PTSD
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Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health disorder that develops in certain individuals after they have experienced one or more traumatic experiences. While it is natural to feel fear, anxiety, or sadness during trauma or immediately after, PTSD is only diagnosed in those who have symptoms that are long-lasting, unrelated to other mental health disorders or substance abuse, and interfere with a person’s ability to function. Commonly, PTSD is found alongside substance abuse and addiction. Clients struggling with PTSD and addiction at PCP – The Perry Clayman Project receive treatment that helps them reprocess their trauma, manage symptoms, and be rehabilitated after substance abuse.
What Is PTSD?
During trauma and after, it is natural to feel scared, distressed, or avoid certain situations. Over time, individuals process their trauma and recover from the initial symptoms. However, when a person does not heal from their initial symptoms, they may be diagnosed with PTSD. PTSD can be the result of a variety of experiences, including experiencing trauma directly, observing trauma, or receiving shocking news such as a loved one’s illness or sudden death.
Symptoms
Generally, PTSD symptoms begin to occur within three months of a trauma. There are four types of symptoms of PTSD. A person must have at least one of each in order to be diagnosed with PTSD. These include:
- Re-experiencing symptoms
- Avoidance symptoms
- Arousal or reactivity symptoms
- Cognition and mood symptoms
Re-experiencing symptoms impact each person in unique ways. However, they include flashbacks, reoccurring memories or nightmares, distressing thoughts, or lasting physical stress. Avoidance symptoms are those that prevent an individual from facing their trauma. This includes avoiding places, people, thoughts, or feelings related to the trauma.
Arousal symptoms are related to a person’s level of reactivity. Individuals with PTSD commonly experience difficulty concentrating, trouble sleeping, or irritability. In addition, symptoms can include being on edge or being reckless. Cognition and mood symptoms include struggling to have positive emotions, lasting negative emotions, and lack of interest in previously enjoyed activities. In addition, PTSD often causes social isolation and exaggerated feelings of blame.
Risk Factors
Not every individual who experiences trauma develops PTSD. There are many factors that are involved in the development. Risk factors that increase a person’s likelihood include:
- Previously experienced trauma in childhood
- Having little or no social support after trauma
- Personal history of substance abuse or mental health challenges
- Family history of substance abuse or mental health challenges
- Excess stress after trauma
Healing From PTSD
Every person’s journey of healing from PTSD is unique. However, it commonly involves a combination of medications, psychotherapy, and treatment for additional challenges related to their trauma. By working with a mental health care professional, individuals learn to manage symptoms that result from their trauma. In addition, they reprocess their experiences. Thus, treatment needs to incorporate a unique blend of therapies that address a client’s specific symptoms and experiences.
Depression and Substance Abuse
The symptoms of depression greatly disrupt a person’s life. They make it challenging for an individual to get through each day. As a result, many individuals reach for a substance to solve symptoms like feeling sad, guilty, or despair. Therefore, many individuals end up with both depression and addiction.
In addition, substance abuse also increases an individual’s risk of depression. The specific symptoms of substance abuse vary depending on the type of substance, the amount of substances used, and how each person is influenced. However, as substances influence a person’s central nervous system (CNS), they affect how a person feels and their mental health. Therefore, substance abuse often leads to depression.
Substance Abuse and PTSD
Symptoms of PTSD are difficult to manage. They disrupt a person’s personal life, making it challenging to maintain healthy relationships, complete tasks, and manage daily life stressors. As a result, it is common for individuals to look for a way to get through the day and dull their symptoms.
Substances, including alcohol and drugs, are used initially by individuals with PTSD with the idea that they will help them manage their symptoms. However, over time, they become dependent on a substance in order to feel normal, resulting in addiction. Both alcohol and drug addiction increase many symptoms of PTSD, causing individuals to struggle more.
However, due to their physical dependency on drugs or alcohol, individuals continue to use substances in order to function. To heal, it is vital that a person works with a professional addiction treatment centre that helps them to address their addiction and their initial trauma.
Healing at PCP – The Perry Clayman Project
Symptoms of PTSD are difficult to manage. They disrupt a person’s personal life, making it challenging to maintain healthy relationships, complete tasks, and manage daily life stressors. As a result, it is common for individuals to look for a way to get through the day and dull their symptoms.
Substances, including alcohol and drugs, are used initially by individuals with PTSD with the idea that they will help them manage their symptoms. However, over time, they become dependent on a substance in order to feel normal, resulting in addiction. Both alcohol and drug addiction increase many symptoms of PTSD, causing individuals to struggle more.
However, due to their physical dependency on drugs or alcohol, individuals continue to use substances in order to function. To heal, it is vital that a person works with a professional addiction treatment centre that helps them to address their addiction and their initial trauma.
Struggling with PTSD and addiction causes chaos in your life, but at PCP – The Perry Clayman Project, we can help. Call us today at 08000 380 480 to learn more about our rehab and treatment programmes and how they can help you or your loved one.