addiction so you can learn more about why PTSD and alcohol are oftentimes connected.
At Veritas Detox, we are a top-rated drug and alcohol detox center that uses a personalized approach to help patients overcome addiction for good. Our experienced team of addiction specialists and mental health professionals offer a wide variety of care, with a range of drug interventions to ensure you safely achieve long-term sobriety. Ready to start your recovery journey? Contact us today!
5 Ways PTSD and Alcohol Addiction Can Be Linked
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, an estimated 6 out of every 100 people will have PTSD at some point in their lives. Oftentimes, an individual may be aware that they have endured a traumatic experience, or recognize the signs of trauma. This can lead many to turn to unhealthy coping strategies, like abusing alcohol, to try and minimize their trauma symptoms. Keep reading to learn more about the link between PTSD and alcohol addiction below!
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Abusing Alcohol to Cope with Trauma
As mentioned above, the first common link between PTSD and alcohol addiction is people who struggle with PTSD may abuse alcohol to try and cope with trauma. Not only does this not address and heal a person’s trauma, but it can lead the individual to keep turning to alcohol to cope with their trauma, which only temporarily relieves their trauma symptoms but develops an addiction.
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Using Alcohol to Drown Out Past Trauma
Unresolved trauma can be very emotionally and mentally upsetting and overwhelming. This can lead many to turn to alcohol as a means to drown out or temporarily try to forget about their trauma because it is so upsetting to deal with.
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Trauma Can Increase a Sense of Isolation
Many with PTSD may also feel like others cannot relate to them and what they’ve been through. Therefore, they may isolate and drink on their own to numb the pain of their trauma. This may also make it difficult for one to reach out for support from others because they feel like they may not relate to what they’ve been through.
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Unresolved Trauma Can Raise Stress Levels
Inevitably, unresolved trauma raises stress levels. And, unfortunately, many may turn to abusing substances like alcohol to try and temporarily relieve their stress levels for a period of time. While stress is a normal part of life, it’s critical you practice healthy coping strategies like seeking support from others to relieve stress.
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Seeking Dual Diagnosis Treatment Is Essential
If you are struggling with a mental condition like PTSD and an addiction like alcohol addiction, it’s critical you seek professional dual diagnosis treatment to effectively treat both conditions at the same time. Otherwise, failure to try one condition, but not the other, greatly increases your risk of relapsing. You should never feel like you have to face your trauma and addiction all on your own– help is available!
Help Is Available
Now you know more about the link between PTSD and alcohol addiction. While not everyone who struggles with PTSD has an alcohol addiction (and vice versa), many people who do struggle with PTSD may turn to unhealthy coping strategies, like abusing drugs or alcohol, as a means to try and minimize their symptoms. However, this not only does not address the source of their trauma but hurts their physical and mental health even more by becoming dependent on an addictive substance.
At Veritas Detox, we are here to help you receive the tailored addiction treatment you need to overcome addiction and achieve lasting sobriety. Addiction is a debilitating disease; however, you don’t have to fight your addiction alone. We offer a variety of treatment options so you can receive the care you need to address your unique recovery needs. Ready to start your road to recovery? Contact us today!