PTSD Treatment Program

Trauma and PTSD treatment is most commonly approached using Cognitive Behavioral Therapies (CBT), such as:

The effects of trauma and PTSD compound when substance use is used as a coping strategy. Whether a substance use disorder begins with a trauma or a preexisting substance use disorder is amplified by a trauma, the result is a co-occurring emotional crisis.

Over half of all clients seeking treatment for substance use disorders have experienced trauma which that has contributed to compulsive use of substances. Major trauma — whether repressed or acknowledged – produces feelings of pain, shame, regret, anger, and guilt that, if not processed properly, can catalyze self-destructive behaviors such as alcohol or drug use. When clients seek treatment for a substance use disorder, Granite Recovery Centers’ clinicians and 12-Step facilitators often encounter unprocessed trauma that require clinical intervention. Through Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, clients can through their trauma and develop more positive ways of coping.

Many theories exist as to why individuals with PTSD are more likely to abuse certain substances. Tragically, the most prominent one is the “self-medication” theory, which holds that people turn to substances as a way to numb the pain associated with their PTSD condition. At least one study found that individuals with PTSD who also developed SUD were more likely to develop symptoms that included avoidance and hyperarousal symptoms. It was theorized that these individuals turned to substance use as a way to find relief from these symptoms.

It may seem like it should be obvious, but the simple truth is that it is not always easy to detect a substance use disorder. There are some symptoms that include:

It’s important to note that these are not the only potential symptoms of SUD, but they are among the most prominent.

As a result of the high-risk nature of their jobs, some populations are more likely than others to experience PTSD-related symptoms. These include first responders (such as police, firefighters, and EMTs), active-duty military members, and military veterans.

As noted by many studies, PTSD is a particularly acute problem among veterans and active members of the military. Indeed, PTSD has been an ongoing problem within the military but first became evident in the aftermath of the Civil War, which was when modern military techniques and weapons first became widely used. The name changed over the years, morphing from “shell shock” to “battle fatigue,” but it became apparent that many soldiers suffered greatly as a result of their military experiences.

The statistics are quite revealing:

Veterans can often experience unique challenges when it comes to getting assistance for PTSD or SUD. The challenges within the Veterans Affairs system when it comes to accessing help are well known and well documented. Furthermore, veterans who receive a dishonorable discharge are often unable to receive medical help from the VA, and many veterans who suffer from PTSD or SUD may engage in behaviors that make them more likely to be dishonorably discharged. Thus, there exists a terrible paradox: Individuals who commit offenses that will get them dishonorably discharged need help the most but have the least access to it. This fuels a bitter spiral as an individual whose mental disorders go untreated becomes less likely to gain steady employment and the access to health care that comes with it.

Lastly, despite intensive efforts to normalize PTSD and help-seeking behaviors, significant social stigma remains when it comes to seeking psychological assistance. According to one review, less than half of all veterans in need are actually receiving mental health services. Stigma creates a significant barrier when it comes to seeking mental health assistance, and this barrier is even more prominent in fields like the military or law enforcement. These fields are usually male-dominated and pervaded by the idea that men must be tough and push through any mental health disorders that they are suffering from.

Unfortunately for these individuals, their PTSD experiences make them more likely to suffer from a wide range of other psychological disorders, including substance use disorder. Again, there is long-standing evidence to demonstrate this correlation. An astonishing 74% of all Vietnam War veterans who had PTSD also developed substance use disorder.

Other studies have found that anywhere between 63% to 76% of all veterans who suffered from PTSD had a co-occurring substance use disorder. This co-occurrence created additional treatment barriers as it often limited treatment options and made them more expensive and complex. Furthermore, this unfortunately made treatment less likely to be effective and made it harder for sufferers to stick to a treatment plan.