Live Life Beyond Traumatic Experience
When a traumatic event occurs, its effects can overshadow everything else in your life. Everything from responsibilities of daily life to interpersonal relationships to your job can be affected.
There is no way to predict how trauma will affect you.. Some people suffer the aftermath of a traumatic event immediately after it occurs, while others manage to repress negative emotions until they are all but overflowing.
It is important to seek interventions as early as possible to help mitigate long-term effects of trauma.
Interventions are available. There is a better existence within reach.
What is Trauma?
Nearly everyone will have stressful life experiences. It is when the event–or a series of events–produces extreme feelings of helplessness, terror, or results in serious injury, or death that it is considered trauma. A traumatic event may be a serious car accident, sexual abuse or assault, or event that caused childhood trauma, such as watching a parent physically assault the other parent.
While trauma is often associated with a singular event, this is not always the case. Long term stress, such as a high-pressure career or prolonged exposure to emotional abuse from a parent or partner can be traumatic.
Trauma can cause post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) which may result in flashbacks, panic attacks, anxiety disorders, depression, and substance abuse.
The Role of Trauma Therapy in Addiction Recovery
The effects of trauma can distort thought patterns, self-perception, and a person’s sense of safety and security as well as a multitude of mental health conditions. To combat these negative thoughts and emotions, individuals will oftentimes turn to substances as a coping mechanism.
Subsequently, an addiction may occur.
Symptoms of trauma include hypervigilance, self-destructive or risk taking behaviors, trouble sleeping, flashback of the traumatic event or stressor, irritability, angry outbursts, excess guilt and shame, and being frightened or startled easily.
Not everyone who has experienced trauma will experience all of these signs and symptoms. The effects of trauma present differently in everyone.
In addiction recovery, working through the trauma that was the root of the addiction can help individuals process the events and learn coping skills to manage negative feelings and thoughts. Processing trauma allows the individual to make space for inner peace and mindfulness instead of turning to substances for comfort.
At the same time that underlying trauma is addressed, the individual will undergo therapies to help prevent relapse.
Recovering from trauma is a key piece in long-term healing and sobriety.
The Benefits of Working With a Trauma Therapist
Working with a trauma therapist has numerous benefits in addition to the treatment of substance abuse disorders. Trauma-informed care can help one restore a sense of safety, improve self-esteem, help the patient manage responsibilities of daily life, and improve overall well-being and quality of life.
With the help of a trauma treatment center, you can restore balance and peace in your life and learn to live your life in the present.
Our Levels of Care for Those Suffering from the Effects of Trauma
For those suffering from trauma, feelings of empowerment and autonomy are key to recovery. Our treatment programs are scheduled during the day so that patients can work towards healing without the restrictions of an inpatient environment.
With our outpatient programs, individuals are able to return home or to a sober living arrangement in the evenings and have the flexibility to report to their jobs and tend to family obligations and other responsibilities.
Our trauma therapy programs include:
Effective Treatment for Trauma Survivors in Los Angeles & Houston
At The Heights, everyone in our care receives a custom-tailored treatment plan that works towards healing the whole person. Our evidence-based treatment programs include a combination of psychotherapy and talk therapy in both group settings and individual therapy sessions as well as adjunct therapies.
We believe in a holistic approach to trauma recovery so that body, mind, and spirit can heal.
Our therapies include:
*Houston location only
FAQs About Trauma & Trauma Informed Therapy
We’ve answered some of your most common questions about trauma treatment.