The National Institutes of Health estimates that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects around 7.7 million adults in America. It is a serious mental health issue that requires serious care and a PTSD treatment program in some cases. Many people with addiction also have PTSD.
Having both an addiction disorder and a mental health disorder is a dual diagnosis. Call Sierra Sage Recovery Services at 833.922.2884 to learn more about dual diagnosis rehab and our PTSD treatment.
What Is PTSD?
PTSD can develop after a single traumatic event, such as being the victim of a violent crime or a series of traumatic events, such as surviving childhood abuse. People who hear about trauma secondhand can also develop PTSD. This is often referred to as generational trauma.
If you are a survivor of trauma and regularly experience any of the following warning signs, speak with a mental health professional. PTSD is one of the most frequently overlooked mental health disorders, but entering a PTSD treatment program can help you learn to recognize and cope with the events that trigger PTSD symptoms.
Symptoms of PTSD include:
- Nightmares
- Intrusive thoughts
- Memory loss
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Depression, anxiety
- Anger, mood swings, and emotional outbursts
- Hypervigilance about surroundings
- Insomnia
- Vivid, realistic flashbacks to traumatic events
- Risky behaviors
Not everyone who experiences trauma shows signs of having post-traumatic stress, but the disorder can negatively impact their lives for those who do. Severe feelings of panic and anxiety can make it difficult to leave the house, and unstable moods take their toll on relationships with friends and family. People with PTSD can become violent, hurting others or themselves during flashbacks they cannot control if their condition goes untreated.
Understanding PTSD Triggers
Many individuals only begin to understand how they are affected by PTSD after entering addiction recovery. While in therapy, they may learn how some of their “destructive” behaviors were attempting to avoid the people, places, and situations that trigger PTSD.
Triggers develop when the brain associates an experience with a traumatic event. For example, the scent of smoke may cause firefighters with PTSD to feel PTSD symptoms even if that smoke does not present any threat. Children who grew up in abusive households may be triggered by loud yelling or any fast, unexpected movements even when those actions are directed at someone else.
PTSD triggers don’t always make logical sense to others. They can include:
- People – Including people who were involved with or perpetrators of the traumatic event
- Feelings – Worry or stress may remind the person of how they felt during the traumatic event
- Places – For example, the town or state where a traumatic event occurred
- Sounds – Loud noises or any noise associated with the event
- Anniversaries – Significant dates and anniversaries related to traumatic events
- Scents – The scent of certain foods, plants, places, perfumes/colognes
Once a person has identified their PTSD triggers, they can work to diminish the impact those triggers have on their lives. Combining different therapy modalities such as cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), family therapy, and medication provides the tools an individual needs to cope with triggers without turning to drugs or alcohol.
Learn More about the PTSD Treatment Program at Sierra Sage Recovery Services
At Sierra Sage, we offer a comprehensive program to address trauma and substance abuse issues. A dual diagnosis rehab program offers the therapy and support needed to treat both addiction and PTSD together. There is hope if you or someone you love has post-traumatic stress disorder. Call Sierra Sage at 833.922.2884 today for information about our PTSD treatment program and the evidence-based therapies that effectively deal with symptoms and triggers associated with PTSD.
