PTSD and Alcoholism: 75% of Trauma Survivors Develop Alcohol Addiction

Contact Discover Recovery today to learn more about our dual diagnosis programs and start your journey toward healing and transformation. Although a large sample size was a strength of Blakey’s study, the research had limitations. One of them was that the participants were specifically asked about their combat experience, not about their overall military service history. Therefore, it was unknown how many of the men without combat experience were Veterans. Engaging in healthy coping mechanisms can help individuals manage their PTSD symptoms without turning to alcohol. These strategies may include regular physical exercise, practicing mindfulness and meditation, building a strong support network, and seeking professional help.

• The use of alcohol or drugs can put people in risky situations that can lead to traumatic events.
• We’ve also included some helpful information on how to get help for PTSD and alcohol abuse.
• These findings are not surprising given the extensive literature linking despondency to alcohol misuse (for reviews, see Boden & Fergusson, 2011; Foulds et al., 2015).
• It is important to note that while these risk factors can increase the likelihood of developing PTSD, not everyone who experiences a traumatic event will develop the disorder.
• It can severely impact various aspects of life, including mental well-being, relationships, and the ability to work.

PTSD and Alcohol Abuse Go Hand-in-hand, but Males and Females Exhibit Symptoms Differently

With this endorphin withdrawal, people may begin to experience uncomfortable symptoms, such as emotional distress, which may worsen some symptoms of PTSD.3 This withdrawal can be linked to PTSD symptoms like feelings of depression and disconnect from reality. However, depending on the nature of the trauma, the endorphin response may remain elevated as a biological coping mechanism. This practice fosters self-awareness, allowing you to identify triggers and feelings that may contribute to alcohol misuse.

For Loved Ones: How to Support a Loved One’s Mental Health

• Ongoing therapy and participation in support groups can provide continued guidance and reinforcement of coping skills.
• They experience many life-altering events, such as high-stress environments, severe injuries, violence, sexual trauma, and death.
• For some individuals, trauma may manifest in various ways, including behaviors such as hoarding.
• After experiencing a traumatic event, it’s common to feel differently than you did before.

The VA examiner needs to understand all aspects of your condition, including alcohol use, as it significantly affects how PTSD impacts your life. By discussing your drinking, you help the examiner grasp the full extent of your symptoms, which is essential for an accurate evaluation and disability rating. Make sure to explain that you drink excessively as a way to numb the pain and cope with your PTSD symptoms, ensuring a complete and thorough assessment. Integrated, trauma-focused treatment that targets both PTSD and SUD concurrently by one provider is feasible, well-tolerated and efficacious in significantly reducing both PTSD and SUD (Norman et al., 2019; Roberts et al., 2015; Simpson et al., 2017).

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Effective treatment for PTSD focuses on going back to the original trauma and reliving and processing it in a safe environment. Avoidance is a surefire way to make PTSD last longer, and it makes treatment less effective. Traumatic events can be very difficult to come to terms with, but confronting and understanding your feelings and seeking professional help is often the only way of effectively treating PTSD. Kirsty Mulcahy is a compassionate transformational life coach with a special focus on helping individuals embrace the beauty of an alcohol-free existence. Kirsty is not just a coach; she’s the visionary founder and dedicated Managing Director of SoberBuzz Scotland CIC.

Modern CBT Is Revolutionising Substance Use Disorder Care

Understanding the relationship between these two issues is crucial to providing effective treatment and support for affected individuals. PTSD is a psychiatric disorder that typically arises after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, such as a natural disaster, combat, assault, or a life-threatening accident. It affects people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds and can manifest in various ways.

PTSD and Alcohol in Veterans

• Sometimes people feel unable to talk about trauma, and alcohol can become a way to block out the pain.
• Events that involve physical harm, the threat of death, or sexual violence are more likely to result in the development of PTSD.
• These behaviors can gradually take over, making it harder for someone with PTSD to manage their mental health or maintain stability in their life.
• Talk with your healthcare provider about treatment for specific symptoms like pain, anger, or sleep problems.

When she presented for treatment at age 38, she had undergone at least 10 prior treatment attempts for alcohol dependence. She reported drinking up to a case of beer daily, which she said she Alcohol Use Disorder used primarily to help her sleep and to suppress nightmares of the sexual abuse, and also in response to the trauma reminders she frequently experienced in daily life. When abstinent from alcohol, Margaret reported extremely vivid and disturbing nightmares, profound agitation and jumpiness, and acute reactivity to a variety of environmental cues that reminded her of her traumatic experiences.

For example, NIDA plays a leading role in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development® (ABCD) Study, the largest long-term study of brain development and child health ever conducted in the United States. This project will increase our understanding of environmental, social, genetic, and other biological factors that affect brain and cognitive development and that can enhance or disrupt a young person’s life trajectory. A person’s experiences over a lifetime are a factor in their brain structure and function. When treating co-occurring PTSD and alcohol use disorder, it is essential to address both conditions simultaneously. A combination of therapy, counseling, and medication can be effective in helping individuals manage these co-occurring disorders and improve their overall well-being.

These surveys include alcoholism the Epidemiological Catchment Area (ECA) program, the National Comorbidity Survey (NCS), and the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC). An important recent study found that male and female lab animals with both conditions exhibit different symptoms and brain changes. PTSD is a disorder caused by trauma, although trauma is not the only factor.