About one out of 10 people will be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) during their lifetimes. People experience trauma in many settings and situations, from military combat to natural disasters to interpersonal violence. There is a significant overlap between PTSD and substance abuse, which means that rehab facilities that offer addiction treatment will likely include a PTSD treatment program to address co-occurring disorders.
If you or someone you care about struggles with substance abuse and PTSD, contact the team at Virtue Recovery Killeen to learn more about these two disorders and how our skilled and experienced professional staff can help you with PTSD as you begin recovery. Call 866-843-0545 or connect via this online form. You do not have to face these challenges alone.
What Is PTSD?
Many people experience at least one trauma during their lifetimes—as many as 70%. About 20% of those will develop PTSD, though all of them may need therapeutic support to process their trauma.
Causes of PTSD
Traumatic experiences that often lead to PTSD are:
- Sexual or physical assault, including domestic abuse and rape
- Natural disasters like tornados, floods, fires, or hurricanes
- Acts of terrorism, such as school shootings
- Military combat
- Serious accidents and injury
- The loss of a loved one, primarily through sudden or violent death
You don’t have to struggle alone. Reach out for the help you need today. At Virtue Recovery Killeen, we understand that post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse can be brutal. We are here to provide comprehensive and compassionate support in overcoming these issues and helping you find healing in recovery.
Symptoms of PTSD
PTSD is defined by a specific set of debilitating symptoms that include:
- Flashbacks and intrusive thoughts
- Emotional and physical responses
- Avoidance
- Negative thoughts
If you show any of the signs above and are self-medicating with drugs or alcohol, please get help for your substance abuse and PTSD.
PTSD and Substance Abuse
People with PTSD are at much greater risk of addiction than people without a co-occurring disorder. Among men with PTSD, about half abuse alcohol or drugs, and approximately a third of women misuse substances.
The body of someone who has experienced one or multiple traumatic events tries hard to mitigate the ongoing panic, fear, and pain by flooding the system with endorphins. These natural neurotransmitters help mute pain and fear and improve good feelings. This allows the trauma victim to survive for a time, but there is inevitably a withdrawal from these chemicals. However, the person’s experience and memory of the incident continue to manifest as trauma, only now the brain is worn out and does not produce these feel-good chemicals to the extent that someone with PTSD needs to feel even relatively okay.
They turn to drugs or alcohol to help them cope with their PTSD as these substances bond with the receptors in the brain that will trigger the endorphin response. This is, of course, a short-term and ultimately dangerous strategy and can lead to addiction.
Find Treatment for PTSD and Substance Abuse at Virtue Recovery Killeen
Our trauma-informed outpatient addiction treatment programs offer a range of therapies, including evidence-based psychotherapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), and motivational interviewing. We also offer experiential therapies that support our clients in achieving their long-term recovery goals. These therapies can help uncover the root causes of post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse problems, making it easier for clients to make lasting changes. Reach out now to learn more. Call 866-843-0545 today to learn more about our PTSD treatment program, or submit this online form to connect with one of our staff.
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Gigi Price holds licenses as a Master Social Worker and Clinical Drug Counselor. She completed her master’s degree in Social Work at Texas State University. Over the last decade, Gigi has been dedicated to utilizing evidence-based practices to enhance patient care and treatment planning, resulting in positive, long-term outcomes for patients and their families. Her passion lies in creating a treatment environment where professionals collaborate to bring about positive change and provide a safe, trustworthy therapeutic experience. Patients can be confident in receiving top-quality care under her leadership.
In her role as the Clinical Director of Virtue Recovery Houston, Gigi conducted research to identify the most effective approaches for treating patients with acute mental health diagnoses, PTSD, and Substance Use Disorder. She then assembled a team of skilled clinicians who could offer various therapeutic modalities, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
(DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Somatic Exposure, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). Gigi takes pride in overseeing the development and implementation of Virtue Houston’s Treatment Program, which includes two specialized therapeutic curricula tailored to the unique needs of individuals struggling with mental health issues, addiction, and PTSD.
