He does not talk about what happened. He just pours a drink at night so he can sleep without the memories coming back. His family sees the drinking, and they may not see the weight he is trying to carry underneath it.
PTSD and addiction often show up together in the same man. The hopeful part is that both can be treated, and they can be treated at the same time. We help men in Arkansas heal from the drinking and from the memories underneath it. Counselors and prayer both have a place in that work.
How PTSD and addiction connect
The VA’s National Center for PTSD says problems with drugs or alcohol often go hand in hand with PTSD. In the United States, over 4 out of 10 adults who have PTSD also have problems with drug or alcohol use. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) adds that traumatic experiences are linked with substance use. It notes that many people diagnosed with PTSD also have a substance use disorder.
The link runs in both directions. The VA explains that for most people who have both, PTSD develops first. A man may drink or use to relax and feel at ease around other people. He may also use to push away thoughts he does not want to face. Alcohol and drugs can also lead a man into risky situations, and those can bring new traumatic events.
When the drinking or drug use reaches the level of addiction, the VA says it can bring physical pain and medical problems. It can also bring trouble in relationships and difficulty keeping a job. So the drinking may start as an attempt to cope and end up adding to the load. That matters for you as his family, because it means the man you love is hurting. It also means treatment has to reach the pain as well as the bottle.
Signs the two are feeding each other
Only a professional can diagnose PTSD or a substance use disorder. Still, the VA describes patterns that families and men can watch for. You may notice some of these in him:
- He drinks or uses to fall asleep, yet his sleep is not restful.
- He seems more irritable than he used to be.
- He avoids his own feelings and the memories behind them.
- He drinks to feel comfortable in social settings.
- He uses alcohol or drugs to push away hard thoughts and feelings.
The VA warns that substance use can make PTSD symptoms worse. Alcohol makes sleep less restful, and drug use can increase irritability and avoidance of emotions. The VA also notes that people with both conditions have a higher risk of depression and of suicide. If you see these patterns, it is a good reason to call our admissions team.
Why treating both at once works
A man does not have to get sober first and face the trauma later. The VA says research shows that treating PTSD and substance use at the same time works to treat both conditions. It calls this concurrent treatment.
The VA describes two ways to get it. Some people work with two different therapists at once. One therapist treats the PTSD, and the other treats the substance use. Others receive therapy that combines treatment for both problems in a single plan. Either way, neither condition waits on the other.
The VA also describes the kinds of care that help. Trauma-focused psychotherapies are the most effective treatments for PTSD, with or without a substance use disorder. For substance use, cognitive-behavioral therapy helps a man recognize and cope with the situations where he is most likely to drink or use. Relapse prevention helps him plan for the things that could pull him back. Motivational enhancement therapy can help a man who is unsure about change grow more ready to start. NIDA agrees that effective treatments exist for trauma-related mental health disorders.
How we treat PTSD and addiction together
At SOZO, we treat co-occurring disorders at the same time as the addiction. Our team looks at what a man has been using and what is happening with his mental health. His personalized treatment plan then addresses both conditions. You can read more about our approach to dual diagnosis treatment for men.
Care can start in residential treatment on our multi-acre campus in Jessieville, Arkansas. Residential care follows ASAM Level III with round-the-clock support. A man takes part in group therapy and one-on-one therapy, and he learns healthy ways to cope with stress and other hard emotions. He also learns how to spot and avoid relationships and places that pull him back toward drinking. The setting is restorative and peaceful, with no hospital feel.
After residential care, a man can step down to partial hospitalization. Our PHP uses cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy. Each week also holds individual and group counseling. He keeps building the skills he started in residential care while he spends more time in daily life. Later, our intensive outpatient program gives at least nine hours of treatment a week, with sessions that can run in the evening or on weekends. Our sober living homes can give him daily structure and peer support after that.
Faith is part of every level. Our program joins Christian principles and the 12 steps with evidence-based practices. A man who carries trauma can bring it to God in prayer while he works through it with a counselor. You can read how other men approach this work in our post on trauma recovery in Hot Springs.
If he needs medical help to stop drinking or using safely, we do not provide medical detox ourselves. We coordinate detox placement with partner facilities, and we hold his place in our program for the day he finishes.
Questions families ask about PTSD and addiction
Why do PTSD and addiction happen together?
The VA explains that many people use alcohol or drugs to manage PTSD symptoms, and for most people PTSD comes first. Substance use can also lead to risky situations and new trauma. Each condition can make the other worse.
Should he get sober before treating the PTSD?
He does not have to wait. The VA says research shows that treating PTSD and substance use at the same time works for both. Our program treats co-occurring disorders alongside the addiction.
Does drinking help with PTSD symptoms?
It may feel that way at first. The VA notes that alcohol can make sleep less restful, and drug use can increase irritability and avoidance. Treatment gives him better ways to cope.
What kind of trauma leads to addiction?
NIDA lists violence, abuse, neglect and family or social conflict among the traumatic events linked with the risk of a substance use disorder. Natural disasters and serious accidents can be traumatic too. Our admissions team can tell you which level of care fits him.
Take the next step with SOZO
A man who has carried trauma for years can find peace and a sober life. We help men in Arkansas heal in mind and spirit, side by side with other men who understand. You can make the first call for him, and our admissions team will help you plan how to talk with him about it.
Starting takes one phone call. Call our admissions team at 501-984-5317, or read about admissions at SOZO first. The admissions team checks your coverage on the first call and tells you which level of care fits. Our main office is at 505 W Grand Ave, Hot Springs, AR 71901. If a man is in danger right now, call 911. If he is thinking about suicide, he can call or text 988.