Healing the Core of Addiction Complex PTSD and Inpatient Treatment

Complex PTSD and Inpatient Treatment

Most people are aware of the condition known as post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. PTSD is a common anxiety disorder in the mental health world, and individuals receive this diagnosis for a variety of reasons, from experiencing a single traumatic event like a natural disaster, witnessing violence, a car accident, and more.

However, another level of PTSD exists as a diagnosis, and many people are not aware of its existence. This condition is called complex PTSD, making life extremely difficult for those living with it, bringing PTSD symptoms into daily life.

Those living with complex PTSD have suffered from ongoing and repeated traumatic experiences for an extended period, like physical and emotional abuse, multiple deployments to active war zones, or even abusive or toxic relationships with family members. This prolonged trauma has set up a pattern of emotional and physical avoidance and dissociation that makes it difficult for these individuals to function. It can inform unhealthy coping skills like substance abuse, isolation, and more, necessitating a professional C-PTSD treatment program, addiction treatment, and care for co-occurring disorders for effective change.

Complex PTSD has been linked to higher rates of depression, anxiety disorders, mental health disorders, substance use disorders, self-harming behaviors, and suicide attempts. At Exclusive Hawaii Rehab™, we treat complex PTSD through wide-ranging and holistic PTSD treatment in Hawaii with options that are customized for each client in a caring, supportive environment.

Understanding Complex PTSD or C-PTSD

Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) is commonly known as “complex PTSD,” and was first identified in 1994 by Judith Herman in her book entitled Trauma & Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence – From Domestic Abuse to Political Terror. Dr. Bessel van der Kolk further explored the term complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) in his book entitled Traumatic Stress: The Effects of Overwhelming Experience On Mind, Body And Society.

Complex PTSD is a severe mental health condition that develops due to repeated or prolonged exposure to traumatic events. Repeated traumas can compromise mental health, as well as a person’s emotional regulation or perception, affecting a person’s physical and mental well-being while informing unhealthy coping strategies.

Complex PTSD can develop after experiencing any form of trauma, but it most commonly occurs in those who have been abused or mistreated over a long period in childhood, such as survivors of domestic violence, neglect, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse. However, military personnel and first responders can also be at an increased risk of developing C-PTSD as a result of their line of work.

The effects of this type of trauma can be very damaging and long-lasting, often causing problems in relationships, employment, and social settings. Complex PTSD can affect people who have experienced:

• Sexual abuse or assault
• Physical abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Bullying or harassment at school or work
• Domestic violence
• Traumatic environments and communities, like an abusive household, jail, prison, or a violent community

There are three main types of complex PTSD:

• Developmental trauma disorder: This type of complex PTSD is caused by early childhood abuse and neglect, including emotional abuse and emotional neglect (being ignored).
• Relational trauma disorder: This type of complex PTSD is caused by interpersonal trauma such as rape, domestic violence, and incest.
• Social role dysfunction: This type results from chronic bullying, discrimination, or other forms of social exclusion that begin in adolescence or adulthood (such as being bullied at school).

Some argue that because C-PTSD is so traumatic and life-altering, it leads to changes in the brain’s chemistry. Many of the events leading to C-PTSD certainly do cause a significant amount of shock, so it’s not far-fetched to believe the brain is thrown off permanently. Talking to professionals at a dedicated residential treatment center to explore the effects of complex trauma is often necessary to explore the profound effects of trauma and self-destructive coping strategies to begin the healing process.

Understanding How C-PTSD Affects Your Brain Chemistry

It’s not uncommon for things like rape, severe physical abuse, war, and other traumatic experiences to change the mind and body’s response to triggers. This is a direct result of a change in brain chemistry.

When the body goes through events such as the ones mentioned above, especially if a large amount of physical pain, emotional pain, or even death is imminent, the mind does certain things to protect itself from permanent damage. In some cases, it even shuts down, which explains the form of shock after traumatizing ordeals.

Individuals who experience these events can sometimes go days or even weeks without speaking. Once they begin returning to normal, it still takes time and counseling to help a person process what they went through, navigate dissociation, flashbacks, and ongoing hypervigilance following these traumatic experiences.

In the most challenging situations, victims won’t even process the event at all and can develop what’s almost like amnesia regarding the events of the trauma. Although this is a safety mechanism, it’s only made to take place for a short time, and treatment at dedicated complex PTSD treatment centers is still necessary to explore potential long-term effects of these traumatic experiences.

What Are the Causes and Risk Factors for C-PTSD?

Not all people will develop C-PTSD in the same way. Understanding the risks associated with trauma and complex PTSD can inform the most personalized, proven, and holistic therapies in treatment.

History of Mental Health Challenges in the Family

Although PTSD is not thought to be a genetic disease, and there is no predetermined marker to highlight risk, a history of mental health challenges in someone’s family could make them high risk. Anxiety, or observed coping skills in family members’ responses to stress, can inform unhealthy coping skills and increase the risk of trauma impacting daily life.

This is an example of learned behavior, which proves it’s not tied to genetics. However, these behaviors are often deeply rooted in thoughts and memories buried so deeply that it can be challenging to deal with them.

The good news is that because the behavior was learned over time, therapy can help clients replace it with a more positive coping mechanism. Different types of behavioral treatments, modalities, and other avenues of treatment can help these clients return to a healthy standard of living and help balance the brain.

Repeated and Prolonged Periods of Abuse

One thing that makes C-PTSD so challenging is that it’s a result of sustained periods of abuse. The mind is a resilient part of our body and can make it through some powerful events. However, it can still feel overwhelmed, causing damage on the chemical level. Repeated exposures to stress and trauma can also lower the brain’s resilience and ability to cope with stress and trauma, furthering the dangers of C-PTSD on daily life.

Additionally, when people deal with long-term abuse from a loved one or spouse, they develop a different bond or dynamic with that person. Many people begin to feel like the way the abuser shows them love is through the abuse. This further complicates the situation and makes said relationships challenging to dissolve, and the abused individual has a tough time forming normal relationships in the future. They become unable to decipher the difference between love and abuse and are often drawn toward another abusive relationship.

Continuing to relate abuse with love is a prime example of the trauma experienced altering the brain’s chemistry. However, these alterations can always be repaired with certain types of treatment options and evidence-based therapies, allowing the client to return to a standard way of living.

Specific events that cause C-PTSD include:

War

Going through a war experience for a significant period or ending up in a frightening situation for hours or days will lead to C-PTSD. Participating in consecutive tours and constant fighting will also trigger this condition.

Sexual Assault

Being a victim of sexual assault is a typical example of a situation that will profoundly affect the mind. A large percentage of victims of sexual assault suffer from C-PTSD at some point, whether during childhood or adulthood.

Discrimination

Most people wouldn’t consider discrimination a trigger of C-PTSD, but consider the following scenario. Imagine you’re an employee at a company. You’re supposed to be able to trust the people you work with to handle themselves professionally. This is an environment you count on to produce a conducive atmosphere to allow you to feed your family.

Suddenly, for some reason or another, you’re judged, made fun of, verbally abused, and humiliated by nearly everyone you work with, including your boss. A place that once provided comfort and security does a complete 180; there’s no enforcement arm to help rectify the situation.

The trust issues this would cause and the embarrassment, pain, and suffering would be enough to cause a complex problem in someone mentally. It is not uncommon to hear stories of older adults who lived through the segregation period and racial tensions of the 50s and 60s to develop deep, psychological scars.

And it is not a stretch to say that these events could cause changes in the brain that require therapy.

What to Expect in Complex PTSD Treatment in Hawaii

A holistic rehab provides one of the best environments for healing from C-PTSD. The traditional methods are available to clients at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab™, blending proven therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) with holistic healing options, group therapy, community support, and more for effective healing.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, or EMDR, is also available in addition to forms of psychotherapy and experiential therapies for a comprehensive approach to treatment in your residential program.

Behavior replacement therapy, exposure therapy, and other psychological treatment methods are effective, depending on the client. Each treatment plan at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab™ is 100% custom and tailor-made to meet each client’s specific needs for healing.

The holistic portion arguably provides a treatment equally as beneficial as traditional methods. Things like ocean therapy, recreation therapy, and different forms of art therapy can offer significant benefits to C-PTSD. Equine therapy and other treatments working with animals have also produced some promising results, depending on what the client responds to most favorably.

There is no cookie-cutter form of treatment or playbook at a holistic rehab. Each one is unique and stands out from the regular residential or outpatient rehab facilities.

Our expert professionals at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab™ work closely with clients, determining the best options to move forward as a team. No decisions are made before the client arrives for treatment. The first face-to-face contact with each client is essential for getting a feel for the most effective route moving forward.

Who Benefits from Complex PTSD Inpatient Treatment?

Naturally, the client stands to receive the most significant number of benefits from complex PTSD inpatient treatment at a holistic inpatient treatment center. However, the entire situation is like a wheel, providing benefits to everyone involved.

Each client’s family stands to benefit nearly as much as the client. Having a loved one return to a more positive state of mind and maintain their sense of self is a tremendous gift. If you have never dealt with someone who suffered from a mental health breakdown and nearly lost themselves, it’s a difficult situation to understand. Likewise, we work with family members to provide education, focusing on their healing at home as well as how to better support a loved one overcoming trauma for sustainable healing and change.

However, the relief experienced when the person finally receives effective treatment is unmatched. The staff and counselors benefit as well.

Their benefits are experienced by understanding how they’ve helped someone overcome one of the biggest obstacles they’ll ever face. Additionally, the more frequently mental health professionals treat these cases using a holistic approach, the more they learn and add to their arsenal of evidence-backed research.

Maintaining this type of data allows professionals in the mental health industry to break down and examine case studies to make future advancements and provide better care.

Do Addictive Behaviors Accompany Complex PTSD?

Addictive behaviors are common for individuals who have complex PTSD. These would exist as a direct result of the disorder, if nothing else, and the addiction transpired as a way of escaping the terrible images burned into their minds.

However, having a genetic predisposition for addiction is a different situation altogether. Individuals with this classification may require more extensive dual diagnosis treatment.

Lasting Recovery and Complex PTSD Inpatient Treatment Is Possible at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab™

At Exclusive Hawaii Rehab™, we understand how difficult life with complex PTSD can be. We want you to know we’ve got your back every step.

You do not have to participate in treatment that doesn’t work for you, and we only move forward with therapeutic approaches that you approve. This allows us to work together to help you achieve long-term recovery and prepare for life after treatment.

By the time you part ways with us, you will be much better prepared to take on the most challenging elements of PTSD with courage and a positive attitude. To find out more about reserving a spot, contact a member of our Intake Coordination staff today.