How Our Trauma and Addiction Treatment Can Help You Overcome Your Problems

Recovery from addiction is a lifelong battle endeavor. Addiction negatively impacts everything that we hold dear, from family life to work, and eventually it becomes impossible for the addict to live a normal life. Seeking addiction treatment  is a good start however in order to sustain long term recovery and a life worth living it should be followed up with deeper work on the underlying issues. At Trauma and Beyond Psychological Center ® we address underlying issues with an understanding of addiction and addiction treatment.

Starting Afresh

Recovery from  addictions can mean many lifestyle changes.  Removing the drugs is one part of treatment; however, all the issues that created the “need” for drugs are still there. We can help you to identify and explore stresses and help you to develop healthier coping skills.  Learning to deal with feelings that may have been distressful in the past is a crucial part of addiction treatment. At Trauma and Beyond ® treatment is designed to give you the strength and support to deal with your cravings while developing skills for emotional regulation and distress tolerance.  Learning to connect with new self resources creates neural pathways and opens the way to new possibilities.

Learning How to Overcome Trauma

Addiction can often be the result of past trauma, which has been suppressed and not resolved. We often see patients who are trying to recover, but constantly fail because the substance is a cover or band aid for the true problem that lies beneath. We walk you through the process of emotional resolution, so you can start to experience the world around you very differently, and gradually recovery from addiction. Our goal, is to support your development of internal resources that allow you to experience day -to-day life without a dependence on drugs.

Put Substance Abuse behind You

When you come out of residential treatment, you need a strong course of therapy and relapse prevention (addiction treatment) in order to give you the self empowerment you need continue creating a healthier life. We know that relapse can be a part of addiction; however, studies show higher levels of success with individuals who continue in long-term aftercare treatment. With our specialists in trauma and addiction treatment, we believe we can give the best possible chance towards new choices and a  sustainable recovery. To start your treatment substance addiction aftercare, contact us on (818) 651-0711.

How Trauma and Beyond Center Helps You Move Beyond Your Past

Trauma and Beyond Psychological Center in Sherman Oaks, California, focuses on working with our clients towards finding resolution of developmental trauma  and shock trauma. It is our belief that trauma is at the root of many psychological and behavioral problems. When trauma occurs, the brain’s natural defense is to suppress or make unconscious these traumatic experiences. Trauma informed therapy  is necessary to support clients who are working to overcome past trauma. Helping clients move out of repetitive cycles includes recognizing the adaptive function these cycles serve.

The Hidden Past

When a horrible event occurs the nervous system becomes overwhelmed.  When this happens, memories are not stored in the same way as normal memories.  Because they are unintegrated, they may appear in the present as distressing feelings or vague glimpses of  traumatic experiences, flashbacks, sensations or extreme emotions. In order to avoid these uncomfortable states individuals may use drugs, alcohol, and/or sex, focus excessively on work, or use self-harming behaviors to mask the pain. Often these symptoms will present as depression, anxiety, personality disorders, and other psychological diagnoses.

Trauma informed therapists have the skills to recognize underlying trauma and support clients to strengthen resources and resiliency. Trauma informed therapy supports clients in developing healthier coping strategies and neural pathways for self-soothing — skills necessary to cope with daily life and trauma therapy without needing maladaptive coping mechanisms. We seek to provide the tools that our clients need in order move towards healthier life functioning.

Addressing Emotional Overload

Individuals who suffer from trauma may find they are easily triggered by the minor stresses of everyday life. Even a small stress such as a disagreement with a colleague can result in excessive feelings of anxiety, and pain, and nervous system dysregulation. The nervous system has become hypersensitive seeing even minor stresses as a major threat. A feeling of insecurity and lack of safety often lie beneath these behaviors and reactions which are overwhelming. Only by addressing the full issue from a psychobiological perspective,  will patients increase their capacity for resilience.

Let Go Of Trauma

The truth is that many of us hold onto trauma, causing us distress in our daily lives. Sometimes individuals are aware of how trauma has affected them others are not. Symptoms such as stress headaches, overeating, isolation, insecurity, and addictions can be symptoms of trauma. In order to avoid painful repetitions of past trauma and stop a cycle of fear and distress, Trauma and Beyond Center therapists will work with clients to resolve past trauma. To start finding a resolution today, call us at (808) 651-0711 for a free telephone consultation.

How Trauma Is At the Base of Sex and Love Addiction

When we speak about addictions, we generally think of substance abuse and drug addiction. Currently experts recognize process addictions including gambling, gaming, video, and shopping.  However, there is an often ignored and rarely acknowledged form of addiction that can destroy lives and relationships and is often rooted in severe trauma that can make it difficult to escape. Sex and love addiction are not always acknowledged or understood as maladaptive trauma responses .  While acknowledged by many professionals, sex and love addiction are  commonly understood by mainstream media. Love, Sex and Addiction

There are two main types of this form of addiction, love and sex. Classic signs of sex addiction include an attachment to specific forms of sex or sexual encounters. People suffering from this type of addiction will be preoccupied with sex, and may spend inordinate amounts of time thinking about, planning, and acting out sexually in spite of telling themselves they will not. Often this is accompanied by  distress and anxiety as well as a deep sense of shame. Love addicts tend to focus upon emotional experiences and develop codependent relationships . They may become addicted to falling in love or seeing a certain person, even if that relationship is destructive or abusive. They may move from relationship to relationship, and there may be a sense of desperation or anxiety when the loved object is absent. These addictions cause harmful consequences and may effect other main areas of their lives and their functioning.

The Roots of This Addiction

Although the nature of the addiction may vary, there are certain commonalities such as difficulty establishing or maintaining healthy relationships . Both of these are problems related to intimacy and attachment.  Stemming from developmental trauma sex and love addiction may be present with other other mental health disorders such as depression or anxiety.

Treating Addiction with Therapy

At Trauma and Beyond Center, we believe that the root source of these addictions is childhood trauma and attachment wounds. Working with our patients, we help them to understand the effects of trauma, and learn new ways of coping with their needs for connection and intimacy.  Using a gentle approach our 3 phase model of trauma treatment includes stabilization, reprocessing, and re connection. To start therapy today, contact us online or by calling (818) 351-3511 now.