Trauma Treatment Program

Types of Trauma Disorders

Before someone can begin to overcome a disorder, a clear diagnosis is necessary to inform our team of professionals about what the patient is experiencing. It will also be helpful to determine which level of care and programs will be most appropriate. Below are descriptions of different trauma and stress-related disorders and a bit more about what living with each illness is like.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

This is one of the most recognizable trauma disorders and for a good reason. Roughly 12 million people a year will experience PTSD, with 8 of every 100 women developing it during their lifetime.

PTSD affects approximately 3.5% of U.S. adults annually, with an estimated 1 in 11 people diagnosed in their lifetimes. Sufferers may avoid reminders of the trauma and experience strong reactions when exposed to them. The disorder can dominate a person's life, making daily tasks difficult. Effective trauma treatment programs are crucial in helping individuals regain control of their lives. These programs employ various therapeutic methods to support recovery and improve the quality of life for those affected by PTSD and other trauma-related issues.

It develops following a traumatic event, which can take place during a variety of circumstances, including:

• War
• Terrorist attacks
• Burglary
• Domestic violence
• Sexual assault
• Childhood trauma

Someone with this diagnosis will need to meet specific criteria, which would be a certain number of symptoms that are commonly categorized as key points of this disorder. 

The categories of PTSD symptoms are as follows:

• Avoidance
• Persistent intrusive thoughts
• Changes in behavior
• Cognitive symptoms
• Detachment from oneself
• Loss of core values
• Difficulty remembering traumatic events

PTSD can be debilitating if not properly addressed by professionals like those found at our mental health rehab. Unaddressed trauma can lead to a number of other complications, including addiction, so don’t hesitate to get the help you deserve before any complications can occur.

Acute Stress Disorder vs. PTSD

Someone with acute stress disorder will find their symptoms may be similar to those experienced by a person with PTSD, just for a shorter amount of time. They will develop almost immediately after the event but will only last from about three days to a month. Should symptoms persist past a month’s time, then they should be diagnosed with PTSD.

Reactive Attachment Disorder

This typically occurs in children unable to form stable relationships with their parents or caregivers. Although not as common, reactive attachment disorder in adults is possible if initial treatment is not completely effective or even attempted at all. 

Symptoms include:

• Withdrawal or detachment
• Difficulty maintaining relationships
• Feelings of emptiness, anger, or isolation
• Lack of understanding regarding emotions
• Discomfort around affection

Trauma Exposure Response

Also referred to as secondhand trauma, this occurs when a person bears witness to the first-hand trauma of another. This can affect anyone but is especially common in those who work closely with victims of trauma, including nurses, doctors, social workers, mental health professionals, and first responders. Symptoms can include feelings of guilt, negativity, hopelessness, and even consistent physical fatigue.

Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder

If someone was unable to form stable attachments as a child, it could lead them to exhibit culturally inappropriate behaviors throughout their life. This can include no fear of strangers, which can result in potentially dangerous situations if that person is not informed of the risks involved.

Adjustment Disorders

These are typically temporary and occur in response to a stressful event in a person’s life. 

These events can include:

• Loss of a loved one
• Breakups or divorce
• Sudden unemployment
• Being diagnosed with a physical or mental illness

If you find yourself struggling with any kind of trauma or stress-related disorder, Banyan Treatment Center offers a variety of effective therapy methods that can address the trauma, and teach effective ways to manage it moving forward. You don’t have to suffer in silence, and you especially do not have to face this alone contact Banyan Treatment Center for help.

The Connection Between Trauma and Substance Abuse

Without a trauma treatment program to supplement your addiction recovery, your sobriety may not be long-lasting. Poor mental health and substance abuse problems are often connected. When people are feeling down, lonely, or stressed, they will sometimes turn to drugs or alcohol to ease the pain or escape these negative emotions.

Trauma can be a trigger for drug or alcohol use as the person tries to use these substances to forget about their traumatic experience. Because of the fleeting sense of relief these substances provide, the user will continue to return to this coping mechanism even when they start to feel worse in the long run. Eventually, a dependence on these substances is created, and often, mental health continues to decline. In order to help the addict heal and keep them from returning to this self-destructive pattern after treatment ends, our addiction and trauma treatment program helps patients tackle both issues.