Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs when a person encounters stress and trauma that the brain does not correctly process. Over time, that manifests in pain, images, negative thoughts, and sometimes addiction. If you have PTSD and addiction, our team of professionals can help you work through these challenges using dual diagnosis. Let our team offer support and guidance to you in overcoming these challenges through mental health care. Contact Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston at 866.516.8356 to learn more.
Why PTSD and Addiction Often Happen Together
Mental health disorders are prevalent in men and women who have an addiction. PTSD and addiction are a common combination. In PTSD, a person relieves and experiences the thoughts, sounds, images, and feelings of a traumatic experience. It may have been abuse when you were younger or watching a loved one die. When this type of trauma occurs, it creates changes in the brain. In essence, your brain does not work through that trauma and instead tucks it away. You may experience symptoms of PTSD often without knowing it. That may include:
- Flashbacks that come on suddenly
- Negative thoughts about yourself or others
- Self-hate that you do not understand
- Painful memories of certain people, places, or things
- Intense anxiety triggers by things that remind you of that past trauma
PTSD and addiction occur because of what happens when a person feels these emotions. You may try to do anything you can to hide them or deal with them. That may include using drugs or alcohol to stop feeling them. It’s not possible to stop feeling the anxiety and trauma repeatedly, but substances may seem to help prevent those thoughts for some time. Yet, that’s unhealthy and has many complications that come with it.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment Can Help
Mental health disorders and addiction need to be treated simultaneously through a treatment option called a dual diagnosis. It can provide you with an outstanding amount of support and protection as you work through these challenges when done correctly. You may find yourself working through what you felt in those moments of trauma. While your mental health treatment does not force you to relive what happened or do additional damage to you, it can help your brain heal.
Dual diagnosis combines a variety of strategies to help you learn about your mental health needs. Sometimes people do not know they have a disorder like PTSD. It may take some time working with your individual therapist to come to this point, an understanding of what you have faced and what is to come.
Healing Starts with Mental Health Treatment
Our team at Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston can offer dual diagnosis and other types of treatment for you. We will work closely with you to help you with both PTSD and addiction in a profound manner, giving you the tools and resources you need to start healing.
Our team offers the resources you need to start healing through several components of care. This treatment may begin with detox as we help you break your dependence on drugs and alcohol. From there, you can start working on stabilizing your mental health. Our treatment programs can include:
Choose to Overcome Your Challenges at Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston
PTSD and addiction have taken a lot from you. Now is your time to recoup some of your losses and to start healing again. Our team at Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston can provide that to you. With dual diagnosis treatment plans to address trauma, your mental health can significantly improve. Reach out to our professionals today by calling 866.516.8356 or connect with us online.
