Individuals with chemical dependency and mental health issues often have an increased likelihood of having experienced some form of trauma in the past. Often, psychological issues can contribute to substance or alcohol abuse. Fortunately, psychological trauma can be treated, and those dealing with an addiction benefit greatly from getting treatment for this along with their addiction.
Everybody has different experiences and different events in their lives that have impacted the way they think about themselves, the world and how they respond to experiences and events. If those are dysfunctional, they have a greater tendency to turn to drugs and alcohol to suppress negative or intense emotions. This inability to manage those feelings can stem from family-of-origin dysfunction (alcohol abuse, addiction, etc.) to any kind of loss or unresolved grief, divorce, job loss or any type of violence (either witnessed, experienced or even perpetrated).
EMDR
Our trauma resolution program provides the client education and participation in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy.
EMDR is intended to alleviate human suffering and assist individuals in fulfilling their potential for development while minimizing the risk for harm, EMDR may sound complex, but it simply consists of reprocessing memories from the past that still hold some intense emotion in order for the person affected to experience their life fully in the present.
EMDR has been identified as one of the most useful tools for helping individuals heal and move past the blocks created by the experience of traumatic events.
Your Trauma is Unique
The first thing the professionals treating a client will want to communicate is that "your trauma is yours." Whatever you have been through, and your unique response to it, belong to you. A lot of people come in and say, "I wasn't abused or beaten, and yet I still have this negative self image." Trauma doesn't need to fit a certain criteria or certain degree to qualify as trauma. For some, the pain can stem from something as simple as middle-child syndrome or Dad liking another sibling better. These areas of trauma can be discovered during the evaluation and assessment process or during a self-administered assessment in the course of regular residential treatment.
Working Through Trauma
If a trauma is identified, the individual will then meet with a trauma specialist as part of their overall treatment process. An important thing to keep in mind is the fact that recovery is not a one-time fix. It's a lifelong process. Working through areas of trauma and past hurts that contribute to addiction are all part of that process. Trauma specialists at La Paloma can help discover the core issues that made an individual vulnerable to addiction in the first place, helping to ensure a greater chance at lasting sobriety.
Let us help you or your loved one heal the wounds of the past so that you can look ahead to a bright future.
If you have any questions about our Trauma Resolution Program or need help, please contact our call center. Admissions counselors are available 24 hours a day at 877-345-1887.
