People with PTSD often use alcohol to numb the pain, try to quiet the memories and hurt. This leads to a situation where PTSD and Alcohol abuse co-exist. When a person decides to go to recovery for alcohol, it is not as simple as treating alcohol addiction. PTSD also has to be treated, or else the person will relapse back into alcohol abuse.
What is PTSD
PTSD – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a condition that many people experience after a traumatic event. It causes high anxiety and stress, especially when a particular sound or smell triggers memories of the traumatic event. A large number of military veterans who fight in battle will develop PTSD.
Some other common causes of PTSD include:
- Violent assault
- Natural disasters
- Sexual assault
- Childhood abuse
Those who have PTSD from traumatic experiences will often experience the following symptoms:
- Nightmares
- Flashbacks which happen when the person is awake
- Extreme anxiety
- Sleep issues because they do not want to go to sleep and have nightmares
- Intense, angry outbursts
- Avoiding things that are related to the trauma for veterans fireworks can trigger their PTSD
- Violent behavior
When a person has PTSD and addiction together, they will often exhibit or experience the following disorders as well.
- Depression
- ADD
- Chronic pain
- Chronic illnesses like diabetes, liver or kidney disease, high blood pressure and more
Seeking recovery for alcohol with PTSD
Now that you have decided to go to recovery for alcohol abuse, you need to make the recovery center aware of your PTSD. Even if you have not been diagnosed with PTSD yet, but experience symptoms alert the recovery center. This information will allow the counselors to customize your recovery plan to work on both alcohol and PTSD.
If you do not treat the co-existing condition, you will relapse into alcohol abuse again. Group therapy, individual, and family therapy can help you examine the reason for your alcohol abuse and help you find ways to cope with the underlying issues of PTSD instead of using alcohol.
Finding ways to relax and calm your mind when something triggers your PTSD will help you control the urge to drink again. You may need to see a doctor or therapist that specializes in PTSD. They can teach you the techniques and tools that will help you have better control around triggers. Combining those tools with the recovery tools and techniques for alcohol abuse will significantly reduce your risk of relapse.
Find the right recovery for you
The goal of treating both addiction and PTSD is for you to become healthy physically and mentally, reducing your chance of relapse. That is why it is crucial to find the right recovery center for you. One that can treat co-existing conditions to provide you a higher rate for success.
449 Recovery can help you with co-existing conditions. Call us today (855) 435-7449 to learn more about our detox and therapies for co-existing conditions. 449 Recovery is the center that can help you start getting healthy; physically, emotionally, and mentally.