From the Desk of Ana Gopoian
The Story Behind the Story:
Responses to Stress, Trauma, and Unhealed Wounds
Most people who have been affected by the disease of addiction have, at one time or another, asked themselves these profound and pointed questions, “How did this happen to me?” and “How did I end up here?” We all have a story behind our story!
From the vantage point of the individual, the answers may be buried and elusive. The roots of the disease have grown so deep they are hidden from view and barely able to be excavated.
Rarely do traditional treatment programs demand the degree of introspection, self-examination, self-care and soul-searching required to exhume and expose our true selves and to heal our wounds from the inside out.
Many studies correlate the disease of addiction with chronic stress, past and present trauma or unhealed wounds. There is also a great deal of evidence showing that exposure to childhood trauma is connected to the structure and function of the brain and the subsequent development of substance use disorders, depression, and PTSD.
In the formative years, a child’s experiences cause certain neural pathways to develop, grow stronger or weaken. Trauma can diminish brain activity in the same way learning to speak or walk can strengthen it. These early experiences can create wounds that manifest themselves in a variety of ways, including feelings of fear, low self-esteem, insecurity, PTSD, and difficulty forming bonds and trusting relationships. Even just feeling isolated, unloved or misunderstood can lead to such emotional challenges.
What is traumatic to one, may not be deemed as such to another. However, there isn’t a person on the planet who has not experienced some form of fleeting or chronic emotional distress, perhaps the result of everyday hardships such as work related stress, illness, isolation, anger and fear, or the result of intense, unpredictable, prolonged stressors such as interpersonal conflict, grief at the loss of a loved one, family dysfunction or extreme financial instability.
While it may not be possible to eliminate stress, we need to find ways to manage it. The co-occurrence of substance use disorders and trauma is quite common and complex. Many people develop a substance use disorder after turning to drugs and alcohol to self-medicate. Understanding the root causes and how past trauma affects substance use and other mental health challenges may be the key to understanding how to better and more holistically treat it.
In regard to therapy as a useful tool in treatment, Kevin Jensen, a blog author for Recovery Ways writes:
“Our childhood wounds can have a lasting impact on our mental health in adulthood. While we all experience some form of trauma growing up, not all of us have the chance to heal these childhood wounds. Unhealed trauma can lead to a variety of mental health challenges in adulthood, including depression, anxiety, and addiction. By understanding the link between childhood wounds and mental health in adulthood, we can learn how to start the process of healing trauma and achieve a healthier, happier life.
Trauma therapy is one of the most effective tools for healing unhealed childhood wounds. Inner child healing is a powerful approach to this type of therapy that can help us to reconnect with our inner child – the part of us that carries the pain of unresolved trauma – and work through the wounds. The goal of this type of therapy is to find peace and resolution within ourselves so that we can move forward into adulthood without being weighed down by past traumas.
Childhood trauma can manifest itself in different ways as an adult, including mental health challenges like depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. Therefore, addressing these traumas in therapy is important for helping an individual cope with these issues.
There are many approaches to trauma therapy that can be used, such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), which can help to reprocess traumatic memories; Attachment Theory, which focuses on the development of secure attachments with caregivers; and Inner Child Healing, which focuses on healing the inner child who experienced the trauma.
It is essential that the therapeutic process involves developing a safe space for the individual to work through the traumas of the past. In therapy, clients can be guided to gain insight into the root of their issues, allowing them to begin to address and heal from these wounds.”
One thing is for sure, if the unhealed wounds are not unearthed and identified, if the stressors and traumas that have caused our addictions and mental health challenges are not addressed and resolved, healing will not take place. Digging deep enough to reach the roots may be a gradual and painful process, but the relief, forgiveness, compassion, understanding, and self-love we discover as a result possess value beyond measure!
Remember, our inner beings never stop calling us forward to dwell in the fullness of who we truly are, whole, perfectly imperfect, worthy of happiness and deserving of love!!
Wishing you all a New Year full of good choices, fresh starts, joyous self-discovery, and love.
Together WE are Stronger!
