Staying Sober Through Grief and Pain
Grieving is a huge and really painful process—whether that’s a death, a breakup, the end of a friendship, your health, or any other big loss. Many of us in recovery used drugs or alcohol to numb or blunt difficult feelings. A big part of the work of recovery is facing these emotions sober. When loss […]
What Role Does Trauma Play in Addiction?
The links between trauma and addiction are well-documented. While not everyone who has an addiction has experienced trauma, and not everyone who has had a traumatic experience will develop a substance use disorder, trauma is a common factor in addiction. One study found that 70% of adolescents in treatment for addiction had a history of […]
Recent Seasons of the shows POSE and Feel Good Deliver Honest and Complex Portrayals of Addiction
Attn: Spoilers TW: Sexual Assault, AIDS, Death The most recent seasons of the shows POSE and Feel Good both deal with addiction. While the two are very different, each illuminates the links between trauma and substance use disorders. This last season of POSE, season 3, takes place in 1994; previous seasons were in the late […]
New Study Measures Psychological Growth Among Veterans During the Pandemic
A study published April 8th assessed whether veterans have experienced psychological growth during the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] Participants completed a health and resilience survey between November 2019 and early March 2020, and a follow-up between November and December 2020. Participants were assessed for symptoms of COVID-19-related PTSD, screened for suicidal ideation, and evaluated for something called […]
What is the Difference Between Trauma-Focused and Trauma-Informed Care?
You may have heard the terms “trauma-focused” and “trauma-informed” care; though they sound similar, they are two different approaches to mental health and substance use treatment and therapy. Trauma-focused care works to understand the impact of specific traumas on a person’s life. It helps them process the traumas and identify ways that they have learned […]
Treating Trauma is Paramount in Treating Addiction
[vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Experiencing or being exposed to violence is one of the leading causes of trauma. We all experience trauma differently. For some it could be from sustaining an injury during a car accident. For others it could be from experiencing military combat. Others could have been subjected to physical, emotional or sexual abuse. As much as […]