Dual Diagnosis

What's the link between trauma and addiction? We’re trying to understand traumatic situations that happen in someone's life and how they may impact substance abuse or addiction. Trauma and addiction can be linked even when there is not an obvious (overt) case of trauma. This is Part 2 of our an interview with The Clearing co-founder, Joe Koelzer on the subject.

Read Part 1 here.

Did you know that most people with a substance addiction also have a concurrent mental health condition?

This is often in the form of clinical depression, anxiety, etc.

Too often, there is a mental health stigma pinned on those with these conditions, and they fail to get the proper care to address both problems. And they're related.

What's the link between trauma and addiction? We’re trying to understand traumatic situations that happen in someone's life and how they may impact substance abuse or addiction. Trauma and addiction can be linked even when there is not an obvious (overt) case of trauma. Learn more from recovery expert and Clearing co-founder Joe Koelzer.

What is a holistic drug rehab approach and why is it important?

Many people believe that once they complete an addiction treatment program, their substance or drug abuse issue is done for good. But addiction recovery is a process, not an event. 

Did you know that trauma and addiction are often co-habitants? They're linked in stronger ways than previously thought. And get this - 1 in 4 of us will experience a traumatic event before age 4. 

Do you categorize meditation as one of those tasks you really should get around to, but never actually do? Do you see it as something that only “ultra-spiritual” people pursue? If so, you’re not alone.

Many people have heard about the tremendous mind body health and wellness benefits of meditation, but they don’t take the plunge and practice. Why?

According to the popular poem “My Name Is Toxic Shame” by Leo Booth and John Bradsh'/aw, shame is the “voracious hole that fuels all addictions.” Shame and addiction go hand-in-hand. But shame is not a good motivator; when people are shamed, they shut down and their personal growth stalls.

What is holistic addiction treatment? In short, it encompasses the entire person: the physical, the mental, the emotional, and the spiritual. Why is it important? Because if you don't address all these levels, you'll be off balance and will begin using again. 

What comes to mind when you hear the word trauma? Chances are, your mind supplies violent, frightening images: a car wreck, perhaps, or bombs dropping in wartime. But did you know that trauma isn’t defined by a catastrophic event, but by an individual’s reaction to that event?

Have you ever suspected that your addictions are actually attempts to “numb out” from an underlying emotional pain? If so, then you already understand a great deal about the root causes of addiction and have a sense of what dual diagnosis is. Whether or not you are even consciously aware of the emotional root causes, the slightest reminder or trigger can lead you back into that pattern of self-medicating. So you continue even though your drug of choice is causing collateral damage.