When Trauma Manifests as Addiction

The impact of addiction on the individual and family system has been well researched over the last few decades. Addiction is prevalent -  if you haven’t had personal experience with it, it’s likely that someone you know has. According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics (NCDAS), about 70,000 drug overdose deaths occur in the United States annually, with accidental drug overdose as the leading cause of death among individuals under the age of 45.

In an attempt to understand those struggling with addiction, loved ones often question, Why the addiction? Why would you allow this substance to take over your life like this? As a society, we begin to judge the addict, assuming they chose to become addicted to a particular substance or behavior. What if, rather than perceiving addiction as a choice, we instead became curious about the underlying pain that drives an individual to turn to substance use and compulsive behavior for comfort? 

The Impacts of Trauma

Gabor Maté, renowned addiction expert, states that addiction is in fact rooted in trauma. Trauma is defined as the psychological and emotional distress experienced as a result of a disturbing event including but not limited to witnessing violence, near death experiences, sexual abuse, and even childhood abuse. 

Maté boldly asserts that “Everybody who’s addicted has been traumatized, but not everyone who’s traumatized becomes addicted.” Current research suggests that a male child who has experienced 6 or more adverse childhood experiences is about 4600% more likely to become an IV drug user than an individual who has experienced no adverse childhood experiences (Felitte, 2002). Adverse childhood experiences include stressful or traumatic events suffered under the age of 18, and have the potential to lead to maladaptive patterns of coping including self-destructive and addictive behavior. The more adverse childhood experiences, the more trauma one experiences, making them more susceptible to cycle of addiction.

The nature of trauma may vary person to person. However, Maté highlights the 7 impacts of trauma on the individual that are present no matter the traumatic experience. They include:

1. Disconnection from self and intuition or “gut feelings”

2. Disconnection and isolation from others

3. A negative worldview

4. Emotional pain

5. Impaired brain development

6. A shame-based view of self

7. Difficulty living in present moment and a tendency to react to past experiences

Trauma, Addiction, and The Brain

Both emotional and physical pain is processed in similar areas of the brain, specifically in the prefrontal cortex and the limbic system. Due to the human brain’s complexity, much of our brain development occurs during the first 3 years of life. It is especially important that during early childhood years, an individual has the support needed to develop healthy brain functions which carry them through life. Viewing brain development from an attachment perspective, Gabor Maté states that the human brain needs the constant presence of a non-stressed, emotionally available, and nurturing caregiver to support healthy brain development. Without the presence of this kind of caregiver, the child experiences an increase in cortisol levels and stress, interfering with healthy brain development.

The process of addiction impacts 4 circuitry systems in the brain including impulse control, adrenaline/stress control (fight or flight response), the dopamine system, as well as the release of endorphins. Each of these circuitry systems contribute to one’s ability to self-regulate. Traumatized children eventually grow to become teenagers and young adults, searching for ways to regulate themselves the best they know how. Oftentimes, they turn to substance abuse or compulsive behaviors to relieve themselves of negative emotion and memories of the past.

Trauma and Process Addiction

If trauma is left unhealed, unprocessed, and even ignored, the pain finds a way to manifest. For example, one’s unprocessed trauma may fester into mental health diagnoses such as anxiety and depression. It could also manifest as physical health issues including an autoimmune disease or chronic pain. Lastly, our trauma wounding has the potential to become re-enacted through patterns of addiction. Now, let’s take a look at the impact of trauma and its connection to the process of sex/love addiction specifically.

Both sex addiction and love addiction are considered intimacy disorders in which various sexual activity and/or compulsive relationships are used to soothe one’s distress and trauma wounding rather than solely relying on the use of illicit drugs/alcohol to ease emotional pain. Patrick Carnes, pioneer in the field of sex addiction, asserts that abandonment and trauma are at the core of ALL addictions. There are various ways in which trauma presents throughout one’s life and patterns of addiction including, but not limited to:

1. Trauma Repetition- Characterized by re-enacting the original traumatic event, or attempting to duplicate the same level of emotional intensity through addictive behavior.

2. Trauma Bonding- Defined as dysfunctional attachments to another individual as the relationship is characterized by shame, exploitation, or danger.

3. Trauma Blocking- Characterized as a need to compulsively numb out or soothe intense emotions as a result of traumatic experiences and memories. In sex and love addiction, the compulsive need to connect romantically and/or sexually soothes underlying feelings of abandonment and unworthiness.

4. Trauma Arousal- Involves seeking intensity and pleasure in the presence of danger, violence, or risk. In many cases, substance abuse and compulsive sexual behavior are used in tandem to intensify and heighten arousal during sexual acting out. 

5. Trauma Abstinence- Occurs when there is a compulsive need to deny and deprive ourselves of basic needs, especially during periods of high shame. After sexual acting out, one may refrain from all sexual activity for a significant period during the despair stage of the addictive cycle.

Healing from Trauma and Addiction

Trauma lies at the root of addictive behavior, and addiction can be viewed as an attempt to resolve the aftereffects of trauma. Addiction recovery requires those who are struggling to take a vulnerable risk and hope that change is possible. However, recovery also requires effective treatment to address the underlying pain and trauma contributing to the addictive behavior. Without treating both the trauma and the addiction, there is an increased risk for relapse. There are many evidence-based therapies that can aid in reducing the distress related to underlying traumatic experiences including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) and Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS). Addiction therapists at The Haven are trained to provide EMDR therapy as well as IFS to heal old wounds and assist you in navigating out of a life defined by trauma, into a life of recovery. 

Are you struggling with a process addiction? There is hope for healing. To find out more about our approach or to connect with a therapist that is right for you, contact us for a free phone consultation. Our team of therapists are licensed, experienced, and specifically trained in treating betrayal trauma, complex trauma, addiction, and rebuilding relationships.

About the Author

Kenyah M. Smith is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified Sex Addiction Therapist, and Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist with experience in treating addiction and its impact on individuals and the couple system. Kenyah recognizes addiction itself as trauma and specializes in healing underlying wounds that fuel addictive processes and behaviors.