Trauma often has long-reaching consequences. When trauma goes unresolved, it stunts a person’s physical health and psychological growth and leads to addiction and mental illness. While trauma has devastating impacts on people, an increasing number of treatment centers nationwide offer trauma-informed care to help clients address trauma and move toward being healthy and happy individuals.
This article will explore trauma-informed care and its benefits to those in addiction recovery. If you have completed drug treatment and need further support in dealing with the negative impacts of trauma, The Nook is here to help. Our network of men’s and women’s sober living homes offers you top-notch clinical and peer support along with state-of-the-art amenities. Call The Nook today and break free from trauma once and for all.
What is Trauma?
In a discussion of trauma-informed care and its benefits, let’s dive into how trauma is defined. In a nutshell, trauma is a lasting emotional response to a distressing event. Examples of traumatic events include the death of a loved one, surviving a natural disaster or accident, being a victim of physical, sexual, or mental abuse, and being the victim of a robbery or other crime. People who experience trauma feel disconnected from the world and lose their sense of self.
Also, people with unresolved trauma have difficulty with relationships and tend to isolate themselves from their environment to avoid the people and places that may trigger traumatic thoughts. To cope with their feelings, they may turn to substances. While substances provide short-term relief, traumatic emotions and feelings resurface after the effects of drugs and alcohol wear off. If the root causes of trauma are not resolved, people can become addicted to substances while dealing with growing mental health issues.
What is Trauma-Informed Treatment?
If people struggling with trauma and addiction seek treatment, they must choose their rehab wisely. Trauma sufferers require a different approach to treatment, and “regular” rehab programs may not provide the tools and support needed to help clients address and move past trauma. Additionally, some rehab programs may make clients vulnerable to re-traumatization. Trauma-informed treatment programs operate under the premise of “what has happened to the client?” and not on “what is wrong with the client.”
Besides medical detoxification and 12-step support, trauma-informed care programs feature the following therapies and services:
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)–CBT focuses on identifying distorted or upsetting beliefs that are related to the trauma.
Cognitive processing therapy (CPT)–CPT is a specialized type of CBT that helps people create a new understanding of the traumatic event to reduce its ongoing negative effects on their lives.
Exposure therapy—with this therapy, individuals are exposed to situations or triggers that lead to anxiety so they can gradually confront and overcome their trauma.
Medication-assisted therapy (MAT)—MAT uses specific to address specific symptoms and/or chemical imbalances in the brain. MAT is designed as a complementary therapy and not used by itself.
The Benefits of Trauma-Informed Care
For those with unresolved trauma, a trauma-informed care approach has several benefits:
Safety-trauma-informed care creates a safe environment that ensures a client’s emotional and physical safety.
Collaboration- These programs give the client power in determining, creating, and implementing their individualized treatment plan.
Trustworthiness-trauma-based drug treatment programs place the utmost importance on creating and maintaining boundaries so the client is always respected.
Empowerment- These programs create an environment where clients feel validated and affirmed as they address their trauma and addiction issues.
Cultural Sensitivity-trauma-informed drug treatment programs are designed to consider the cultural differences of clients and provide a respectful and non-judgmental environment.
The Nook Sober Living Network Helps You Heal From Trauma and Addiction
Trauma acts like shackles, preventing you from moving forward with your life. If you are ready to reclaim your health and happiness, The Nook will give you the tools you need to confidently move forward. We offer top-tier peer and clinical support specifically designed for the unique needs of men and women. Our integrated and dynamic approach to treatment will empower you and help you transform your life to an inspirational degree.
Make today the day you change your life; call the Nook Sober Living Network today and become the change.