Written by:

Danny Smith

Medically Reviewed by:

Dr Sharad Haridas – MRCPsych

Last Updated:

December 2nd, 2024

PTSD and Addiction

PTSD is a condition experienced following exposure to a traumatic or overwhelmingly stressful situation.  A common misconception of PTSD is that it is something only experienced by veterans, soldiers, or other frontline response workers who may witness difficult or violent situations. PTSD can be (and frequently) experienced by people from all walks of life. Events with traumatic potential can happen in or outside work. They can occur in our private lives and often even in our homes. Despite being linked to trauma exposure, not all people who endure a particularly stressful life event will develop PTSD.

PTSDUK estimates that between 50 and 70% of all people will experience significant trauma at some stage, whilst only 1 in 10 people in the UK will experience PTSD at some point in their lives. Due to the strain of PTSD, the condition is often comorbid with addiction. But what are the key signs of PTSD? What are the main causes of this condition, and what is it that connects addiction and PTSD for so many people?

PTSD and addiction

What is PTSD?

According to the British Medical Journal, Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition that ‘may develop (either immediately or delayed) following exposure to a stressful event or situation of an exceptionally threatening or catastrophic nature.’

Not all traumatic situations lead to the development of PTSD. Specialists are not currently sure why this may be the case. However, they have identified that PTSD can be linked to a range of different situations, such as:

• Military experience
• Witnessing a death
• Witnessing or experiencing an accident
• Experiencing the loss of a loved one in a difficult situation
• Experiencing abuse, violence or neglect
• Health-related trauma
• Experiencing a violent attack or threat
• Experiencing or witnessing an event such as a fire or natural disaster

What is ‘traumatising’ is very subjective. This makes the manifestation of PTSD a very individual and idiosyncratic experience.

PTSD symptoms

PTSD symptoms are grouped into four categories: intrusions, avoidance, ‘negative alterations in mood and cognition’ and ‘alterations in arousal or reactivity.’

Intrusion or ‘re-experiencing’ symptoms may look like:

• Flashbacks
• Nightmares / night terrors
• Thinking or worrying about the event

Examples of avoidance symptoms include avoiding:

• Feelings
• Thoughts
• People
• Places
• Objects
• Activities

that may be in some way linked with the traumatic event.

Cognition and mood symptoms such as:

• Memory impairment
• Feeling ‘hazy’
• Anhedonia
• Flattened affect
• Mood changes

Arousal or reactivity symptoms include the following:

• Intense anxiety
• Tension
• Agitation
• Quick temper
• Sleep issues

The symptoms of PTSD can be all-consuming and warrant specialist support from a mental health treatment provider to alleviate difficult symptoms and reduce the risk associated with prolonged emotional distress.

PTSD is different from complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD), a condition that often blends PTSD symptoms with additional difficulties such as:

• difficulty emotionally regulating
• frequent suicidal thoughts
• feeling empty
• feeling damaged
• avoiding connections with others
• dissociation

What is addiction?

The American Psychological Association define addiction as:

‘a state of psychological and/or physical dependence on the use of drugs or other substances, such as alcohol, or on activities and behaviours.’

It is possible to become addicted to any of the following:

• Regulated substances (i.e. alcohol)
• Illegal substances (i.e. heroin)
• Prescription drugs (i.e. sleeping pills)
• Specific behaviours (i.e. shopping)

Addiction symptoms

An addiction is a chronic condition – when an addiction is present, its impact can be felt in all areas of life.

You may experience addiction through physical, psychological and social symptoms.

Physical symptoms include:

• Lethargy
• Disturbed sleep
• Weight loss
• Cravings
• Aches and pains
• Nausea
• Difficulty regulating temperature
• Physical signs of substance use (pupil dilation, bruises around injection sites)

Psychological signs of addiction are:

• Anxiety
• Low mood
• Agitation
• Difficulty focusing
• Memory issues

Social indicators of addiction include:

• Lying or covering up behaviour
• Social withdrawal
• Difficulties at work or school
• Difficulties with personal or home management

What is the link between PTSD and addiction?

Comorbid PTSD is present when an individual lives with another condition alongside their PTSD.  Research indicates that the most common PTSD dual diagnoses include

• Substance use disorders
• Depression
• Anxiety [10]

One study indicates that up to 59% of young people with PTSD ‘subsequently develop substance abuse problems.’ [11]

PTSD and alcohol addiction

PTSD is often associated with alcohol use disorders.

Drinking problems are reported by:

• up to ‘three-quarters of people who have survived abuse or violent traumatic events,’
• up to ‘a third of those who survive traumatic accidents, illness or disaster’

PTSD and drug addiction

Whilst PTSD is often associated with increased alcohol consumption, it is also common for people dealing with complex PTSD and addiction to struggle with drug use. It is common for people to turn to mood-enhancing drugs such as amphetamines, cocaine and other stimulant substances.

PTSD and sex addiction

Hypersexuality can be linked to specific traumatic experiences. This can lead to over-engagement (and therefore a developing reliance) on viewing or engaging with activities of a sexual nature.

PTSD and addiction treatment

As ‘posttraumatic stress disorder is a prevalent mental health problem associated with substantial psychiatric morbidity,’ the treatment of PTSD needs to encompass a wide range of comorbid conditions. This includes integrating rehab treatment into PTSD support when and where needed.

PTSD treatment

PTSD treatment often blends pharmacological and psychological approaches, weaving the following forms of support together:

• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
• Exposure therapy
• Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR)
• SSRI antidepressants

Addiction support

Addiction can act to deepen the emotional difficulties linked to PTSD. This means that tackling the cycles of behaviour that feed into an addiction is a crucial component of PTSD support. This will likely work in several stages:

1. Assessment
2. Detox
3. Rehab
4. Aftercare

Specialist rehab support providers have the ability to weave PTSD and addiction care into a bespoke, targeted programme in order to support you in a multidimensional, holistic manner.

Seek Help

Here at Banbury Lodge, we can help you to take the steps towards an addiction-free future.  Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation with a member of our team. We are here to lend a listening, non-judgmental ear and guide you through potential options for specialist, holistic addiction and mental health support. We are available to talk you through the bespoke rehab packages we offer to help identify the most appropriate treatment for your needs.

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