The connection between trauma and addiction.

Believe it or not there is a connection between trauma and addiction, and understanding this is the key to healing. Trauma occurs when people experience something deeply disturbing, or frightening, things like violence, abuse, loss, and neglect. All of these experiences can leave emotional scars on you  that feel overwhelming,especially if you never talk about it with anyone or process it in a safe way.

In order to deal with that pain people tend to turn to substances like alcohol, drugs, or they tend to pick up bad behaviors like overeating, gambling, and self harming. These things can offer relief for a short period of time, but over time this escape can turn into an addiction and instead create a harmful cycle where the original pain remains, and new problems are added. 

Addictions aren't just about a substance or behaviour they are about trying to survive emotional pain, that's why treating addictions means more than just quitting, it means healing the trauma that you have with the right support like trauma informed therapy, safe relationships, and self care. Recovery is possible and compassion, not judgment, is the first step.