Exploring the Link Between Childhood Trauma and Substance Abuse

Mental health consequences resulting from childhood trauma including abuse, neglect, and family stress can be horrific. Substance abuse is one of the many negative outcomes associated with childhood trauma. Understanding the complex link between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), trauma responses, and the onset of addiction can be very impactful in one’s recovery. At Restoration Recovery, we can help you understand this connection. 

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

ACEs are childhood traumas. Such events include physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. These may also include physical and emotional neglect, pervasive familial dysfunction, domestic violence, parental substance abuse, mental illness, or incarceration of a family member. ACEs have been shown to significantly increase the likelihood of mental health disorders occurring and furthering into adulthood.

Impact of Trauma

Childhood trauma is a cause of many different psychological and physical reactions that promote substance abuse in individuals. Trauma responses can show up in a variety of ways, all of which may increase the potential for initial substance use or the chances of relapse.

Chronic Stress and Anxiety

Exposure to traumatic events leads to chronic stress and anxiety and changes the brain chemistry and operation. This also makes the person more sensitive to stress and lowers their ability to cope with it, increasing the chances of using substances as a way of dealing with the stress.

Emotional Dysregulation

Trauma disrupts the formation of normal emotional regulation. Individuals who have experienced trauma may have a difficult time controlling or even being aware of what they are feeling. Substances can help to detach from feelings that might be unbearable. They also can increase the potential of feeling pleasurable emotions, which may be harder to recognize in everyday life.

Impaired Attachment and Relationships

Trauma, particularly those connected to caregivers, can block the development of secure attachments. This can result in difficulties in establishing normal relations and becoming accustomed to other comforting factors.

Altered Brain Development

Trauma’s effect on the development of the brain is in the areas of stress response, impulse control, and reward processing. All of the above can increase the likelihood of addiction in a person. The trauma that is experienced during childhood can alter the brain’s reward system, making someone feel no pleasure in regular activities. Substances that hit the brain’s reward system directly are particularly sought out since they give short-term relief to fill this void. This can lead to an increased use of substances and a higher probability of becoming addicted.

Defense Mechanisms

Drugs and alcohol are a temporary way of dealing with trauma in a significant percentage of people who have been abused in their childhood. Eventually, reliance on substances develops into substance use disorder (SUD). Substances are often used as a form of defense from the negative emotions that are being experienced concerning the trauma. 

Increased Vulnerability to Addiction

Studies have shown that people with a history of childhood trauma are more prone to develop SUD. The incidence of alcoholism was seven times higher among people with four or more ACEs and the likelihood of drug abuse was considerably higher. The cumulative impact of several occurrences of trauma can increase the vulnerability to addiction.

Trauma-Informed Care

Due to the obvious link between childhood trauma and the use of substances, trauma-informed care is one of the major principles of addiction treatment. Key principles of trauma-informed care include:

• Safety: Creating a protective and friendly environment in which someone feels secure.
• Trustworthiness and Transparency: Believing in transparent communication and consistent performance.
• Peer Support: Positive reinforcement from people who were or are also victims of traumatic experiences.
• Empowerment and Choice: Empower others by giving them freedom and autonomy to share their trauma at their own will, giving them a sense of choice in what they wish to disclose. 

Integrating Modalities

Individuals with comorbid childhood trauma and SUD need to receive a type of treatment that entails healing methodologies from both trauma and addiction. There is not a one-size-fits-all approach to recovery, so different modalities can be discussed with your therapist at Restoration Recovery to determine which approach is most fitting for your needs. The following modalities may be explored:

• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT helps people to identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors. It functions with trauma and addiction by treating the cognitive processes.
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): EMDR is a sophisticated therapy treatment that helps people to deal with and eventually heal from traumatic memories. It is efficient in relieving the symptoms of trauma and in reducing the use of substances.
• Mindfulness-Based Interventions: Mindfulness-based practices, such as meditation and yoga, can lead to heightened awareness and acceptance, which, in turn, reduces the need for substance use as an emotion regulation strategy.
• Somatic Experiencing: This model is somatic-focused regarding trauma reactions. It enables people to release stored tension and trauma, bringing about emotional and physical healing.

Understanding the impact of trauma from early life events can help to highlight the need for trauma-informed care in treatment. Oftentimes, trauma is the root of addictive behaviors. Understanding how your trauma has affected you and your sobriety can allow you to work through some of your past trauma and overcome the negative responses that you have adapted to cope with these negative memories. Knowledge of how childhood trauma influences the behavior of addiction and the outcome of recovery is central to creating effective, compassionate, holistic treatment for addiction. To learn more about how your trauma may have influenced your addiction, and work to overcome this trauma, reach out to Restoration Recovery today at (888) 290-0925.