When something bad happens to you, it can shake you up so badly, it will haunt you for the rest of your life. Some people who go through a traumatic event will develop, PTSD, which is a long-term condition characterized by flashbacks and nightmares. Others may experience trauma for shorter amounts of time, but it will be just as painful. 

If you are dealing with psychological symptoms due to a traumatic event you experienced, it is essential to reach out for help. But not everyone does. Some people are embarrassed to admit they have a problem. Others feel that therapy will be too expensive and too much of a disruption to their lives. 

Instead of treating their emotions in a healthy manner, people that refuse to get help end up self-medicating. They use drugs and alcohol to dull the pain they are feeling. And while these illicit substances might help on a temporary basis, they end up doing more harm than good in the long run. 

If you have started on the path to treating your psychological trauma with drugs and alcohol and an addiction has formed, it is not too late to reach out. This article will let you know what type of psychological trauma and addiction treatment is available. 

What Is Psychological Trauma?

Psychological trauma refers to any type of trauma that occurs that causes lasting emotional effects. Examples of traumatic incidents include:

• Abuse
• Being in an accident
• Witnessing a crime
• Ongoing stress
• A bad breakup
• Violent attacks
• War
• Serious illness
• Neglect

People who go through these unpleasant incidents often develop symptoms including:

• Feeling disconnected or numb
• Aches and pains
• Being startled easily
• Nightmares and insomnia
• Muscle tension
• Irritability
• Depression
• Feelings of guilt and shame
• Anxiety
• Mood swings
• Confusion
• Shock and denial

Does Psychological Trauma Cause Addiction?

Many people who experience psychological trauma are reluctant to get help. They may not want to relive the incident, or they may feel they need to protect the person who caused the trauma. Instead of reaching out, they dull their feelings by using drugs and alcohol. 

Illicit substances may temporarily dull the pain, but over time, addiction will start to form. Once the person is addicted, things will only get worse. They will still be dealing with emotional pain, but they will also have the addiction hanging over their heads. 

The addiction will intensify feelings of depression and anxiety. It will worsen mood swings and irritability. It can even make insomnia and nightmares worse. 

Why You Should Go to Psychological Trauma and Addiction Treatment

Fortunately, there are ways to treat both psychological trauma and addiction. Many rehab facilities take a dual diagnosis approach. They diagnose addiction and its underlying cause to simultaneously address both issues. This makes for a solution that reduces chances of relapse making for long-term recovery. 

There are many rehab centers that treat addiction but Prevail Recovery stands head and shoulders above the competition. 

We are located in sunny Ft. Lauderdale providing an optimistic atmosphere to our patients. We take a customized approach to analyzing each of our patients’ individual situations so we can come up with a plan that works best for their needs. We offer a variety of therapies including family therapy, 12 step, and dual diagnosis. 

After patients complete treatment, we follow up with aftercare to ensure they have the support they need to maintain sobriety. 

Trauma is not easy to deal with. If you are haunted by a traumatic incident, do not hesitate to reach out to Prevail Recovery today to get the psychological trauma and addiction treatment you need. We will get you headed towards a higher quality of life.