Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) are two conditions that often go hand-in-hand. While each presents its own set of challenges, the connection between them is significant. Understanding that connection is an important step toward healing.
At Turning Point Behavioral Health, we take a trauma-informed, holistic approach to treatment. We know that for many individuals, substance abuse is more than a habit—it’s a response to deep emotional pain. By exploring how PTSD and substance use disorder are linked, we can begin to uncover the root causes behind addiction and create a path toward real, lasting recovery.
How PTSD and Substance Use Disorder Are Connected
PTSD develops after a person experiences or witnesses a traumatic event. This could include military combat, physical or emotional abuse, serious accidents, or other life-altering incidents. While PTSD affects people differently, common symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, heightened anxiety, and emotional numbness.
In an attempt to manage these overwhelming symptoms, some individuals turn to drugs or alcohol. Substances may seem to offer temporary relief from the pain or help numb distressing emotions, but over time, they can make things worse.
This is where the cycle often begins:
- Trauma causes emotional distress.
- Substances are used to self-medicate.
- Dependence develops, worsening both mental and physical health.
- Unresolved trauma remains beneath the surface.
This ongoing loop makes it difficult to heal unless both conditions—PTSD and substance use disorder—are addressed together.
Why Self-Medicating Isn’t a Long-Term Solution
It’s not uncommon for people with PTSD to reach for substances as a way to cope. Alcohol might quiet the mind temporarily and drugs may block out painful memories, but the relief is short-lived and the consequences can be long-lasting.
Self-medication may actually intensify PTSD symptoms over time. Substances interfere with brain chemistry, disrupt sleep, and increase anxiety, which can lead to a worsening of trauma-related symptoms. Eventually, what began as a coping strategy can develop into a full-blown addiction, creating an additional layer of pain and complexity.
At Turning Point, we help individuals understand that these behaviors are not a failure—they are a response to pain. Healing begins when we create a space to address that pain in a safe and supportive environment.
Treating PTSD and Substance Use Disorder Together
When PTSD and substance use disorder occur together, they’re known as co-occurring disorders. Treating one but not the other often results in an incomplete recovery. That’s why integrated treatment is essential.
Here’s how we approach co-occurring disorders at Turning Point Behavioral Health:
1. Trauma-Informed Care
Our team is trained to recognize the signs of trauma and understand how it affects behavior, emotions, and healing. Treatment plans are built with empathy, safety, and emotional support in mind—never judgment.
2. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT helps individuals identify and change unhelpful thought patterns that contribute to both PTSD and addiction. This includes learning new ways to manage triggers, regulate emotions, and develop healthier coping strategies.
3. Group Therapy and Peer Support
Connecting with others who share similar experiences can be a powerful part of healing. Group therapy fosters connection, accountability, and a sense of hope.
4. Holistic Practices
We incorporate mindfulness, grounding techniques, and other holistic tools to help individuals manage symptoms and reduce stress without relying on substances.
Signs You Might Be Living with Both PTSD and Substance Use Disorder
It can sometimes be difficult to recognize the link between trauma and substance abuse. Here are a few signs that both conditions may be present:
- Using drugs or alcohol to manage anxiety, panic, or emotional distress
- Nightmares, flashbacks, or avoidance of certain places or memories
- Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
- Increased irritability or emotional numbness
- Feeling isolated or detached from others
- A growing sense that substance use is out of control
If these signs sound familiar, you’re not alone—and treatment is available.
Real Recovery Starts with Understanding
Lasting recovery requires more than just treating the symptoms of addiction. It requires digging deeper, understanding the pain that led to substance use in the first place, and finding new, healthier ways to manage it.
At Turning Point Behavioral Health, we don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. We meet each person where they are and provide integrated, personalized care that addresses both trauma and addiction with compassion and expertise.
Take the First Step Toward Healing
If you or someone you care about is living with PTSD and substance use disorder, you don’t have to face it alone. Support is available, and healing is possible.
Contact Turning Point Behavioral Health today to learn more about our trauma-informed programs and how we help individuals build lasting change.
This can be your turning point.
