The most essential component of successful addiction treatment lies in trauma therapy, or identifying the root cause of the compulsive behavior. As long as the primary reason for an addiction is not explored, it cannot be completely treated and there will always be a colossal chance for relapse.
Your addictive behavior is closely associated with your mental and emotional health. People suffering from addiction disorders fail to realize the mental illnesses they are going through. To ignore or suppress the symptoms of their illness, they tend to rely on drugs or alcohol. This only worsens the situation. Not only does it compel you to increase your dosage, but also deteriorates your mental, emotional, and physical health.
This is why rehab professionals aim to find the main cause of addictions: if symptoms of mental illness are identified alongside substance abuse, the condition is referred to as “Dual Diagnosis.” Mental health has a significant association with substance abuse disorders.
Trauma therapy in drug addiction is designed to address the root causes of your addiction, targeting factors such as mental disorders to ensure a complete and total treatment.
What is Trauma Therapy?
Before we delve into what trauma therapy is, let’s start by defining trauma. Trauma is a factor that plays a significant role in continued addictions. You may not be able to realize the association alone, but your trauma generally serves as the foundation of your compulsive behavior.
Trauma comes in many forms. It can entail events such as domestic abuse or sexual assault, returning from deployment, feeling isolated because of gender or ethnicity, or being bullied. Coping with these situations can be extremely difficult, and you may find yourself turning to illicit drugs or alcohol for relief.
Trauma therapy is a kind of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy that can be tremendously helpful. However, there is a specific time during drug addiction recovery where it will take effect. Trauma therapy requires adequate focus and concentration. This cannot be achieved during detox, as a person is still suffering from withdrawal symptoms and cannot think clearly.
With that being said, trauma therapy starts once detox is complete. Along with other practices that improve cognitive function, trauma therapy provides substantial benefits for mental health. This type of therapy is included in inpatient programs, outpatient care, intensive outpatient programs, partial hospitalization programs, and sober living facilities.
Why is Trauma Therapy Important?
Trauma therapy plays an important role in the drug addiction recovery process. Its significance may not be acknowledged as often and as publicly as other treatments, but it cannot be undermined. As you step out of detox and enter a recovery program, trauma therapy can bring the root cause of an addiction to light.
To achieve successful recovery, it is important that the reason behind an addiction is brought forth and addressed. Once the trauma is identified, it can lead to a mental disorder diagnosis that you may be suffering from and not even know. Trauma therapy plays a vital role in dual diagnosis and helps in achieving complete recovery.
This therapy digs into your history and helps you relay your thoughts and emotions, which allows medical professionals to better understand the reasons for your addictive behavior. It can help you identify the causes behind your compulsion towards drugs, and offer solutions to get rid of the guilt associated with your trauma and/or addiction.
How is Trauma Therapy Conducted?
Trauma therapy can be administered in several ways. The purpose of each technique is to create a secure environment for addicts to vocalize their inner thoughts and previous history. Therapists aim to create a feeling of safety so that addicts don’t feel threatened in their vulnerable state. Trauma therapy also promotes self-awareness, helping patients regain confidence and uplift their self-esteem.
People addicted to illicit drugs or alcohol are likely to experience conditions such as depression and anxiety. This is usually because of the trauma they have been through. Due to their mental condition, it becomes much harder for them to feel safe and relaxed. To numb this discomfort and relieve their minds from painful thoughts, they find an escape in drugs. Through trauma therapy, safe spaces are created where addicts learn to be more comfortable in their own skin.
Trauma therapy takes you on a journey of self-awareness. The therapist will train you to be more mindful of yourself and the things going on around you. This approach will help you focus on positive aspects and fight negative emotions.
Trauma therapy doesn’t have a set pace or strict guideline. It is a process of self-exploration where you learn about yourself and acknowledge the inner traumas that are forcing you toward negative practices. The knowledge acquired through trauma therapy is incorporated into the overall treatment process, making it effective and well-practiced. The factors that are identified during this therapy also help in developing a relapse prevention plan, which ensures you can fight off triggers in an efficient manner.
Trauma Therapy at the Scottsdale Recovery Center
Scottsdale Recovery Center offers excellent services in trauma therapy. Over the years, we have provided our patients with in-depth programs, customized according to their individual needs. Our expert counselors develop intervention plans that are well-suited for our patients, and address their issues in the best possible way. Contact us today at 602.346.9142 to learn more about trauma therapy and other services.
