Does Childhood Trauma Lead to Addiction?

Does Childhood Trauma Lead to Addiction?

Your childhood experiences contribute to what you are today as an adult. Your brain when you were a child was an empty cup. It gets full from your experiences, learning, and your environment.

While most parents nurtured and loved their children unconditionally, some grew up as troubled individuals. Childhood trauma plays a prominent part in this.

What is Childhood Trauma?

Childhood trauma is the experience of a child that is emotionally painful and distressful. This experience often leads to permanent mental and physical effects.

While some say children will not remember what happened in childhood because they are young, this is not a hundred percent true. A child can unconsciously bring these experiences into adulthood.

There are different childhood traumas that a child might experience like:

  • Bullying
  • Community Violence
  • Complex Trauma
  • Disasters
  • Early Childhood Trauma
  • Domestic Violence
  • Medical Trauma
  • Physical Abuse
  • Refugee Trauma
  • Sexual Abuse
  • Sex Trafficking
  • Terrorism and Violence
  • Traumatic Grief

Childhood traumas have different effects on individuals. Also, children can have traumas directly by experience or indirectly, like seeing their loved one in pain.

How Untreated Trauma Leads to Addiction

When childhood trauma goes untreated, it can have a long-term effect on an individual. Without treatment, the possibility of negative consequences associated with childhood trauma can lead to a severe matter.

Some studies found that untreated trauma is highly associated with depression. Also, untreated childhood trauma causes other mental health disorders that use alcohol or substances as a coping mechanism.

People with mental illness feel like they are in a dark and cold place. Most often than not, they feel alone. They often turn to alcohol or substance abuse, sometimes both, to ease the depressing feeling.

Childhood trauma and substance abuse are not a good mix. It can lead to a grave situation like addiction or even life-threatening ones.

A Facility in Dallas, Texas that Will Treat Your Childhood Trauma

Childhood trauma is not something that you can brush off your shoulders. Experiences from a long time ago might haunt your adult life. Processing your childhood trauma and accepting that you need help is the first thing to do to heal.

If you or someone you love experienced trauma from childhood and still have some healing to do, Mallard Lake Detox Center in Dallas, Texas, can help.

We have an evidence-based program that is modeled after every individual needs. We also have a Residential Treatment Program that can heal your childhood trauma and substance dependency side by side.

If you want to learn about our programs and facilities, we have a 24/7 confidential helpline. Call us today!

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