Many people often ignore the importance of emotional healing. While you may focus on recovering physically, it still doesn’t ensure a successful recovery. Your body and mind must be in sync to fully overcome substance abuse. In fact, you’re likely to fall back into an addiction if you’re struggling with emotional trauma.

You see, the emotional stress that comes with addiction can cause you to relapse. The effects can be so severe that it may interfere with your ability to live an ordinary life. Many people don’t know how to react when they learn they’re traumatized. As a result, you must seek help to regain your emotional stability.

With healing, you can address the triggers of trauma and find ways to manage them. We know it’s not easy to admit you need help. However, you should know you’re not alone.

In this article, we will provide information that’ll enlighten you on the significance of emotional healing in addiction treatment. Perhaps more importantly, we will discuss effective tips that can help you achieve emotional healing during addiction recovery.

What is Trauma?

Trauma is an emotional response to a terrible incident that negatively affects you. The effect of trauma is multi-pronged. It can lead to violence, illegal activities, and physical abuse. Plus, it can be quite severe and have long term effects on your health. To cap it off, trauma also plays a crucial role in your addiction treatment.

Yes, not everyone who has an addiction will develop trauma. However, this is where knowledge of the role of emotional healing in addiction treatment comes in. If you’re traumatic, you may be struggling with anxieties that may never go away if not treated. The more emotional issues you have, the higher the odds of seeking solace in harmful habits.

Causes of Emotional Trauma

You can fully understand the importance of emotional healing when you know the reason for emotional instability. Trauma is caused by several events that negatively impact your addiction recovery.

While most of its sources are psychological, others are due to physical violence. Here are some factors that may cause emotional trauma:

• Death of a loved one
• Severe illness
• Rape
• Domestic violence
• Natural disasters
• Accidents
• War
• Divorce
• Parental abandonment
• Witnessing someone’s death

Signs You’re Suffering from Emotional Trauma

As mentioned earlier, not every person facing addiction is suffering from trauma. So how do you know the telltale signs you need emotional healing for addiction treatment? Well, the most obvious sign is your inability to recover fully from your addiction.

If you find yourself using substances to fill the void that emotional stress brings, then you’re facing trauma in addiction recovery. These symptoms can manifest both emotionally and physically.

Emotional Symptoms

Undoubtedly, you will sustain severe emotional responses during your addiction treatment. Sometimes, you may be withdrawn and detached from reality. Typically, the reaction after a traumatic event is often shock and denial.

After you’ve overcome your initial shock, your reaction to stressful events will now vary. Common reactions include:

• Constant anger
• Sudden outbursts
• Denial
• Depression
• Irritability
• Flashbacks of the event
• Nervousness and anxiety

Physical Symptoms

The physical signs of trauma can be very alarming and real. In most cases, they may lead to severe illness and injury. Thus, emotional healing during addiction recovery can be key to improving your health.

It will also ensure your addiction recovery is long-term. Some physical symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Paleness
• Lethargy
• Panic attacks
• Poor concentration
• Changes in eating habits
• Stress, nausea and headaches
• Insomnia
• Sudden mood swings
• Worsening of your addiction

Related Article: What To Expect During Addiction Treatment

Importance of Emotional Healing from Trauma

There are so many reasons why you need emotional healing. To begin with, you can only fully recoup from addiction if you’re healed physically and emotionally. By dealing with trauma in addiction recovery, you may start to admit the fears you never knew existed.

Moreover, it’ll help you understand your triggers and how to deal with them.

Emotional healing not only makes you happier, but it assists you in finding a thoughtful way to deal with stress. You may feel that addiction treatment should be enough to make you better.

However, the cycle of trauma and addiction never stops unless they’re tackled together. If addiction is cared for and trauma is neglected, you’re likely to experience a relapse.

This can deter your recovery process and worsen your health. Therefore, they both need to be addressed concurrently. While addiction treatment will equip you with the tools you need to recover physically, emotional therapy will rebuild your mind. This is why the best addiction treatment centres in Vancouver offer personal therapy sessions in addition to physical detox.

Tips for Emotional Healing in Addiction Treatment

From the last section, we are sure you now understand the importance of emotional healing as part of your addiction treatment. According to DrugFree, 1 out of every 3 adult addicts reports having some form of childhood trauma.

To help you beat this form of emotional trauma, here are some effective pointers:

Overcome your fears

Facing your fears may not be easy, but it’s possible. Yes, we can’t control our thoughts, and fear always has a way of seeping back into our minds.

Nevertheless, you must know that they’ll never go away if you dwell on them. Therefore, ensure you replace fearful thoughts with positive thinking.

Join a support group

Healing emotionally is a marathon that requires the support of friends and family to make it easier. In situations where you’re in doubt or facing a crisis. You’ll have a support system to rely on. Thus, joining a support group and participating in group therapies can be very beneficial.

You can also reach out to your friends and family. However, If you’re not comfortable with your close relatives helping you recover. You may see a professional who will walk you through the struggles that come with traumatic experiences.

Get back into a routine

Your everyday life can be interrupted by traumatic events. However, to get past the stress, you have to return to your daily routine. This will help you rebuild a sense of normalcy and take control of your life.

Exercise

Exercise is very important in emotional healing. According to professionals, it’s one of the effective ways to overcome trauma. Engaging in recreational activities will assist you in managing your stress levels.

You see, exercise triggers the release of dopamine — an effective mood booster. This can balance out your thoughts and help you relieve stress. Therefore, regularly practice yoga, deep breathing, meditation, and any other mind-body workout.

Don’t isolate yourself

Be yourself and go out with friends. Do things that make you happy. Go for a stroll. Join volunteer groups. Sleep and eat regularly. Whatever you do, avoid staying alone.

If you’re alone for long periods, you’re opening the door for negative thoughts that can derail your addiction recovery journey. In worse case scenarios, these thoughts can even lead to a relapse.

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Final Word

The importance of emotional healing in addiction recovery cannot be denied. Trauma can have a significant effect on your recovery. Therefore, it shouldn’t be left to fester. With professional addiction treatment, you can prevent a relapse and ensure a long term recovery.

If you’re dealing with addiction as a result of your trauma, there is help available. Call Inspire Change Addiction Rehab in Vancouver for addiction treatment programs, our addiction treatment service offers you several treatment options along with caring professionals who will aid your recovery. Talk to us and begin your journey toward full healing today.