Trauma 101
What is trauma?
An emotional and physical response to an experience or series of experiences that feels threatening, overwhelming, or unsafe.
What is a substance use disorder?
A treatable health condition in which substance use leads to significant problems or distress.
What is a trigger?
Something that activates an emotional, physical, or psychological response and may increase distress or cravings.
Name one healthy coping skill that can help during stress or a craving.
Grounding, comfortable breathing, journaling, walking, contacting a support person, or attending a recovery meeting.
A person has a stressful day and notices an urge to drink. What is the first thing they can do to respond to the urge constructively?
Recognize and acknowledge the craving without judgment, identify what triggered it, and choose a safe coping strategy.
Name two examples of experiences that may be traumatic.
Examples include abuse, neglect, domestic violence, serious accidents, witnessing violence, or sudden loss.
What does self-medication mean?
Using a substance in an attempt to relieve emotional pain, anxiety, trauma symptoms, or other distress.
Name two common triggers for substance use.
Stress, loneliness, conflict, certain locations, substance-related reminders, fatigue, or painful emotions.
What is grounding?
A skill that brings attention back to the present moment and helps a person reconnect with their current surroundings.
A client becomes irritable and defensive whenever they feel criticized. What survival response might this resemble, and what could help?
It may resemble a fight response. Recognizing the emotional trigger, pausing before reacting, grounding, and practicing emotional regulation may help.
What are the three commonly taught survival responses to danger?
Fight, flight, and freeze.
Name two reasons someone might use substances to cope with trauma.
To numb painful emotions, escape memories, reduce anxiety, sleep, or temporarily feel relief.
True or false: Experiencing a craving automatically means a person will relapse.
False. A craving is an urge, not an inevitable action. Coping skills and support can help a person respond safely.
Name two people or resources someone could contact when trauma symptoms or cravings increase.
A sponsor, trusted friend, therapist, treatment provider, peer support group, or recovery community.
Someone uses drugs to numb feelings of grief and shame. What concept explains why they may have started using, and why might the pattern continue?
Self-medication. The substances may provide temporary emotional relief, reinforcing use, while the underlying distress and consequences may persist or worsen.
True or false: Everyone who experiences a traumatic event develops PTSD.
False. People respond differently, and not everyone develops lasting symptoms or PTSD.
Why might using substances to cope with emotional pain become a cycle?
Substances may provide short-term relief, but can create longer-term problems and more stress, which may increase the urge to use again.
Someone hears a song associated with a painful past experience and suddenly feels anxious. What might be happening?
The song may be acting as a trauma reminder or sensory trigger.
What is the difference between guilt and shame?
Guilt focuses on something a person did or regrets; shame focuses on believing something is wrong with them as a person.
A person in recovery begins isolating, sleeping poorly, and thinking frequently about using after a difficult relationship conflict. What warning signs should they recognize, and what should they do?
Isolation, sleep disruption, and increased thoughts about using may signal increased relapse risk. They can contact recovery supports, identify the trigger, use coping skills, and update their relapse-prevention plan.
A person feels numb, disconnected, and unable to act during a stressful situation. Which survival response might this resemble?
Freeze. It can involve feeling stuck, numb, or unable to respond.
A person uses alcohol to avoid painful memories. The next day, they experience poor sleep, anxiety, and conflict with loved ones. How could this reinforce the trauma-addiction cycle?
The alcohol temporarily helps them avoid distress, but its consequences create additional stress and emotional discomfort, potentially increasing the urge to drink again.
A person has an argument, feels rejected, and wants to use immediately. Identify the possible trigger, the urge, and one helpful next step.
The argument and feeling of rejection are possible triggers; wanting to use is the urge. A helpful next step is to pause, use grounding, leave the high-risk situation if needed, and contact a trusted support person.
A person says, 'I relapsed, so all my progress is gone.' What is a healthier recovery-oriented response?
A return to use does not erase progress. The person can seek support promptly, review what contributed to the return to use, and adjust their recovery plan. They should also assess overdose risk because tolerance may have decreased.
A person says, 'I use because I cannot handle what happened to me. Without substances, I have to feel everything.' How could you explain the connection between trauma and addiction and identify a healthier next step?
Substances may have become a way to avoid or numb painful feelings, but they do not resolve the underlying trauma. A healthier next step is to connect with appropriate treatment and recovery support, practice manageable coping skills, and explore trauma-related symptoms with a qualified professional when ready.