Experiencing a traumatic event can negatively impact every aspect of an individual’s life, including work, school and relationships. In some cases, a person may even develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing traumatic events. Symptoms can include flashbacks, severe anxiety, nightmares and intrusive thoughts about the trauma.
It’s not uncommon for people struggling with trauma to turn to substance use to cope with their symptoms. Statistics show that nearly 50% of individuals diagnosed with trauma also meet the criteria for a substance use disorder. Trauma-focused rehab at Changing Tides in North Carolina is designed to help those struggling with trauma and drug abuse explore the relationship between their mental health and addiction to break the cycle and facilitate a successful recovery.
If you or someone you love is looking for trauma-focused rehab in North Carolina, contact us today at 252-715-3905 to learn more about our program, or click here to verify your insurance policy will cover treatment so you can get help today.
Types of Trauma
Unresolved trauma can result in a variety of self-destructive behaviors, including self-harm, substance abuse, gambling and obsessing over work. Rehab can help individuals get to the root of their issues, whether it’s a singular traumatic event or complex trauma. The types of trauma that rehab can treat include:
- Neglect
- Abandonment
- Childhood physical or sexual abuse
- Rape or sexual assault
- Domestic violence
- Serious illness or injury
- Robbery
- Military combat
- Witnessing violence
- Natural disaster
- Car accident
- Infidelity or divorce
- Work accident
- Loss of a loved one
- Suicide
Our addiction treatment center can work with you on changing how you cope with trauma in a healthier manner while working on underlying issues in individual therapy and group therapy.
Understanding How to Cope With Trauma
Trauma isn’t exclusive to people who have experienced a sudden, dramatic event, such as a natural disaster, or have a lengthy trauma history. Experiencing, witnessing or being exposed to a traumatic situation can cause great distress to any person and significantly impact their thoughts and behaviors moving forward.
When a frightening or distressing event causes someone to feel threatened or overwhelmed, they may develop a deep emotional or psychological wound that makes it difficult to cope and move on. People with an extensive network of family and friends may find it easier to get the emotional support they need, but those without these resources may feel alone and as if no one understands what they’re going through. This can greatly impact someone’s daily life, causing negative behaviors, such as missing work, self-isolating and struggling to maintain a routine.
Every person responds to trauma differently. While there’s no right way to cope with trauma, trying to suppress the memories or distract yourself with other activities isn’t an effective trauma treatment. Some people may have the opposite reaction and constantly focus on the trauma, becoming consumed by intrusive thoughts they can’t seem to shake. Individuals who’ve experienced trauma may lose interest in pleasurable activities, lack motivation to be productive or experience feelings of depression and anxiety. They also may not realize it’s the trauma impacting their lives so drastically, making them feel even more stuck.
Seeking help from a trauma treatment center gives individuals access to mental health professionals, various therapies and a sense of community among others with similar experiences. These resources can be useful for processing trauma and understanding how it affects you. They can also help you feel less alone by providing a safe and supportive space to build positive relationships and feel hopeful about the future.
Trauma-Focused Rehab Center Changing Tides
At our trauma-focused treatment center in North Carolina, we offer various programs geared toward helping individuals access mental health and substance abuse treatment to sustain long-term recovery. We provide a real-world environment conducive to learning healthy coping skills that align with the needs of each individual.
Our treatment center offers a partial hospitalization program (PHP), an intensive outpatient program (IOP), a general outpatient program (GOP), and long-term rehab options. We’re equipped to treat a range of addiction and mental health conditions by using a combination of therapy and medication management services.
Types of Therapy
Our treatment for trauma focuses on a range of effective therapies:
- Individual therapy: This is a type of psychotherapy where individuals meet one-on-one with a therapist to discuss their personal issues.
- Family therapy: Individuals attend therapy sessions with family members to work through how addiction and trauma has impacted the family dynamic and their home environment.
- Group therapy: Individuals attend therapy sessions with their peers, and each person gets the chance to discuss their mental health or substance abuse issues. This gives patients the opportunity to build a support network among peers who share similar experiences.
- Psychoeducation: Psychoeducation is an intervention that provides education and information regarding addiction, symptoms and available treatments to help individuals better understand the challenges they face and how to move forward in a healthy way.
- Experiential therapy: A type of therapy that uses expressive tools or activities to help individuals reenact and come to terms with past emotional experiences. Experiential therapy can involve art, music or animal care.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is commonly used during trauma treatment. This type of therapy focuses on helping individuals change unhealthy thought and behavior patterns to better understand their emotions and develop more positive coping skills. CBT is also helpful in treating substance abuse, eating disorders and co-occurring disorders.
Continued Care for Trauma and Substance Abuse
Choosing the right trauma treatment center is a personal decision that can shape the level of care you receive during treatment and after. For a successful treatment experience, Changing Tides requires individuals to enter rehab voluntarily and show commitment to sticking to the recovery process. Each person receives an individualized treatment plan outlining their course of treatment and establishing a structured environment.
However, recovery doesn’t end once the goals of a treatment plan have been met. The coping skills learned in treatment centers can help individuals transition back to their daily lives and maintain recovery once rehab is over. Some people may even choose to enter a less intensive treatment program, such as GOP, or continue seeing a therapist. There’s no timeline dictating how long treatment should last, meaning the duration of care will be different for everyone.
Seek Help at Changing Tides in North Carolina
If you or a loved one is struggling with trauma or co-occurring disorders, Changing Tides in North Carolina is here to help. We offer an extensive range of treatment services to help individuals overcome trauma, other mental health issues or addiction. Contact us today by calling (252) 715-3905, or fill out our secure form to start the admissions process.