Post Traumatic Stress Disorders & Addiction
Post-traumatic stress disorder (also called PTSD) is a condition that
some people experience after facing a physical or emotional situation
that causes extreme pain or sorrow. If you have PTSD you may continue
to feel flashbacks of the event, or feel so helpless, that it begins to
have a negative effect on your daily life and relationships.
You may have started drinking or using drugs in order to handle a
stressful situation, or to suppress the flashbacks and mental re-living
of the stressful situation. The co-occurrence of PTSD with dependency
on drugs and alcohol requires the special techniques provided by dual diagnosis therapy.
Many people think that PTSD develops only after experiences of war or
violent accidents and crimes. This is not true. Living through natural
disasters such as tornados or hurricanes can cause post traumatic
stress disorder. PTSD symptoms may also appear after sexual abuse, the
death of a loved one or even while coping with a serious disease such
as cancer.
Symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder:
-
Persistent nightmares
- Flashbacks of the event
- Physical symptoms such as a rapid heartbeat, sweating, or shaking when reminded of the event
- Avoiding thoughts, places, people, or activities that remind you of the event
- Difficulty talking about the event
- Sudden and unexpected feelings of sadness, fear, or anger
- Trouble sleeping
- More easily startled and nervous
Family members and significant others are also greatly affected by
PTSD. Not wanting to do anything that might increase the psychological
stress of their loved one may cause them to change and alter their own
behavior in an effort to be helpful. This actually may create further
distancing in the relationship.
If you are suffering from the symptoms of PTSD, and also have a
dependency problem, we can help. If you are a family member and don’t
know where to begin to help your loved one with PTSD, we can help.
Call us. Together we can develop a dual diagnosis treatment plan that works for you.
Common Disorders Co-occurring with Addiction
Other Resources on Co-occurring & Dual Diagnosed Disorders