Trauma In People With Addiction

Trauma in People with Addiction

Traumatic events can leave a person feeling unstable long after the event has passed. Sometimes trauma can cause post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. PTSD occurs when trauma and associated feelings are not resolved. Symptoms of PTSD include: sleep disturbance, nightmares, flashbacks, anxiety, depression, excessive fears, impulsivity and addictive behaviors. People with unresolved trauma often turn to alcohol and other drugs to self-medicate. this may alleviate their stress temporarily but it is never a long-term solution eventually substance abuse becomes yet another source of pain and trouble for an already suffering person. Lifestyle choices can also put a substance abuser in harm’s way far more often than the general public. While more »

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Cutting & Self-Harm

Cutting & Self-Harm

During the teen years we develop coping mechanisms to handle stressful events and emotions. However cutting and other types of self-harm are increasingly being seen as acceptable coping methods for adolescent girls and boys. This may mean cutting the arms, legs or stomach, burning the skin, scratching or hitting oneself, or even intentionally breaking bones. While these behaviors are alarming and cause for concern, they are generally meant to make the person feel better not to cause death. The term used to describe this type of behavior is Non-Suicidal Self-Injury or NSSI. The most common type of NSSI is cutting to inflict injury, and people who do this are sometimes more »

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