Four of the Biggest Myths About Trauma and Addiction

Not addressing trauma doesn’t prevent us from being negatively affected by those experiences. Avoiding the exploration of trauma may offer temporary relief from discomfort, but that ultimately serves to delay the healing that comes when we address it. Trauma is a universal thread woven into the fabric of our existence.

What is Lean (Drug): Addiction and Abuse

The idea is that, if they just exercised enough discipline and willpower, they’d be free of their addiction. Commonly abused prescription drugs include ADHD medications, narcotic pain medications and drugs intended to treat anxiety. Unfortunately, abuse of these drugs can be deadly, with nearly five young adults dyingeach day from prescription drug overdose. Prescription medications have the potential to be as addictive and deadly as illicit drugs. Finding a medical treatment plan or recovery support community can help you heal.

Myth #9: If I Enter Recovery, There’s Something Wrong With Me

• In contrast, group therapy provides a communal environment where individuals can share experiences and learn from each other.
• It does not mean failure, but rather serves as an opportunity to adjust and grow in the treatment plan.
• Let’s explore some persistent myths about addiction that often cloud our understanding of this complex issue.

Your employer may be willing to help with costs, or a family member may be able to help. The long-term costs of addiction are far greater than the short-term costs of medical treatment. Detox is the time period when you focus on getting all of the toxic substances out of your system. For this reason, it’s best to detox at a recovery center, or at least in an outpatient setting, so doctors can monitor your symptoms and intervene if necessary. Simply put, codependency is an unscientific theory that gained attention in the 1980s and unfortunately still dominates our society’s beliefs about families impacted by addiction. Loved ones sometimes develop unhelpful and unhealthy behaviors, but the idea that they have a codependency disorder is unscientific and harmful.

Personal Development through Therapy

I refer to this phenomenon as “psycho-gossip,” where many individuals discuss their own or others’ mental disorders in a tone intended to https://ecosoberhouse.com/ entertain viewers and gain their approval. If you’re struggling with drug addiction or know someone who is, it’s time to stop believing these myths. This is especially true about the myth that addicts cannot recover. It’s true that substance dependency and addiction is an urgent issue in the U.S.

How Addiction Impacts Your Physiology

• Trauma, whether physical or emotional, can lead to intense feelings of fear, helplessness, and shock.
• Trauma therapy provides a safe space for discussing and processing traumatic events while also helping to develop healthy coping mechanisms to replace substance use.
• Healthcare professionals must create a safe place where people can talk about their struggles without shame or consequences.

However, some people will find it hard to give up the substances or behaviours that help them cope with trauma symptoms or mental health issues. This is especially true when they haven’t been taught tools and resources to help them manage trauma triggers or the ways their nervous system is dysregulated. Both issues – trauma and addiction myths about addiction and recovery – need to be worked on together and at the same time. This work must also be done safely and from a perspective grounded in understanding the nervous system.