Finding Rehab for Complex PTSD and Substance Abuse

What is Complex PTSD?

Complex PTSD is a specific diagnosis emanating from deficits that PTSD fails to cover. PTSD covers exposure to a single isolated traumatic event, while those who repeatedly witnessed traumatizing events often have different or more severe symptoms.

Complex PTSD describes symptoms related to chronic trauma. Such situations include concentration camps, prostitution brothels, long-term sexual abuse, long-term physical abuse, prisoner of war camps, and child exploitation rings.

Chronic abuse such as this, which might occur over months or years, has a far more devastating effect on an individual than a single event usually does.

Symptoms of complex PTSD include distortions of consciousness, including extreme dissociation, forgetting or reliving traumatic events, and problems with self-perception such as helplessness, hopelessness, despair, guilt, and shame.

Other problems arise in regulating emotions and experiencing extreme sadness, suicidal thoughts, and anger. Distorted views of the perpetrator are also common, including an obsession with or giving all power to them. Additionally, relationships with others may also be difficult with problems of distrust, isolation, and looking for a savior in others.

There is a significant difference between PTSD and Complex PTSD. A diagnosis of PTSD does not adequately represent people who have complex PTSD and often receive a diagnosis of Disorders of Stress Not Otherwise Specified or DESNOS.

A diagnosis is just a code for a set of symptoms. The real issue with such severely distressing experiences and symptoms after the fact centers around the need for treatment, education, and support and the failure of medicine or society to provide just that.

Complex PTSD and Substance Abuse

The more distressing or traumatic an experience or symptom is, the greater the association with substance abuse. People with Complex PTSD who lack proper psychological treatment or social support often turn to substances to ease their symptoms.

People with such severe symptoms are often desperate for relief. Alcohol, opiates, uppers, downers – whatever helps ease the pain at the moment. The tendency to reach for something to get through a difficult moment is understandable – as a society, we are taught that alcohol and other drugs are the answer to almost every problem. If we look to a drink at the end of a hard day, the reaction of numbing oneself in response to overwhelming trauma makes sense.

Self-medicating, however, can lead to intensified or worsening symptoms and the development of new symptoms. Insomnia, depression, and anxiety, for example, all tend to get worse in the aftermath of mood or mind-altering substances. The brain’s biological processes are thrown off balance by introducing drugs and alcohol, causing a short-term high followed by a longer recovery period.

The use of mood and mind-altering substances often leads to dependence and addiction. There is hope regardless of the substance of choice or length of use.