When seeking treatment for a dual diagnosis, it’s important to feel heard on all levels, not just one. A holistic approach to treatment means that your healthcare team will consider everything that has influenced who you are today; this could include your family history, medical history, personality, previous instances with substances, current substance patterns, symptoms, and much more. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs to many people after a traumatic incident, and can greatly affect daily life.
In order to help reduce or manage symptoms such as flashbacks, some will rely on substances such as drugs or alcohol. For others, substance use was already present when a traumatic incident occurred, and when PTSD developed, symptoms generally played a role in the maintenance of substance abuse. Over time, this can lead to the development of a substance use disorder (SUD) – ultimately worsening one’s health and well-being.
A 2016 study published in the Journal of Substance Use discovered that patients with both PTSD and SUD often find a direct link between craving, relapse, and PTSD symptoms. By considering a person’s whole experiences, we can find triggers that may spark symptoms of PTSD (such as flashbacks), which can then lead to relapse. If you’re currently in a recovery program, the right treatment center will assist you in not only finding these triggers, but also appropriate coping mechanisms and strategies to work through them.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), as many as 80% of women who seek treatment for substance abuse report histories of sexual and/or physical assault. This is a clear example that the problems a person experiences are often not solely in the present moment – many times, there are lifetime events that have led up to the development of mental illness and/or substance abuse.
Everyone’s story begins before treatment. Through intensive, individualized trauma care, everyone’s story can change. At The Guest House Ocala, you’re welcomed with open arms, no matter your story. We’re here to help you find healing. For information on our concierge level of customization and programs for the recovery from trauma, addictions, and related mental health issues, call us today: 855-483-7800