The benefits of trauma therapy for addiction are multiple. During childhood, while your brain is developing, trauma can lead to internalized negative self-beliefs. On an intellectual level, you might have processed these events — but that doesn’t mean the underlying belief isn’t wreaking havoc in your life. Lots of people who abuse drugs and alcohol and get addicted do so to cover up pain that results from skewed perceptions that occurred as a result of traumatic life events.
Trauma therapy is a crucial component of rehab because unresolved trauma is so prevalent in people who struggle with a substance use disorder. Working through these issues lets you focus more on the present and build a healthier attitude towards yourself. It’s ideal as part of a treatment program that includes group therapy, psychoeducation and behavioral therapy.
The Benefits of Trauma Therapy for Addiction
Trauma therapy and addiction go hand in hand because they’re so closely linked. A large percentage of the people who find themselves struggling with addiction have experienced trauma in their life. These major events change the way you respond to stimulus unless the brain processes them correctly.
In many cases, people with traumatic backgrounds aren’t armed with the coping mechanisms necessary to resolve trauma independently. Trauma therapy helps you overcome your past so you can focus on the present.
1. Focus on the Present
During the initial stages of trauma therapy, you’ll learn about what trauma is and how it impacts human beings. Your therapist will get an understanding of your history so they can help you focus on the present and the future.
Often, those unfortunate enough to experience unresolved trauma struggle intensely to move forward with their lives. They tend to focus on the past and the pain they’ve experienced. In trauma therapy, you learn to view yourself from a different, more positive perspective. You’ll set goals for the future and understand the importance of living in the present and leaving the past behind.
2. Learn About Your Triggers
In many cases, a trauma therapist will ask you to start journaling. Once you start writing down your genuine feelings and making quick observations about your day, you’ll begin to notice your triggers. The therapist will help you to unravel why certain situations make you feel anxious or sad and drive you to use substances.
The better you understand yourself, the more able you are to start gradually making the necessary changes. Remember, addiction is a chronic disease, so you’ll need to maintain these changes instead of seeing them as one-off fixes.
3. Speak to a Safe, Reassuring Authority Figure
One of the most important aspects of trauma therapy is your relationship with the counselor. As you build trust and become more comfortable being vulnerable in front of them, you start to rebuild trust. Trauma therapy gives you a safe space to begin rebuilding your relationship with yourself and society.
4. Feel a Difference in Your Physical Reactions
Most people who go through trauma therapy report feeling physically better afterward. Trauma causes tension, headaches, insomnia and a variety of other unpleasant conditions — which might even drive some people to develop substance use disorders.
5. Understand Where Negative Self-Beliefs Come From
In trauma therapy, a certified counselor helps you identify the underlying core beliefs about yourself that hold you back. Trauma leads to feelings of worthlessness, inadequacy and insecurity, and many people who experience severe trauma feel unlovable altogether.
You might intellectually know that no one in the world is any more or less worthy than another, but these core beliefs can persist regardless. In many cases, it takes specialized intervention from a mental health specialist to help you reprogram that negative core belief into a positive one.
6. Learn How to See Your Story From Different Perspectives
One essential benefit of trauma therapy for addiction is helping you to see yourself as a survivor rather than a victim. When we perceive ourselves as victims, we’re more prone to negative self-beliefs, which can lead to damaging behavior like alcoholism or drug abuse.
A trauma therapist will reframe your experiences to highlight how brave, resilient and driven you’ve been to get as far as you have. Trauma is never a good thing, but you still can draw immense strength and self-love from it.
When you see yourself as a strong, independent survivor, you can turn your life around. It might seem like you could never get there, but with professional guidance, a full recovery is possible for everyone.
7. Break Patterns of Thinking and Behavior
Once you’re able to recognize the negative patterns that stem from trauma, you’ll gradually be ready to start breaking them. Bear in mind that recovery isn’t a linear process, and you won’t heal trauma overnight. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication from your side and a skilled practitioner to navigate your individual trauma recovery journey.
Find Out More About Trauma Therapy and Addiction Today
If you’d like to ask one of our addiction experts a question about trauma therapy, call Valley Recovery Center today at 866-986-2486.
