Substance Use Disorders

Don’t tell me to conquer my “demons”. That I have
“emotional baggage”. That I need to clean up my life, repent, repair my relationships and restore my place in society. That I need to change my perspective from “half empty to half full”. Just think positive, smile, lighten up, etc. All of this is dripping with misogynistic beliefs and patriarchal values. No, I won’t put a fucking smile on my face for anyone. I don’t owe anyone pretty, or perfection. I don’t have to be anything other than what I am or feel. I am not ashamed of my mental illnesses or disabilities! I am not trying to rid myself of anything. I embrace all of me. All of my humanity, all my emotions all my feelings, all my wounds, and scars. Don’t ever, ever tell me, my trauma is “darkness”, “evil” or “demons”. That is emotional abuse and is part of the problem that caused most of us to get sick in the first place. Morality causes almost all suffering in society. Not the lack of it, but the strict enforcement of it that leads to all kinds of condemnations, violations of rights and lack of emotional intelligence and empathy in the world. I support Radical Self Acceptance!

#Bipolar2
#Bipolar1
#MajorDepressiveDisorder
#Depression
#SubstanceUseDisorders
#PTSD
#CPTSD

I learned two things about myself today. Apparently, I have been experiencing Depersonalization / Derealization for a very long time but I didn’t know what it was. I knew I dissociated, but I suddenly started having some strange experiences lately that I have concluded are depersonalization. This has led to discovering that I have experienced many symptoms of both Depersonalization / Derealization for decades. The second thing I learned today, is that, my issues with sleep may not be solely bipolar disorder, but a trauma response. My brain speeds up after a certain point at night, and I think it is hyper vigilant to protect me from the unpredictable behavior of my parents. They threw wild parties and I heard lots of loud yelling, laughing, fighting, music and violence. I never knew what was going to happen. I would lock myself in my bedroom by pushing my dresser up to the door and put a butter knife in the door frame as a makeshift lock. I was afraid of their friends. I needed stuff, but was too afraid to leave my room to get it, lest I draw too much attention to myself. So, I went without, or listened and waited trying to discern a time that I might fly under the radar. The noise was so loud, I couldn’t sleep even if I wanted to. Often, I just ended up putting a pillow over my head, tuning them out, so I could fall asleep and eventually did from exhaustion. My parents both suffered from substance use disorder. I do too, or did anyway. I quit using 6 years ago and quit smoking 2 years ago. Trauma often causes us to ignore its’ symptoms, because we are used to them, don’t think they are symptoms, or that those symptoms aren’t important enough to talk about, or seek treatment for.

Trauma Treatment

Trauma and substance use disorders are thoroughly interlinked. People who experience trauma are more likely to develop substance use problems, and those who have substance use problems place themselves at higher risk of traumatic experiences. When seeking recovery, it’s essential that these traumas are addressed by trained mental health professionals in order to optimize your chances of success, and to ensure that your treatment results in greater overall mental health.

What is Trauma?

The American Psychological Association defines trauma as “an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, rape, or natural disaster.” People respond to trauma in a number of different ways – but immediately after the event, it’s common for people to feel shock, intense negative emotions, or outright denial.

But for many people, the effects of trauma can last for months or years after the event has passed. When the symptoms of trauma continue for extended periods, it is classified as a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which carries symptoms such as:

Invasive memories about the traumatic event

Nightmares about the traumatic event

Experiencing flashbacks where you feel like the event is occurring again

Attempts to avoid distressing memories or feelings

Significant mood changes, such as anger, detachment, or an inability to experience positive emotions

Hypervigilance, or constantly feeling on guard

Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep

Trauma and post-traumatic stress disorders can lead to severe impairment. It may interfere with your ability to work, to maintain meaningful relationships, or even just to enjoy your daily life. And as a result, many people turn to substance use as means of coping with their symptoms – which can quickly spiral into addiction.

The Connection Between Trauma and Substance Use Disorders

People who live with disorders such as PTSD have dramatically higher risk of developing a substance use disorder. According to one national study, 46.4% of people who have had a diagnosis of PTSD in their lifetime also met the criteria for substance use disorders.

The connection between the disorders is relatively clear: people experiencing severe trauma symptoms crave relief, and drug or alcohol use can provide some temporary reprieve from their invasive symptoms. But these benefits are short-lived. As people continue to use substances, their PTSD symptoms can return in greater severity than ever before, leading to people using more and more substances as a form of self-medication.

This downward spiral quickly develops into an addiction, and leaves people with two mental health challenges that need to be overcome to restore their mental health. And while this does complicate the course of treatment, there is hope for achieving a lasting recovery from both disorders, with evidence-based treatment methods that can treat both disorders simultaneously.

How Integrated Trauma Treatment in Nashville Can Help

At TN Detox Center in Nashville, Tennessee, our integrated trauma treatment center focuses on helping people overcome both their substance use disorder and any trauma symptoms or disorders simultaneously. By taking a trauma-informed approach, using evidence-based trauma treatment methods, and integrating that care into our comprehensive addiction treatment program, you have every resource available to achieve a lasting and worthwhile recovery.

What Is Trauma-Informed Care?

The best trauma treatment centers begin with a facility-wide commitment to trauma-informed care. Trauma-informed care isn’t a treatment itself, but rather an approach that extends to every element of a rehabilitation center: from your therapist, to the support staff, to admissions professionals, and anyone else in a client-facing position.

A trauma-informed facility teaches all of its staff on the effects that trauma can have on your everyday life. It helps our team recognize potentially triggering events, to offer compassion and understanding for people with experiences of trauma, and to reduce the risk of retraumatization. With trauma-informed practices at every level of care, you can feel safe and secure in your process towards recovery.

What Is Trauma Treatment?

Trauma treatment refers to the evidence-based therapies and interventions that our team uses to address traumatic symptoms and disorders directly. This could include therapies such as:

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing

Prolonged exposure therapy

Cognitive processing therapy

Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy

These therapies can offer a number of positive benefits for people who struggle with traumatic experiences. They can provide tools and strategies to help you overcome lingering symptoms of trauma, and help guide you towards regaining control over your life. They can also help people face their traumas, overcome them, and not live in fear any longer – but only when you’ve decided that you’re ready to take that step.

What Is Integrated Treatment?

TN Detox Center isn’t just a trauma treatment center – but an integrated treatment facility that helps people break free from addiction and co-occurring mental health challenges simultaneously. Integrated treatment brings both styles of treatments together under one umbrella.

Treating addiction alone leaves people with the symptoms of trauma that can ultimately lead to relapse. Treating only trauma carries similar risks, as a return to substance use can interfere with the treatment process and have your trauma symptoms return in force. But by choosing integrated treatment at a dual diagnosis treatment facility, you can achieve recovery from both disorders.

Integrated treatment is the gold-standard for addiction care, providing substantially better outcomes for clients with co-occurring conditions. It recognizes that addiction doesn’t occur in a vacuum, and that multiple life events and factors all contribute to your mental health challenges. Rather than treating a single problem at a time – we treat the whole person.

Start Treatment at TN Detox Center Today

When you or a loved one are struggling with co-occurring trauma and substance use problems, reach out to the team at TN Detox Center by calling 615-488-5311 or filling out our confidential online contact form. Our comprehensive treatment program can help you break free from addiction, work through your traumatic experiences, and will be there to help you post trauma treatment through our extensive aftercare program as well.

Living with co-occurring trauma and addiction can be incredibly difficult. But the path to recovery can be simple: all you need to do is make the call to start your healing journey today.

tndetoxcenter.com/treatment/trauma-treatment/%3Ctopic%20id= " originalText="https://tndetoxcenter.com/treatment/trauma-treatment/ "> #Trauma

In the world of mental health and substance use, there exists a phenomenon often whispered about but rarely addressed head-on: brain fog. It's a term that doesn't quite capture the full extent of its impact, yet for those who have waded through its murky waters, it's a reality that's both profound and debilitating.

Imagine waking up each day to a world that's out of focus. Your thoughts, once sharp and coherent, now feel like they're being filtered through a dense mist. This is the world of someone who has battled long-term mental health challenges and substance use. It's a world where the simple act of existing becomes a daily struggle.

Sarah, a 35-year-old woman, knows this world all too well. For years, she grappled with anxiety and depression, finding temporary solace in substances that promised quick relief but delivered long-term consequences. Over time, the clarity of her thoughts diminished. She describes her experience as "living in a dream where everything feels slightly unreal and disconnected."

This brain fog, as Sarah and many others experience, isn't just about forgetfulness or a lack of concentration. It's a comprehensive cognitive disturbance that affects memory, understanding, and even the sense of self. It's like trying to navigate through life with a GPS that's constantly recalibrating, never quite sure #of the destination.

But what causes this fog? Research suggests that prolonged substance use and mental health struggles can lead to changes in the brain, particularly in areas responsible for memory, attention, and decision-making. The brain, in its attempt to cope with the constant stress and chemical alterations, adapts in ways that aren't always beneficial in the long term.

For Sarah, the journey out of th#e fog wasn't quick or easy. It involved therapy, medication, and a steadfast commitment to understanding and addressing her mental health and substance use issues. Gradually, the haze began to lift, revealing a world that was brighter and more tangible.

Recovery, however, isn't a linear process. There are days when the fog rolls back in, obscuring the progress made. But with each day, Sarah learns to navigate these challenges a little better, to recognize the signs of the fog's return and to use the tools she's acquired to disperse it.

The story of brain fog in the context of mental health and substance use is a reminder of the complex interplay between our psychological well-being and our cognitive functions. It highlights the need for holistic approaches in treatment, ones that acknowledge not just the physical symptoms but also the cognitive and emotional landscapes that are so intricately intertwined.

For those walking through this fog, remember: you're not alone, and the haze does lift. With support, understanding, and a commitment to healing, the world can become clear once again.

#Depression #MentalHealth #DepressiveDisorders #BipolarDepression #PersistentDepressiveDisorder #ChronicFatigueSyndrome #SubstanceUseDisorders #Addiction

Hi, my name is Alyssa (25, she/her) “angelnumber777”. I'm here because I have one foot in the door of Recovery and one foot out. I am personally struggling a lot with Anorexia (on-going relapse), navigating through trauma anniversaries, insomnia, nightmares, flashbacks, and sensory sensitivities related to chronic PTSD, while grieving the loss of my still living father whose life I saved when he OD’d on heroin/fentanyl. I haven’t seen nor heard from my father since the night I took him to the hospital because I defied his side of the family by taking action when no one else would. The following day, I was outcasted, blacklisted, and blocked in every way possible. That was in August of 2021, and I have been struggling since then through 6 months of residential, 2 treatment centers, PHP, outpatient, relapses, and more. However, I am resilient, honest, empathetic, and I strive to heal and forgive (for myself, not those who have abused/neglected me). I am putting this out there because there is courage and strength in vulnerability. Ultimately, I do know what to do in order to step back into Recovery. What I feel is stuck and unable to progress towards my goals, despite some internal/external motivation. If you have read this far, thank you for listening to my heart speak.

#MightyTogether #Anorexia #PTSD #SubstanceUseDisorders #Grief #OCD #Depression #Anxiety