Do you still feel the damaging mental effects of a traumatic event long after that event has passed? If so, you’re not alone. In fact, this happens to many people who live through such an event. The importance of dealing with your trauma cannot be overstated. The lingering impact can negatively influence your life in a variety of ways—a trauma therapy program is vital to so many people in recovery.
Want more information on the importance of healing your trauma? You’ll find it at Sophros Recovery Tampa. Every day, we use customized trauma therapy to help those in recovery overcome their reliance on drugs or alcohol. To learn more about how we can help you, contact us today at 813.686.6306 or online. Let us help you overcome past trauma for a happier, healthier future.
Do You Need Help Dealing with Trauma?
Almost anyone who goes through a traumatic event will experience significant and immediate reactions to what’s happened. That includes emotional and behavioral responses such as:
- Detachment
- Anger
- Severe fear
- Helplessness
- Racing thoughts
- Problems thinking clearly
- Difficulty sleeping
- Social withdrawal
However, these responses tend not to last long. Instead, they trail off as time passes. But some people continue to react to what’s occurred or even start to feel worse.
If that’s true for you, you may have a condition called acute stress disorder (ASD). You may also eventually develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a better-known, longer-term condition. In addition, you may start using drugs or drinking or consuming drugs or alcohol in larger amounts than you used to. In all these situations, treatment may be essential to your chances of getting better.
Understanding the Importance of Healing Your Trauma
What can happen to you if you don’t learn how to cope with trauma? The answer to this question isn’t the same for everyone. However, some consequences are fairly common, including:
- A general worsening of your trauma-related symptoms over time
- Worsening of your symptoms in specific high-stress situations
- A negative impact on the health of your relationships
- Physical health problems related to long-term, unresolved stress
You also have higher odds of getting addicted to drugs or alcohol. That’s true for a couple of reasons. First, many people with unaddressed trauma try to escape its effects temporarily by drinking or taking drugs. In turn, this pattern of increased use exposes you to greater risks for substance problems.
Unresolved trauma can also literally alter the way your brain works. This alteration can make you more likely to become addicted if you use drugs or drink alcohol. That’s particularly true if your trauma exposure occurred when you were still a child.
Learning How to Cope with Trauma
The importance of addressing your past is a central focus in trauma therapy. Your therapist can help you make better sense of what happened to you. They can also teach you skills that will help you escape negative thought loops and manage your emotions. In addition, they can show you ways to tolerate distressful emotions without doing things that harm your well-being.
Trauma-related conditions can easily overlap with substance addiction. If you’re affected by these combined issues, you need help for both of them. There are recovery programs designed for this specific purpose.
Discover the Positive Impact of Trauma Therapy at Sophros Recovery Tampa
Mental health and addiction specialists underscore the importance of dealing with your trauma. This makes sense, given the harmful impact that unresolved trauma can have on you. You can limit that impact by seeking help as early as possible.
At Sophros Recovery Tampa, we feature specialized trauma therapy for people in drug or alcohol treatment. With our help, you can start easing the effects of trauma on your daily life. You can also start making progress toward your goals for addiction recovery. To begin the process, just call us today at 813.686.6306 or complete our brief online contact form.
