People can take many paths when it comes to overcoming addiction. Finding the right approach depends on their individual needs. With that said, one approach that seems to work for a large number of people is a trauma informed approach. However, what is it, and why is it so successful?
What Does Trauma Informed Approach Mean?
First, it’s important for people to understand that trauma informed care is not a specific action, therapy, or intervention. Instead, it’s a way of addressing addiction that has developed because of past trauma. It acknowledges the important role that trauma plays in people’s everyday lives, as well as its role in the development of addiction. With that in mind, this approach helps them deal with related feelings and perceptions so that they can overcome their substance abuse.
What Is Trauma?
Trauma differs for every single person. What is traumatic for one person isn’t necessarily traumatic for someone else. In most cases, however, it involves a set of circumstances or events that affect people’s emotional or physical well-being.
Why do some people struggle with trauma while others don’t? The brain has coping mechanisms that help it safely deal with trauma. However, sometimes it fails to process trauma correctly. When this happens, people suffer symptoms that interfere with their daily lives.
The Elements of Trauma Informed Care
There are four main elements in a trauma informed approach. The first is to become fully aware of the prevalence of trauma. Nearly everyone experiences trauma at some point in their lives. While some never show symptoms of trauma, others face negative consequences.
The next part is to understand how trauma affects people. It disrupts the body’s central nervous system, which makes people feel afraid, vulnerable, and helpless. It even affects the fundamental relationships between people.
From there, trauma informed care responds to this trauma and puts the above knowledge into use. Simply understanding that trauma interferes with health isn’t enough. Rehab centers have to use this knowledge to help people overcome the underlying issue.
The last part of trauma informed care is to minimize the risk for distress and further trauma. Overcoming trauma is one thing, but people also want to prevent it. The best programs can teach them how to avoid trauma and what to do if they experience it.
We Offer Trauma Informed Care
At Memphis Recovery, we use trauma informed care for addiction treatment. We want to help you overcome whatever triggered your substance use disorder. In fact, we offer a wide range of programs and services, including:
- Individual and group counseling
- PTSD treatment
- Inpatient and outpatient rehab programs
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- 12 Step rehab
- Family therapy
Don’t let your past trauma keep you from living a happy and fulfilling life. Let us provide a trauma informed approach to your addiction treatment. Reach out to us for help at 901-272-7751.
