The relationship that exists between psychological trauma and addiction is very significant and complex. The prevalence of psychological trauma instances as a result of substance abuse approximates the range of 30% to 90% as per the target population and the abuse. Trauma means an experience of being endangered by events which involve serious damage and it affects the individual’s physical integrity and can possibly lead to death. The responses that are followed by the events causing trauma include intense fear, horror and helplessness. There is a critical need, therefore, to address the relationship that exists between psychological trauma and addiction. It has also been noted that misdiagnosed and mistreated trauma-related symptoms can interfere with treatment that needs to be accorded, making lapse to be more likely to happen. Predisposing trauma conditions in individuals who have substance abuse addiction treatment has pointed out the need for screening and assessing clients battling with addiction for the disorders related to psychological trauma possibility. The “Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)” has come up with a “Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP)” titled “Substance Abuse Treatment and Trauma” whose aim is to carry out trauma screening assessments.
The Relation between Psychological Trauma and Addiction
Research has demonstrated that exposing an individual to traumatic events is associated with substance use which causes addiction in the long term. Wolff et al. (2015) note that many people who have experienced trauma disorders become alcoholic to assist them in coping with their emotions, terror, anxiety, pain or even bad memories. People who are addicted as a result of alcohol and drug use are likely to be traumatic than those who do not have addiction problems. It has been found out that individuals get exposed to a vicious cycle, which leads to trauma disorders and in turn, leads to increased addiction levels. This addiction later comes up with new phases of trauma, leading to even worse substance use and addiction levels. Just as trauma disorders and addiction from substance have an association, so does the psychological trauma disorders and other addiction problems. For instance, Wolff et al. (2015 ) give an example of trauma disorders such as the “Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)” and depression which often occurs to people who are addicted to substance use and vice versa.
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Effects of Addiction on the symptoms of psychological trauma
Perez-Dandieu & Tapia (2014 ) notes that many people after their experience to traumatic incidents experiences problems which need diagnosis of the “Acute Stress Disorder (ASD)” and “Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).” “Acute Stress Disorder (ASD)” diagnosis mainly designates the dissociation involvements and other intrusive thoughts with the effort to help avoid remembering the traumatic experiences as well as anxiety that might follow the happening of the traumatic event. When these experiences last for long, they are referred to as the diagnosis of PTSD. Substance and drug abuse which results in addiction can act disruption, which is temporary and a relieves trauma to people who might be suffering from various problems debilitating across their lives. However, Wolff et al. (2015 ) note that this disruption is for a short period, and the addiction resulting from drug and substance usage can ultimately be harmful. Although substance use reduces one’s ability to concentrate and to cope with external stressors and trauma memories, it has been noted that substance use which at some extent results to addiction can lead to emotional numbness, irritability, anger, depression, social isolation and hypervigilance which are the symptoms of psychological trauma.
Evidence from research shows that behaviours of addiction share some “neurobiological features” as they intensively involve the brain pathways, which later affects motivation involving the neurotransmitter dopamine. It is very important to note that brain changes are reversible following the continued use of substance or behavior. Craparo et al. (2014 ) note that substance use and disorders, as well as addiction to certain behaviours, can lead to the likeliness of getting mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression. Substance use which results in addiction has been found not only to engage in brain mechanisms but also respond to many approaches of treatment. Complex conditions which affect an individual's motivation and reinforcement is characterized by the impaired control over usage, leading to addiction. Addiction has been found to have the capacity of inducing a sense of being hopeless and a feeling of failure, although there are many routes to the recovery of people having these problems. Padykula & Conklin (2010 ) notes that individuals can achieve their psychological functioning, which is so-called as natural recovery.
Approaches to Addressing Psychological Trauma in Addiction
Padykula & Conklin (2010 ) notes that addressing trauma and addiction treatment includes two approaches, namely, “trauma-informed” and “trauma- specific.” The trauma-informedd method considers the knowledge about the trauma the interpersonal dynamics and it's impacts, the paths to recovery incorporating knowledge of the delivery of service aspects. Psychological traumatic delivery services aim to directly discourse trauma effects on the lives of people and also ensure that they facilitate the recovery and the healing of trauma. It is also noted that addiction treatment programs can help in creating the trauma-informed environment ensuring the provision of responsive services for the treatment of trauma as well as the needs of trauma survivors ( Carruth & LCSW Patricia, 2013 ). These programs can also help in creating trauma- specific interventions through creation of trauma- intervention models. Addiction treatment programs understand that many problems originate from the attempts to cope with some challenging experiences as well as the effects of trauma which is seen in many domains of violent victimization experiences.
Dass-Brailsford & Myrick (2010) notes that addiction problems discourse in trauma disorder treatment. When addiction is added to psychological trauma, it is significant to look for treatment from skilled practitioners who are experts in the addiction and trauma treatment. This specialist consultation should be inclusive of sensitive questions together with the identification of past patterns as well as the current use of the substance and the addiction level. The treatment planning, on the other hand, should include a discussion between the traumatized or the addicted individual and the specialist on addiction problems as well as the psychological trauma disorders such as depression, anxiety and stress. Padykula & Conklin (2010 ) notes that treatment of addiction and trauma-related problems can be through education, psychotherapy or formation of support groups that help the clients in acceptably addressing addiction problems. Treatment of traumatization and addiction problem requires a plan for identifying these two problems and the relationships. Although separate meetings between the client and the clinician happen, which are primarily devoted to the traumatization and addiction problem, it is noted that all interventions need to be carefully integrated and coordinated.
Additional Mental and physical health problems Associated with Addiction and Trauma
Carruth & LCSW Patricia (2013 ) notes that, when one is associated with traumatic problems or addiction problems, there is a high likelihood that they will have other psychological and physical problems. This is from a research done on adults concluding that 50% of them who had both addiction and psychological trauma problems had other more serious problems both physical and psychological. For instance, addicted people having trauma disorders often have anxiety disorders, disruptive behaviors disorder, moods disorders, as well as other multiple addictive behaviors. It is also noted that physical problems to individual health are very common among addicted and people with trauma disorders ( Perez-Dandieu & Tapia, 2014) . They find themselves at greater risks of getting chronic physical illnesses such as liver diseases, heart disease and diabetes. They also suffer some chronic physical pain resulting from physical injuries or even resulting from no clear physical cause.
Results collected from the logistic models to examine the influence of trauma history and its treatment modality confirmed the experience of trauma that is associated with addiction is connected with psychiatric symptoms even after the control of treatment characteristics. Craparo et al. (2014) note that this relationship between addiction, psychological trauma and psychiatric symptoms for individuals is a lifetime history of the physical trauma. Some suicidal thoughts and attempts are among the history of individuals who have ever experienced addiction and psychological trauma. The apparent relationship between depression, anxiety and addiction can be accounted for the high incidences of individuals who are reported to be psychologically traumatized. It is very important not to disregard the substantial impact of psychological trauma and the psychiatric functioning of an individual ( Dass-Brailsford & Myrick, 2010) . It was reported that people who are engaged in substance use or addiction treatment have past histories of traumatic events or has ever experienced severe psychiatric problems and most cases, these people report suicidality. It was also noted that people who were diagnosed with depression experienced psychological trauma and were likely to have addiction problems.
Conclusion
People who have experienced psychological trauma at most times turn to substance use which turns to addiction to cope with the mechanism. Use of these substances makes one feel numbed, calm and empowered, which are very rare sensations that might be experienced during sobriety for those who have psychological trauma. People going through psychological trauma usually get induced to the use of benzodiazepines to feel a relief of their anxiety. This stimulant makes them feel that they can accomplish what they find hard to accomplish without drugs. Victims of psychological trauma and other addiction-related problems have some needs which might make them turn to the use of drugs which can open the door for further addiction. Overreliance on use of substance can lead to addiction in the patients who are psychologically traumatized. Before effective treatment of psychological trauma is offered, it is very advisable to identify and treat addiction first.
References
Carruth, B., & LCSW Patricia A Burke, M. S. W. (2013). Psychological trauma and addiction treatment. In Psychological trauma and addiction treatment (pp. 15-28). Routledge.
Craparo, G., Ardino, V., Gori, A., & Caretti, V. (2014). The relationships between early trauma, dissociation, and alexithymia in alcohol addiction. Psychiatry Investigation , 11 (3), 330.
Dass-Brailsford, P., & Myrick, A. C. (2010). Psychological trauma and substance abuse: The need for an integrated approach. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse , 11 (4), 202-213.
Padykula, N. L., & Conklin, P. (2010). The self-regulation model of attachment trauma and addiction. Clinical Social Work Journal , 38 (4), 351-360.
Perez-Dandieu, B., & Tapia, G. (2014). Treating trauma in addiction with EMDR: A pilot study. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs , 46 (4), 303-309.
Wolff, N., Huening, J., Shi, J., Frueh, B. C., Hoover, D. R., & McHugo, G. (2015). Implementation and effectiveness of integrated trauma and addiction treatment for incarcerated men. Journal of anxiety disorders , 30 , 66-80.
