Hope Again

Psychological trauma most often occurs in someone who has lived through an event or situation that may have been particularly stressful. So much so that they struggle to cope with it by themselves and need professional help to guide them through the experience. In some cases where help isn’t sought out, the person suffering from the trauma may look for ways to cope on their own.

Many studies have been able to tie substance abuse with a traumatic experience. This may have happened in childhood and even during adulthood. The loss of a loved one, abuse or even war has all been linked in people who suffer from substance use disorders and addictive behaviours.

It is often these emotional fluctuations that lead people to use drugs or act in inappropriate ways in order to feel better or to simply forget for a little while. Whenever the feeling of anxiety or fear surfaces, a person will try to look for a way to clamp down on them. Using illicit drugs or alcohol gives them a moment of ‘peace’, allowing them space where they don’t have to think about all the hurt they are otherwise feeling.

Did you know that 2 out of 3 addicts have experienced some form of physical or sexual abuse in childhood?

In basic terms, a dual diagnosis means that a patient has more than one illness that is being treated at the same time. A person suffering from drug addiction often struggles with some form of other mental illness, like anxiety disorder or moderate to severe depression. A physical illness combined with a mental disorder can lead to a patient having a dual diagnosis so that both illnesses may be treated simultaneously.

In most cases, one illness will lead to the second illness. For example, someone who struggles with an eating disorder (the psychological illness) may start to abuse stimulant drugs like cocaine in an attempt to keep losing weight (the physical illness). Or alternatively, the abuse of drugs over a long term can lead to a form of mental illness due to the drugs altering the brain function and responses.

It is vital that both illnesses be treated together because one will always offset the second. If you treat only one, then the other will cause a guaranteed relapse of some sort, depending on which one isn’t treated. Finding a dual diagnosis facility to assist the patient can be the difference between a much-improved outlook on life or constant failure to have a full recovery.

You can become addicted to almost anything – alcohol, drugs, gambling, sex, football, slots, porn, masturbation, work, computer games, exercise, sugar, shopping. The addiction list goes on. Something fun that gets you buzzing in small doses can become dangerous in big doses, leading to physical and mental health problems.

Symptoms of addiction can include depression, anxiety, paranoia and hallucinations.

It will begin to affect your work, your relationships and your life. Addictions mask health problems such as depression. Choosing to be high or drunk all the time may suggest you’re hiding something from yourself. Coming off your chosen high may allow you to see what needs to be done. If you’re concerned, ask yourself these questions:

1) Do you think about [your addictive activity] when you are doing something else and look forward to it?
2) Do you feel you need more of [your addictive activity] each time to get the same enjoyment?
3) Have you made efforts to cut back on [your addictive activity]?
4) Do you do [your addictive activity] for longer than intended?
5) Have you put [your addictive activity] before more important things in life like relationships or work?
6) Have you lied to others about your involvement with [your addictive activity]?
7) Do you use [your addictive activity] as a way of escaping from problems or as a way to avoid feelings of guilt, anxiety or depression?

If you answer yes to some of these, stop [your addictive activity] for a month. If that is too difficult then you have a problem and may need support.