Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: When Past Affects Present

Research indicates that there may be a connection between post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse. If you recognize any of the symptoms of this disorder in yourself or a loved one, and also see signs of alcohol or drug abuse or addiction, you may want to inform your physician if you have not done so already. Knowing another factor that contributes to substance abuse problems may change how a physician chooses to treat addiction.

What is post-traumatic stress disorder?

Abbreviated PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder occurs as a result of an experience in which the person felt intense fear, horror, and/or helplessness and believed that death or serious harm to the self was a likely result of the experience.

Who might have PTSD?

Only a doctor can diagnose someone with PTSD. However, the disorder is commonly seen in veteran populations who have been through wars (Read Veterans and Addiction: Bringing the War Home). Other examples might include the victims of a terrorist attack (like September 11^th), someone involved in a serious natural disaster, someone who was robbed at gunpoint, or the victim of sexual attacks or incest.

What are symptoms of PTSD?

• Avoiding people, places, or things that remind the person of the traumatic experience.
• Numbness and apathy – the dulling of emotions in general.
• Difficulty sleeping or concentrating and/or a heightened vigilance.
• Re-experiencing the trauma in conscious reflection or during nightmares; this may trigger strong emotional reactions.

What is the connection between PTSD and substance abuse?

According to the National Center for PTSD, 10-33% of trauma survivors, particularly those with residual pain or health problems, abuse alcohol. Additionally, women who have been the victim of sexual trauma are more likely to abuse substances than their counterparts in the general population. In Vietnam veterans over age 65, PTSD in combination with alcohol abuse and/or depression increased the risk of a suicide attempt as well as binge drinking (Read Suicide & Substance Abuse: Know the Risks).

Sadly, abusing substances can make the symptoms of PTSD – like difficulty sleeping and concentrating – worse. It can also cause problems in families, careers, and relationships. Masking emotions with alcohol or drugs may feel like a good solution in the short term, but can destroy the person’s life; doctors and psychologists can help a PTSD patient develop healthy coping strategies and lead a normal life.