Key Takeaways
- Key risk factors (such as trauma exposure, genetic predisposition, and environmental stressors) can increase the likelihood of developing both PTSD and addiction.
- The overlap of these disorders presents unique clinical challenges, particularly for individuals with comorbid PTSD, and underscores the importance of integrated treatment approaches tailored to address both conditions simultaneously.
- It is important to treat PTSD and provide SUD treatment as part of a comprehensive dual diagnosis program, utilizing evidence-based PTSD treatment options such as prolonged exposure therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy.
- The Lakes Treatment Center offers dual diagnosis treatment for anyone struggling with PTSD and addiction.
- Aftercare planning and resource management are also available to residents of The Lakes Treatment Center.
Navigating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and addiction is a very complicated process, as these disorders can often overlap. When this happens, being able to treat both disorders at the same time is essential for getting the best possible outcome. Finding the right treatment program can help you better understand your mental health needs, identify triggers, and make necessary lifestyle changes.
In this article, we look at how PTSD and addiction can occur at the same time and what it means. An accurate PTSD diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment planning, especially when substance use disorders are also present. We also dive into dual diagnosis programs and why they are the best fit for these two disorders.
What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?
Post-traumatic stress disorder, otherwise known as PTSD, is a mental health diagnosis, usually caused by extreme stress or a terrifying event. An individual can develop PTSD from either taking part in or witnessing the traumatic event. PTSD can develop after experiencing or witnessing traumatic events such as combat, accidents, or physical assault.
PTSD is generally considered to be a serious mental health disorder that requires extensive treatment. This is especially true of complex PTSD, which results from repeated trauma over long periods, is related to ongoing interpersonal harm, and is distinct from standard PTSD. That said, more empirical evidence is needed to support its recognition as a separate diagnosis.
Symptoms of PTSD include things like:
- Intrusive memories
- Avoidance symptoms (such as avoiding thoughts, people, places, and memories associated with the traumatic experience)
- Avoidance behaviors
- Arousal symptoms (such as difficulty sleeping, irritability, and hypervigilance)
- Hyperarousal symptoms (including exaggerated startle response and increased physiological arousal)
- Trouble sleeping
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irregular emotions
- Feeling detached
- Becoming isolated
- Stress and anxiety
If addressed with the right treatment program, PTSD can improve over time.
How Are PTSD and Substance Abuse Related?
Now that you know what PTSD is, can you have PTSD and addiction at the same time? Unfortunately, the answer is yes. It is very possible to have both PTSD and a substance abuse problem at the same time, and they often overlap, creating a vicious cycle.
When you have a mental health disorder and an addiction disorder at the same time, these are called co-occurring disorders. Co-occurring disorders, such as co-occurring PTSD and substance use disorder, often develop as a result of each other, creating a cycle where one disorder continues to fuel the other. This maladaptive pattern of substance use can lead to problematic substance use as a coping mechanism for trauma-related distress.
When it comes to PTSD and addiction specifically, it is usually the PTSD that comes first and causes the substance abuse disorder. Individuals with PTSD are at increased risk for major depression and comorbid substance use disorder. This can happen if you are trying to self-medicate your PTSD symptoms with things like drugs or alcohol. Self-medication is a common response, and drug use, alcohol use, and alcohol abuse are frequent forms of self-medication among those with PTSD.
You may use substances as a way to mask unpleasant symptoms, avoid reality, or try to appear normal. But as this cycle continues, continued substance use and withdrawal symptoms can occur, and unsuccessful efforts to quit may lead to dangerous situations and legal problems.
When Addiction and PTSD Overlap: Recognizing the Symptoms
If you suspect that you might be struggling with an addiction disorder in combination with PTSD, there are some symptoms you can watch out for. Recognizing that you have a problem and need help is the first step you will take towards recovery.
Here are some questions to ask yourself if you aren’t sure whether or not you are suffering from co-occurring disorders:
- Are you using substances to medicate the symptoms of PTSD?
- Do you struggle to get through the day without using substances?
- Have you started to hide your substance use from friends and loved ones, or feel shame associated with it?
- Have you begun to use more substances as a way of achieving the same high?
- Do your PTSD symptoms feel worse after using substances?
Why Dual Diagnosis Treatment is Essential For Co-Occurring Disorders
If you are just starting to look for treatment for co-occurring disorders, you may not know what dual diagnosis treatment is. This is a type of treatment program specifically designed to treat mental health disorders in combination with addiction disorders.
Here are some of the main examples of why you should consider joining a dual diagnosis program instead of individual mental health or addiction programs.
Whole-Person Approach
Comprehensive care is essential for any type of disorder, especially if you are struggling with co-occurring disorders, like substance abuse and PTSD. Dual diagnosis treatment programs take a whole-person approach since mental health and addiction are incredibly personal and complex.
A dual diagnosis treatment program will offer resources for both your physical and mental health, providing a full scope of treatment. There are a variety of treatment options available, including exposure-based therapies for PTSD, which are often integrated into substance use disorder (SUD) treatment to address both conditions effectively. This could include things like physical therapy, family therapy, group therapy, relapse prevention, etc.
Two-in-One Treatment
Co-occurring disorders usually require specific care since this can make recovery more challenging. When you have two disorders at once, they usually fuel one another, making it necessary to treat both at the same time with a specific co-occurring approach.
Without the option of dual diagnosis treatment, you would have to attend two different programs at the same time. Whereas dual diagnosis programs provide two-in-one treatment that addresses the mental health disorder as well as the addiction. These integrated programs may include evidence-based therapies such as prolonged exposure, which has been shown to be effective for individuals with co-occurring PTSD and substance use disorder.
Experienced Professionals
Because co-occurring disorders make the recovery process more complicated, you need to work with professionals who have experience in this area. Not just any substance abuse professional or mental health therapist is going to know how to treat these disorders together.
When you join a dual diagnosis treatment program, you will have access to a variety of mental health and addiction professionals. You can rest easy knowing that they have extensive experience treating co-occurring disorders and understand just how this will impact your recovery journey.
Co-Occurring Disorder Community
Experiencing a mental health disorder or addiction can feel very isolating. Especially as you go through the treatment process, it is easy to feel like you are alone if your friends and loved ones haven’t experienced what you are going through.
One of the benefits that a treatment program provides is access to a community. You will be able to interact with other people who are going through a similar recovery process, so that you do not feel isolated and are able to stay more accountable.
Joining a dual diagnosis program specifically will give you access to a community of individuals who are also experiencing co-occurring disorders. Having that community in place is essential for long-term recovery and a smoother recovery process.
Join a Dual Diagnosis Treatment Program at The Lakes Treatment Center
If you are going through PTSD and addiction, you aren’t alone. These are common disorders that can often occur at the same time, resulting in them being co-occurring disorders. Although this can make the recovery process a bit more difficult, there are still resources available to help you take back your life.
At The Lakes Treatment Center, our dual diagnosis program focuses on addressing the complexities of co-occurring disorders. In addition to our dual diagnosis program, you will also have access to our aftercare and multiple relapse resources.
Are you ready to join a dual diagnosis treatment program? Contact us today at The Lakes Treatment Center to learn more about how we can help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who gets PTSD and addiction the most?
Alcohol misuse, alcohol use disorders, and alcohol dependence are especially prevalent among trauma survivors, as are other forms of substance dependence, such as cocaine dependence and drug abuse. Trauma and substance use can also impact the prefrontal cortex, affecting emotional regulation and decision-making.
Among the veteran population, the prevalence of lifetime PTSD and its association with comorbid substance use is particularly high. The prevalence of PTSD and addiction in the general population is somewhat lower than in specific groups such as military or veteran populations, but both remain significant public health concerns.
Q: How common is PTSD and addiction?
According to the National Comorbidity Survey, large-scale epidemiological research has shown that co-occurring PTSD and substance use disorders are common in the general population. Approximately 46.4% meet the criteria for an SUD, and 22.3% meet the criteria for substance dependence
Q: How do you treat PTSD and addiction?
A thorough assessment and ongoing monitoring of substance use behaviors are essential for effective treatment planning. Integrated treatment approaches, including exposure-based therapies and prolonged exposure, are recommended to treat PTSD and substance use disorders together.
Q: Why get integrated treatment for PTSD and addiction?
Integrated treatment approaches are essential for addressing both posttraumatic stress disorder and substance use disorder, as they allow for simultaneous intervention and improved outcomes. Trauma-informed care is a key component in dual diagnosis programs, ensuring that support is respectful and avoids re-traumatization.
Q: What resources are there for PTSD and addiction treatment?
Veterans Affairs and American Addiction Centers offer resources and help address barriers such as insurance coverage for veterans seeking care. The National Institute on Drug Abuse provides guidelines for SUD treatment, supporting evidence-based practices. It is important for individuals to seek treatment, as there are a variety of treatment options available to address both PTSD and substance use disorders.
Q: What is PTSD?
Posttraumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a mental disorder classified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). It describes the condition of someone who experiences long-term mental distress after traumatic events occur. There are also conditions such as complex PTSD, which refer to those who have suffered from traumatic experiences and are resistant to most typical treatment modalities.
