What Is Complex PTSD and How Can Addiction Treatment Help?

Anyone can struggle with PTSD. A struggle with PTSD can cause dangerous behaviors like drug abuse, which can turn into an addiction. If this is happening to you or a loved one, you might start asking, “What is complex PTSD and can addiction treatment help?” Addiction treatment can help your loved one with their drug abuse and their complex PTSD.

What Is Complex PTSD?

PTSD is also known as post-traumatic stress disorder. People can develop PTSD after any traumatic event.

Before people start looking for answers to, “What is complex PTSD?”, they likely have an idea of what circumstances cause PTSD. Life-threatening moments, like combat, can come up first. But people can also develop PTSD after any short-term trauma. This includes sexual assault, natural disasters, and car accidents.

People who experience trauma over an extended period can also develop PTSD. They will show more symptoms than others. That’s why their PTSD is called complex PTSD.

What Are The Symptoms Of PTSD And Complex PTSD?

It’s normal for people to have problems after a traumatic event. People can feel on edge and have problems sleeping. Some people may find it hard to go out or spend time with others. People who don’t develop PTSD after a traumatic event, usually get better after a few months or less.

PTSD symptoms can start weeks or months after the event. They can also happen off and on over multiple year periods. There are four types of PTSD symptoms. They won’t be the same for everyone, but they can include reliving the event, avoiding circumstances that remind them of the event, having more bad feelings and beliefs, and always feeling in danger.

People struggling with complex PTSD will show additional symptoms. They may have problems regulating their emotions or they feel detached from their mind or body. They may also perceive themselves poorly or have distorted views about the people who hurt them. Some people even lose faith in others and have strained relationships with others.

How Can Addiction Treatment Help People Struggling With PTSD?

Sometimes people with PTSD will abuse drugs to cope with the symptoms. That can lead to other serious life problems. Addiction therapy and treatment can help people struggling with drug abuse and PTSD get sober in a safe and meaningful way.

At Beaches Recovery, we offer some treatment programs that help our clients with their drug abuse and PTSD. At our treatment center, you or a loved one could enter individualized programs like:

• Dual diagnosis treatment
• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• EMDR therapy
• Anger management
• PTSD & Trauma therapy
• Mindfulness based treatment
• Music therapy
• Fitness therapy

If you think you or a loved one is struggling with drug abuse and PTSD, reach out to Beaches Recovery. A dual diagnosis of these two illnesses gets treatment here. We can help you answer the question, “What is complex PTSD?”. Call us today at 866.605.0532 to talk with us about your concerns and our treatment options.