Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a serious mental health condition that can develop after someone goes through a traumatic event, like a car accident, assault, or natural disaster. It leaves people grappling with intense fear, anxiety, and memories that won’t fade. For many, these symptoms of PTSD feel unbearable, pushing them to find ways to cope. Unfortunately, this often leads to addiction. Whether you’re a mom watching your child struggle, a spouse supporting a partner, or someone suffering from PTSD yourself, understanding this connection can offer hope. This article dives into the most common addictions linked to PTSD and explains why they happen so you can take the first step toward healing.
Understanding the PTSD-Addiction Connection
A traumatic event doesn’t just affect the mind—it changes the brain. The body’s stress response goes into overdrive, and the brain’s reward system, which uses dopamine to signal pleasure, gets thrown off balance. For someone with PTSD, normal joys can feel out of reach, so they turn to drugs or alcohol for relief. This is often a way to self-medicate, numbing the pain or escaping haunting memories. Over time, this can turn into a full-blown addiction.
The relationship between PTSD and addiction is strong. People with post-traumatic stress disorder are far more likely to struggle with substance use than those without it. This overlap, sometimes called a dual diagnosis, happens because trauma and addiction feed into each other, making both harder to overcome alone.
Most Common Addictions Linked to PTSD
Here are the addictions most often seen in people with PTSD, along with why they’re so common:
Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol is a go-to for many with PTSD because it dulls emotions and offers a temporary escape from traumatic experiences. It might feel like a quick fix to quiet the mind, but for PTSD sufferers, it can worsen anxiety and depression over time. This creates a vicious cycle where more alcohol is needed to cope, raising the risk of dependency.
Drug Addiction (e.g., Opioids, Benzodiazepines)
Drugs and alcohol often go hand-in-hand with PTSD, especially opioids and benzodiazepines. Opioids can ease both physical and emotional pain, while benzodiazepines—sometimes prescribed for anxiety—calm the nerves. The problem? These drugs are highly addictive, and what starts as a doctor’s order can spiral into dependency. For someone with PTSD, the need for relief makes this risk even greater.
Nicotine/Tobacco Addiction
Smoking is widespread among people with PTSD. Nicotine delivers a fast hit of calm, which feels like a lifeline when the stress response won’t quit. But it’s a trap—nicotine is addictive, and the health damage piles up, making it a risky way to handle trauma.
Gambling Addiction
Not every addiction involves substances. Gambling can hook people with PTSD by offering an adrenaline rush or a way to dodge painful feelings. It’s tied to thrill-seeking or avoidance, but it often leads to financial ruin and deeper emotional wounds—tough blows for anyone already battling a mental health disorder.
Food Addiction or Emotional Eating
Some turn to food for comfort, using it to soothe the stress and sadness of PTSD. Emotional eating might feel good at the moment, but it can lead to weight gain, health problems, and more shame. For PTSD sufferers, this addiction quietly adds to their struggles.
Breaking the Cycle
Recovery is possible, but it means tackling both PTSD and addiction together.
Here’s what works:
- Therapy: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) are top tools to treat PTSD. They help process trauma and build better ways to cope.
- Rehab Programs: For drugs or alcohol, programs that focus on dual diagnosis can address both issues at once.
- Support: Talking to people who get it—friends, family, or groups—can lift you up when you’re down.
Don’t try to fix one without the other. Professional help is a must, and it’s okay to ask for it.
Treatment for Co-Occurring Disorders at Into Action Recovery
We treat addiction and mental health through a holistic and integrated approach.
Our treatments are dynamic and will be tailored to your unique circumstances and needs, including:
- Intervention Services
- Customized Treatment
- 12-Step Program
- Family Therapy
- Recreational Therapy
- Mental Health / Dual Diagnosis
- Evidence-Based Therapies
- Alumni Program
It is never too late to seek help.
