04/19/2024
Many individuals who have experienced trauma, such as abuse, neglect, or a traumatic event, are at an increased risk of developing an addiction. This is because trauma can cause long-lasting emotional and psychological damage, making individuals more susceptible to substance abuse. Understanding how traumatic experiences work on the mind and body is important when healing addictive behaviors.
Individuals who experience a traumatic event, adrenaline rushes through the body and the memory is imprinted into the amygdala, which is part of the limbic system. The amygdala holds the emotional significance of the event, including the intensity and impulse of emotion.
Experiencing traumatic events are debilitating, the brain may hide the memory to protect you from recalling it. Yet, the memories haven't disappeared. Instead, they surface in other ways, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, or symptoms of a suppressed immune system, like frequent colds and flu.
It is crucial to heal from unprocessed trauma, which helps to reduce chronic stress and improve overall health.