November 23, 2016 1 CommentsTyler Collins
Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects an average of 5.2 million people every year, and government studies show that an average of 7.8% of Americans will have PTSD at some point in their lives.
PTSD can cause depression, emotional outbursts, irritability, anxiety, and stress, and victims are often trapped by an experience or experiences.
As a result, victims often have trouble functioning in traditional job and work environments, typically have family problems and may be involved with domestic abuse, and are significantly more likely to go through a breakup, divorce, or be fired from their job.
Because of this and other reasons, many PTSD victims self medicate, turning to drugs and alcohol, or using their prescribed medications to excess.
Addiction and PTSD Statistics
Many studies correlate past trauma and existing PTSD symptoms to an increased likelihood of drug and alcohol abuse. In one study, 34% of PTSD patients were substance abusers, with variations depending on their levels of past trauma. The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism conducted a study showing that 5.6% of PTSD victims summer from alcohol abuse within 1 year of the trauma, and 7.7% are dependent on alcohol within that time.
The Department of Veterans Affairs also shows that 2 out of 10 veterans with PTSD also have a substance absuse disorder, and 1 out of 3 veterans seeking help with substance abuse suffered from PTSD. In one British study, 38.5% of addicts tested met the criterion for current PTSD while 51.9% had had PTSD in their lifetime. PTSD is well known for increasing the risk of substance abuse and dependence, no matter what the original cause of the trauma.
However, many types of drugs can cause PTSD like symptoms, and can cause PTSD by inducing trauma, rather than the addiction arising as a direct result of trauma.
Symptoms of PTSD
Research shows that about 80% of the population will experience a traumatic event in their lifetime, but less than 10% of these will go on to develop PTSD. The difference is often in the severity of the event, the helplessness experienced in the moment, and the response given by the sympathetic system in the body.
Most of us know about the fight or flight response, and PTSD ties into this. When we are stressed, the adrenal system releases cortisol, preparing the body to react to the stress. In the case of PTSD, the adrenal system doesn’t fully return to normal, leaving the body in a high state of anxiety and stress.
While military combat is the most well known cause of PTSD, there are many other common causes:
- Sexual abuse
- Childhood abuse (sexual, physical, or emotional)
- Physical assault or robbery
- Natural disasters
- Car accidents
The DSM-5 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders lists the following symptom criterion for PTSD:
- Criterion A – Exposure to direct or indirect threat of death, sexual violence, injury, or disability.
- Criterion B – Experiencing intrusive memories, dreams, flashbacks, or emotions.
- Criterion C – Displaying avoidance of trauma inducing stimuli such as people, places, emotions, conversations, etc.
- Criterion D – Displaying negative changes to the mood and personality, such as persistent guilt, lack of interest, separation, anger, etc.
- Criterion E – Changes in arousal and reactivity such as increased irritability, recklessness, concentration, vigilance, and sleep patterns.
- Criterion F – Symptoms last for more than one month
- Criterion G – Symptoms are causing significant distress or social and occupational impairment.
- Criterion H – If the symptoms are independent of any use of drugs, alcohol, or medication.
If you or a loved one displays these symptoms at any criterion, it is important to visit a doctor and seek out help. There are many ways to treat trauma, but to get help you have to ask for it.
Self Medication and PTSD
Many people become drug and alcohol addicts as a result of PTSD through self medication. This is the act of trying to use a substance to hide problems or to cover them up. For example, many people will turn to drugs as a way to cut anxiety, while others will drown emotion with alcohol, or use cocaine and heroine for highs to feel better.
Self medication is dangerous because most people build up a tolerance even with prescribed drugs. This means that it takes more of the substance to create the same reaction, sometimes even a few days later. As a result, many will quickly build up their intake, until they are addicted, without consciously doing so. Self medication is complex, because it can arise from issues as simple as using medication to combat insomnia caused by PTSD.
Unfortunately, many substances exacerbate the issues caused by PTSD, including loneliness, anger, feeling cut off from others, and avoidance.
Seeking Treatment for PTSD
Treating PTSD and alcoholism or drug abuse is difficult and complex, simply because both mental disorders must be dealt with simultaneously to solve the problems. While previous methods typically involved waiting for patients to become completely abstinent before moving them into PTSD treatment, it is difficult for addicts with PTSD to remain abstinent while still suffering from trauma related stress.
Studies also show that PTSD can cause abusers to be resistant to treatment, less likely to benefit from group therapy due to PTSD symptoms, and more likely to return to addiction if the PTSD is not treated alongside the addiction. Those who are not treated for PTSD are significantly more likely to relapse. However, some PTSD treatment, including exposure therapy,actually benefits substance abusers as well.
If you or a loved one is suffering from either substance abuse or PTSD, it is important to seek help. You may be recommended to one of many treatments used to successfully treat PTSD and substance abuse simultaneously including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), cognitive processing therapy (CPT), prolonged exposure treatment (PE), medications, group therapy, EMDR, and other solutions.
If you or someone you love is struggling with PTSD and Addiction to any substance, please call Lighthouse Treatment Center today for help. We offer a specialized program for Addiction Trauma Treatment and are happy to provide a no-cost, no-obligation consultation with one of our experienced treatment advisors. Contact us today to discuss your situation in confidence – we are here to help.
