What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?

PTSD is a mental disorder that affects individuals who have either witnessed or experienced a traumatic event in their lives. Though it’s perfectly natural to experience anxiety and fear after a traumatic experience, for some people these symptoms never go away and may worsen enough to impact their quality of life. Anyone can develop PTSD – one in 11 people will be diagnosed in their lifetime – though women are twice as likely as men to have PTSD.

Events that have been known to lead to PTSD include:

• Serious accidents and injuries
• War and combat
• Physical or sexual assault
• Childhood abuse or neglect
• Natural disasters
• Witnessing violence or death
• Serious illness or traumatic birth

People with PTSD tend to relive the traumatic experience in their minds again and again, whether in the form of nightmares that prevent them from sleeping or flashbacks that are triggered in certain scenarios. As a result, some signs and symptoms of PTSD include detachment from people, avoidance of places, people, or environments that remind them of their trauma, panic attacks, difficulty sleeping and concentrating, and a loss of interest in hobbies.

How PTS Can Affect Daily Life

• Relationships
  • Everyone who is close with someone who suffers from PTSD will likely notice the changes in that person.
  • The person suffering from PTSD can feel misunderstood or like they are a burden
• Work
  • PTSD can lead to troubles sleeping, concentration and organizing thoughts

How Are PTSD & Addiction Related?

PTSD can change a person’s brain chemistry just like alcohol and drugs can, which is why the same trauma that caused a person’s PTSD can also trigger substance abuse. Research shows that the brain produces fewer endorphins after trauma, which is why many people turn to mood-enhancing drugs to either make them feel happy or suppress their bad memories. Addictions develop quickly in this way, and unfortunately because alcohol and other drugs are depressants, addiction will make PTSD symptoms worse over time. War veterans with PTSD tend to be diagnosed with binge drinking.

Another way that addiction can make PTSD worse is that many of the symptoms of drug withdrawal are the same as PTSD symptoms, such as difficulty concentrating or sleeping, irritability, and detachment from loved ones and activities. Individuals struggling with addiction will then take more of the drug to relieve these symptoms, undergoing a vicious cycle that can be challenging to break without professional health.

If you or a loved one are experiencing any of the following symptoms, you may have an addiction in addition to your mental disorder and should consider getting help:

• Immediately turning to drugs or alcohol after a flashback or uncomfortable situation
• Pushing away closest friends and family or lying about your activities
• Taking risks to obtain drugs or alcohol, such as stealing
• Noticeable weight loss or gain, and changes in appearance
• Exhibiting symptoms of withdrawal like shaking, sweating, nausea, depression, fatigue, anxiety, and more

Why We Treat Both Disorders

Because of the strong link between addiction and PTSD and their impact on the brain, it’s important to treat both disorders at the same time. At Chattanooga Recovery Center, we have unique dual diagnosis programs that work to increase your chances of recovering safely and can be tailored to your unique needs. Our team of professionals address these disorders through trauma intervention, brain mapping, and a variety of therapies. We can walk you through your treatment plan so you understand what to expect and how we help individuals overcome co-occurring disorders.

Call (423) 226-5331 today if you need help for your addiction and mental disorder in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Our PTSD treatment can be tailored to your unique needs.