If you’re struggling with addiction, you may feel like you’re fighting two battles at once: the battle with substance use, and a hidden battle with painful memories and feelings from your past. You are not alone. Research shows that there is an undeniable connection between trauma and addiction.
TL;DR:
Understanding this link is not about dwelling on the past. It’s about recognizing why you might be struggling and how you can truly begin to heal. At Arrow Medical, we provide trauma-informed care, recognizing that to treat addiction effectively, we must create a safe space for you to address its root causes.
Trauma is an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, assault, abuse, or natural disaster. It can leave you with long-lasting feelings of fear, anxiety, and helplessness. When these feelings are too overwhelming to manage, some people turn to substances to cope.
What is Self-Medication? This is the act of using substances to numb or escape from the painful symptoms of an unaddressed medical issue, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, or depression stemming from trauma.
Opioids, in particular, can temporarily blunt emotional pain, providing a fleeting sense of relief. However, this coping mechanism quickly creates a dangerous cycle. The substance use prevents you from processing the trauma, and the unresolved trauma continues to fuel the need for the substance. As our guide on the Science of Addiction explains, this process physically rewires the brain, making it even harder to stop.
Signs that your substance use may be linked to trauma:
It is nearly impossible to heal from trauma while you are in the chaotic cycle of active addiction. Your brain and body are in a constant state of crisis—seeking drugs, experiencing withdrawal, and managing the consequences. You simply don’t have the emotional or physical resources to do the difficult work of healing.
This is where Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT) with medications like methadone or Suboxone is so critical.
Pull Quote: “You can’t build a house in the middle of an earthquake. OAT stops the earthquake of addiction so you can start building a foundation of healing.”
At Arrow Medical, we understand that many of our patients have experienced trauma. Our approach is designed to create an environment where you feel safe, respected, and in control. This is what “trauma-informed care” means in practice:
Once you are stable on OAT, you can start to take further steps to heal from trauma. Remember, this is a journey, and you can go at your own pace.
Q: Do I have to talk about my trauma to get treatment at Arrow Medical?
No. You are in complete control of what you share. Our primary focus is on providing medical treatment for opioid use disorder in a safe and respectful way. We apply a trauma-informed care approach to every patient seen at Arrow Medical. If you choose to share more, we are here to listen without judgment.
Q: Can I get PTSD and addiction treatment at the same time?
Yes, this is the recommended approach. Stabilizing your addiction with OAT makes therapy for PTSD more effective. Our doctors can work in collaboration with your other care providers to ensure your care is coordinated.
Q: What if I don’t feel ready to deal with my trauma yet?
That is perfectly okay. The first and most important step is getting stable on OAT. For many people, simply achieving stability and feeling safe for the first time in years is a huge part of the healing process. You can take the next steps whenever you feel ready.
Healing is possible. You don’t have to carry the weight of the past and the struggle of addiction alone. Walk into any Arrow Medical clinic today — no appointment necessary.
