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Trauma-Informed Hypnotherapy for Treating Addiction
Trauma causes overwhelming stress that exceeds an individual’s coping ability, leading to long-term negative consequences.
Trauma is damaging to a person’s mind, especially psychological trauma. It causes overwhelming stress that exceeds an individual’s coping ability, eventually leading to long-term negative consequences.
We know with 100% certainty that there is a correlation between mental health disorders and substance abuse. We also know that many people with past trauma and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) turn to substance abuse as a form of self-medicating. The severe emotional distress that trauma causes can be debilitating to an individual. Many aren’t sure where to turn, so they turn to drugs. This is all they know.
What is Trauma-Informed Hypnotherapy?
Trauma-Informed hypnotherapy can be used as a part of an individual’s personalized treatment for addiction and substance abuse issues to help them build a foundation for long-lasting recovery. It helps people reclaim a positive sense of self, reframe distressing memories with powerful new memories, and help to heal attachment wounds; it is a compassionate whole-person approach. Trauma-informed therapy aims to recognize the trauma, identify triggers, and develop a coping plan.
How is Trauma-Informed Hypnotherapy Used in Treating Addiction?
Trauma-Informed therapy seeks to understand how an individual’s unresolved trauma is related to their anxiety, depression, and addiction issues. Hypnosis is an effective evidence-based, gentle tool to heal trauma while addressing the patient’s needs. Cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and other addiction counseling are often used with trauma-Informed therapy and hypnosis.
A hypnotherapist uses guided relaxation, focused attention, and intense concentration to achieve heightened awareness. This is referred to as a trance. Everything around the person, or all external factors, is blocked or ignored during a trance. During this trance, the individual is asked to focus on thoughts like why they turned to substance abuse and how they can better cope without drugs. However, for this therapy to work, the individual has to be able to relax and focus.
Trauma-Informed therapy focuses on healing from past experiences so the person can gain personal growth and embrace positive outcomes. It helps an individual heal from guilt, shame, anger, resentment, grief, and loss while embracing new possibilities, gaining personal strength, and a future free of substance abuse and addiction-related behaviors.
Treatment for Addiction Due to Trauma
If you or someone you love is struggling with an addiction due to trauma, our addiction specialists can assist you around the clock. Absolute Awakenings follows an evidence-based approach to treating substance abuse disorders. We are committed to providing long-term recovery for those struggling with addiction. Recovery is not a one-size-fits-all approach, so every person that walks through our doors is provided with a unique and individualized experience. Our recovery specialists are waiting to assist you. Call us today!
References
- Leeies M, Pagura J, Sareen J, Bolton JM. The use of alcohol and drugs to self-medicate symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder. Depress Anxiety. 2010;27(8):731-736. doi:10.1002/da.20677
- Hartney E. Why Hypnotherapy Can Greatly Help People With Addiction. Verywell Mind. Published April 13, 2020. Accessed January 15, 2023. https://www.verywellmind.com/hypnotherapy-treatment-for-addiction-4120753
- Chapman AL. Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Psychiatry (Edgmont). 2006;3(9):62-68.
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