The Impact of Trauma on Addiction and Recovery
Introduction Trauma is everywhere in our world. It can be experienced at any age, and it's especially prevalent among addicts. Unfortunately, this often means that treatment programs are missing the mark when it comes to addressing the unique needs of their clients. In this article, we'll explore what trauma is and how it affects addiction recovery. What is trauma? Trauma is a psychological response to a traumatic event or situation. It can be caused by a single event, or ongoing events. Traumatic events may include natural disasters, accidents, war and abuse. Physical trauma can include injuries from car crashes or other accidents; emotional trauma can result from verbal abuse or neglect; sexual trauma includes rape and molestation. How does trauma affect addiction and recovery? Trauma can lead to addiction. Trauma can affect the brain's reward system, causing it to crave substances or experiences that make you feel better in the moment. This is called ...