Trauma and addiction often go hand in hand, creating what seems like an endless cycle of pain.
When someone experiences a traumatic event but does not process and resolve the experience, this can later lead to addiction as a self-medicating or numbing device to the emotional pain.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “Traumatic experiences are associated with substance use and with developing substance use disorders. Violence, abuse, neglect, and family or social conflict are among the traumatic events and circumstances that are linked with the risk of developing a substance use disorder.” Children and teens are particularly susceptible to substance abuse or addiction issues later in life.
Adding addictive substances to dull the pain only perpetuates the cycle of trauma, as addiction itself causes more traumatic experiences by bringing on risky behaviours, strained relationships, or a chaotic lifestyle. Unless the trauma and the addiction are both addressed and treated—the cycle will continue with devastating and disastrous results.
This complicated cycle might feel so overwhelming and impossible to break that you find yourself asking, “Is it even possible to heal from my trauma and addiction at the same time?”
The good news is YES, it is 100% possible to recover from both trauma and addiction simultaneously. In fact, it’s necessary and recommended to treat both at the same time, as the two issues are deeply interconnected.
A deeper look at trauma
A recent Psychology Today survey found that the World Mental Health Survey Consortium learned nearly 70% of 69,000 adults in 24 countries “have had at least one experience of trauma in their life. Five types of events—witnessing death or serious injury, experiencing the unexpected death of a loved one, being mugged, being in a life-threatening automobile accident, and experiencing a life-threatening illness or injury—account for more than half of the instances of trauma exposure.”
For some people, the effects of trauma are immediate and obvious, but for others, unprocessed trauma manifests in more subtle ways like chronic stress, anxiety, depression, and even physical symptoms like headaches or digestive issues. As people reach for something—anything—to dull the pain of their emotional trauma, the cycle of trauma and addiction begins.
This is why, in addition to treating addiction, holistic trauma therapy is so essential to achieving lasting recovery.
What are holistic therapies?
Holistic therapies (also referred to as alternative, complementary or unconventional) are designed to treat a person as a whole—body, mind and spirit. For those in recovery for trauma and addiction, holistic therapies are often used to help address the core issues leading to and resulting from an addiction. Rather than focusing on one specific problem, these therapies address your overall mental, physical and spiritual needs.
Alternative treatments can be a mix of different therapies that use mindfulness, spirituality and energy-related work to boost your health and well-being. There are many different types of holistic therapies commonly used in trauma and addiction treatment:
- Yoga uses various movements, stretches, and postures, typically to the rhythm of the breath. It has been proven beneficial for relieving tension and increasing a sense of well-being and connection.
- Mindfulness Meditation is a mind-body practice training the mind in mindful awareness and nonjudgmental attention to present moments and experiences.
- Tai Chi and Qi Gong are techniques that combine gentle physical movements with deep breathing and a clear mental focus.
- Energy Therapies such as Reiki or therapeutic touch use energy fields or biofield manipulations.
- Expressive dance and other types of mindful body movement use the body to move trauma.
- Acupuncture is a procedure of stimulating targeted points on the body using thin, solid, metal needles manipulated by hand or electrical stimulation.
- Healing Massage is helpful for relaxation, rejuvenation, and alleviation of muscle tension and stress.
These holistic therapies differ from conventional treatment in that they’re based on a more spiritual understanding where addiction is seen as a symptom of broader unwellness.
The National Institute of Health found that patients who used traditional modalities of treatment, such as individual and group therapy, alongside non-traditional holistic therapies, such as dance/movement therapy, Tai Chi, art therapy, leisure and recreational skills, and spiritual growth and development, helped patients “develop a stronger sense of self-identity, self-esteem, and self-confidence.”
Recently, even the US Department of Veteran Affairs started introducing holistic therapies to clients suffering from trauma and substance abuse disorder. The results found that “alternative medicine practices improve chances of recovery especially when used in addition to traditional treatments and mutual self-help groups.”
The CFHH holistic approach to trauma, addiction and healing
At Centres for Health and Healing, we understand the connection between trauma and addiction and believe in a holistic approach. Rather than solely focusing on the symptoms or various aspects of the problem, we specialize in integrated, holistic, trauma-informed care that addresses the whole person—body, mind and spirit.
We offer a wide range of holistic treatments to support the trauma and addiction healing process. In addition to traditional therapies and mindfulness practices, we also include art therapy, yoga, meditation, and other holistic practices.
Our approach goes beyond simply treating symptoms of trauma and addiction; we understand that trauma affects the whole person and that for our clients to achieve true healing, effective treatment has to start at the root causes of distress.
Trauma and addiction are different for everyone, so we tailor our programs to meet your unique recovery needs. At CFHH, each client undergoes a thorough assessment to identify their specific challenges, goals, and preferences. After this evaluation, we create a customized treatment plan including a combination of the following therapies:
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) – CBT identifies and changes negative thought patterns and behaviours that are often rooted in trauma.
- Individual Therapy – Involves one-on-one therapy sessions with one of our specialist counsellors to explore any unaddressed trauma or other painful experiences that need to be unpacked and worked through.
- Group Therapy – Facilitated by our specialist team of therapists, our clients attend group sessions with others experiencing similar issues.
- EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) — Effective for processing traumatic memories through guided instruction of rapid eye movements.
- Mindfulness Practices – Regular mindfulness practice is a necessary part of trauma and addiction therapy, as it teaches you to stay grounded in the present moment and regulate your emotions.
- Lifestyle Changes – Incorporate a more nutritious, balanced diet, daily exercise, and a better sleep routine.
- Medication, if needed.
- Holistic Therapies
How Centres for Health and Healing can help break the cycle
Understanding the link between trauma and addiction is a vital key to breaking what can appear to be an endless, ugly cycle. Unresolved trauma and addiction issues can have a disastrous impact on people, their families, friends and colleagues. Virtually no one is left unscathed.
While alcohol, drugs or other harmful substances may start innocently as a way to unwind, chill out or cope—over time, they take a toll on your body and take over your life. It’s a vicious cycle: turn to something to numb the pain, and it only ends up creating more.
The good news is that recovery is possible and can completely change your life. At Centres for Health and Healing, we understand the complexity of simultaneously treating trauma and addiction. Our programs don’t just focus on treating addiction; they help people heal holistically from the inside out.
If you or someone you love is struggling with trauma and addiction, reach out to us today. The cycle might feel overwhelming and never-ending, but we can help you learn how to heal and take back your life. Recovery is possible at Centres for Health and Healing.
