Trauma is persistent. It is something that can continue to impact someone’s like months, years, even decades, after the inciting event occurs, this is often referred to as post-traumatic experience disorder (PTSD). The trauma that occurs often leads to other major physical and mental health problems that can take hold and linger throughout life.
One of the major problems associated with trauma, especially childhood trauma, is addiction and substance abuse problems.
What Is Somatic Experiencing?
Somatic Experiencing is a body-focused form of therapy that is used to help people dealing with PTSD. Essentially, the therapy focuses on creating awareness of sensations that the body is feeling that may be carriers of the traumatic event.
The overall goal of somatic experiencing is to release these sensations that the body will feel when reliving these traumatic experiences – helping reduce and eliminate PTSD symptoms.
Is Somatic Experiencing Effective?
Evidence shows that Somatic Experiencing is effective for PTSD treatment, in fact one study showed that over 44% of people lost the PTSD diagnosis completely. Along with PTSD, SE can have a large effect on depressive symptoms as well.
By working to overcome these problems related to past trauma, it can help people with the residual effects of these issues – such as addiction and substance abuse.
For addiction specifically, it is vital to deal with any underlying problems that may be contributing to or even causing substance abuse.
Somatic Experiencing for Addiction Treatment
As mentioned previously, PTSD tends to be a common co-occurring disorder for those dealing with substance abuse problems. Substance abuse and mental health disorders occurring at the same time is a somewhat normal occurrence and is referred to as a dual diagnosis. If patients with these problems wish to have the best shot at overcoming these issues, they need to be treated simultaneously.
Somatic experiencing is only a part of the comprehensive treatment programs that patients will go through during their stay at an inpatient rehab facility. Along with somatic experiencing, some of the other programs that they may experience include exercise for addiction treatment, mindfulness and meditation, cognitive behavioral therapy, and more.
All of these programs are in place to help patients achieve one thing: sobriety.
To do that, it may mean targeting underlying problems and conditions that may be contributing to their substance abuse such as depression, anxiety, or in this case, PTSD. If you are looking for help for you or your loved one, The Hope House, a drug and alcohol rehab in Arizona is dedicated to providing patients with the highest quality care during their stay at our luxury rehab facility.
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