Trauma therapy and alcohol use/dependence

[Bamma]

I was wondering what people's experiences have been with trauma therapists' responses to their alcohol use/dependence? Were the types of therapy deemed appropriate limited because of ongoing alcohol use?

 

[OliveJewel]

My T was a licensed substance abuse and alcohol abuse counselor who specialized in trauma so she just expected it and worked around it. She rarely to never focused on the addiction itself. One time I went to a family counselor who specialized in parenting oppositional and defiant children and she had no training in addictions and referred out when she discovered it.

 

[Bamma]

My T was a licensed substance abuse and alcohol abuse counselor who specialized in trauma so she just expected it and worked around it. She rarely to never focused on the addiction itself. One time I went to a family counselor who specialized in parenting oppositional and defiant children and she had no training in addictions and referred out when she discovered it.

Thank-you so much for your reply. You must have access to quality services.

 

[OliveJewel]

access to quality services.

No, I was just lucky. I had my share of crap T’s prior to her and generally it’s impossible to find behavioral health providers, let alone quality ones, in my state. I didn’t seek a substance abuse counselor or trauma specialist. I didn’t even know those were her specialities until after years of working with her.

 

[Sideways]

I was wondering what people's experiences have been with trauma therapists' responses to their alcohol use/dependence?

Here in Australia, if you have a substance abuse issue going on with another mental health issue like ptsd, you’d be looking at Dual Diagnosis treatment programs, if that helps at all.

Those programs are designed to tackle the issues simultaneously.

 

[Bamma]

Here in Australia, if you have a substance abuse issue going on with another mental health issue like ptsd, you’d be looking at Dual Diagnosis treatment programs, if that helps at all.

Those programs are designed to tackle the issues simultaneously.

Thank-you. I know a heck of a lot of mental health research comes out of Australia, so that makes sense. If other places still aren't offering this, I don't know where they're finding all these people with ptsd who don't have substance use issues. (Objectively I know some people aren't dual diagnosis. But then I wonder how many people don't admit to using, due to stigma.)

 

[Freddyt]

Thank-you. I know a heck of a lot of mental health research comes out of Australia, so that makes sense. If other places still aren't offering this, I don't know where they're finding all these people with ptsd who don't have substance use issues. (Objectively I know some people aren't dual diagnosis. But then I wonder how many people don't admit to using, due to stigma.)

There is also the case where dealing with the substance abuse comes first - or is a precursor to finding PTSD. I'm sure there are others here who during treatment for substance problems found out about about possible PTSD.

Mine came while drying out from my last round of opioid addiction. While researching cannabis - which I had begun using I read a book where the author found out while researching PTSD for the book that she had PTSD. When she listed symptoms I checked every box..........

 

[Friday]

so she just expected it and worked around it. S

Ditto.

 

[Bamma]

There is also the case where dealing with the substance abuse comes first - or is a precursor to finding PTSD. I'm sure there are others here who during treatment for substance problems found out about about possible PTSD.

Mine came while drying out from my last round of opioid addiction. While researching cannabis - which I had begun using I read a book where the author found out while researching PTSD for the book that she had PTSD. When she listed symptoms I checked every box..........

Yeah. Assuming all substance dependence comes from seriously adverse experiences
(a theory I personally subscribe to), I truly do not understand how people can be expected to get clean without some sort of major shift in how they process their experiences. The awful things I've seen with kids in court-mandated recovery programs... their counsellors had to have one degree. That's it. They weren't even certified counsellors. They weren't even trauma-informed, let alone trauma therapists. The kids' use was considered "bad". Their behaviours were seen as "good/bad". Everything was reward and punishment. I felt so awful for them.

By the way, I wish to sincerely congratulate you on drying out. (Even if you've had slip-ups or relapsed.) To me this is the greatest accomplishment a human can achieve. You must feel very powerful. I hope.

 

[Bamma]

Ditto.

Thank-you for sharing. This information is valuable to me right now.

 

[Freddyt]

By the way, I wish to sincerely congratulate you on drying out. (Even if you've had slip-ups or relapsed.) To me this is the greatest accomplishment a human can achieve. You must feel very powerful. I hope.

...at that point - it was life or death pretty much.....I will say because I had dried out several times before it was a hell of a lot easier with cannabis and I have not touched the stuff since.

 

[Friday]

Here in Australia, if you have a substance abuse issue going on with another mental health issue like ptsd, you’d be looking at Dual Diagnosis treatment programs, if that helps at all.

Those programs are designed to tackle the issues simultaneously.

It’s supposed to be that way here…. Both by med & by “program” standards.. IE “Medicine & psychiatry provided no answers.” before 12 step stuff was explored. But, instead? Alcohol & substance abuse treatment has become the first line of defense, instead of the last. People aren’t given medical help, or psychiatric help, first. Or second. We’re not a socialized med country. And those choices? Are expensive. So courts McFreebie. A month inpatient in a drug center? Costs less than a single ambulance ride. In most facilities. Who do not offer dual-enrollment. As their staff? Has the 3 week certification. Instead of the 12year one.

I was wondering what people's experiences have been with trauma therapists' responses to their alcohol use/dependence? Were the types of therapy deemed appropriate limited because of ongoing alcohol use?

My first time around? I was seeeeeriously f*cked up. And über cliche. I alternated between work/party/isolate. Until I unf*cked my head. For several years.

I had 10 amaaaaazing years after that.

The next time my PTSD got the bit in its teeth?

I was determined to make DIFFERENT mistakes. And? I have.

NOT using drugs/alcohol? Has made a 5 year journey, I hoped to cut in half, take twice as long.

Which is SHIT promo. But? Also the truth.