Trauma treatment for women has the power to change lives. There is no overstating the impact that trauma can have on a woman’s relationships, career, family life and quality of life. There is virtually no part of a life that trauma does not touch. Because of the impact of traumatic experiences, deconstructing the trauma and repairing the damage has equally profound and far-reaching effects. We know there is a proven connection between trauma and addiction. So it follows that trauma-informed care should be part of an effective women’s addiction treatment.
Here are three reasons why trauma treatment for women is a natural complement to addiction recovery:
#1 Empowerment and Safety
Trauma-informed care in substance abuse treatment is designed to do several things. Among them is restoring a sense of safety and, eventually, confidence. Part of the way trauma treatment for women empowers them is through education. Understanding responses to trauma is the first step in overcoming them. Responses to trauma can include:
- Errors in Thinking: One example might be interpreting situations as dangerous when they are not.
- Intrusive Thoughts: Reliving a traumatic event over and over while awake or in dreams would be an example.
- Inappropriate Guilt: For example, a person blames themselves for what happened to them even though they are the survivor of the circumstance.
- Idealization: Justifying the behavior of the person who created the trauma, for example, excusing a partner’s domestic abuse.
Trauma treatment for women also helps them begin to unravel misperceptions and let go of guilt and idealization. It helps them learn how to establish healthy boundaries. Feeling safe, strong and capable are important goals for anyone in addiction recovery or healing from trauma.
So one important way trauma treatment for women goes with addiction recovery is by helping women feel safe and empowered. This feeling of safety is also crucial for women to progress in their healing from trauma and addiction. Feeling safe is a form of empowerment all by itself.
#2 Honesty and Trust
Honesty is a cornerstone of addiction recovery. One of the ways to earn trust from others is through honesty. A woman who feels safe and empowered will find it easier to be honest with and trust others. Being trusted and able to trust others is an essential part of recovering from trauma.
Part of trauma-informed treatment for women is learning to trust others and being honest enough to share their stories. The intersection of trust and honesty is one more place where trauma treatment and addiction recovery for women meet.
Being honest and learning to trust is one of the keys to regaining hope and joy after a life affected by trauma. Trust and honesty both require courage; this is particularly true for any woman living with trauma and its effects.
Honesty and trust are also the keys that open the door to relationships with other women in recovery. That fellowship is fertile ground for healing to blossom in. Through it, women learn that they are not alone and that there is hope and strength they can tap into. They also become stronger themselves by helping others. All of this furthers the healing process for both trauma and addiction alike.
#3 Hope and Courage
It takes courage to face your trauma. Addiction recovery requires courage too. Hope makes it easier to have courage. The hope of better days ahead. Of a life where trauma doesn’t cast a shadow over your joy. Hope is a powerful motivator.
One of the biggest reasons addiction and trauma are so closely tied is that a woman’s drug of choice becomes a coping mechanism. The anxiety and despair that trauma can bring can be hard to endure. Because trauma originates in the mind, it can feel impossible to escape—even years after a traumatizing event.
But if a woman has hope of recovery, that is all it takes for her to access the courage she needs. Trauma-informed care in substance abuse treatment places heavy emphasis on hope and courage for this very reason.
Hope is a lifeline to begin to climb out and grab hold of courage. Once a woman has harnessed her courage, the need for a coping mechanism for the trauma is greatly diminished. Progress is made, and healing happens. That’s just a small glimpse of the power that hope and courage have.
Where to Find Trauma-Informed Treatment
Promises Brazos Valley offers trauma-informed addiction treatment for women. Our bold and compassionate program is designed to instill in women a sense of empowerment and the knowledge that they are safe. We help women learn to trust again and to speak their truth.
We include women-centered modes of treatment like the Seeking Safety program to help women find hope and exercise their courage. Our compassionate staff would love the opportunity to do all of this and more for you or the woman you love. Please give Promises Brazos Valley a call at 19794260086 if you have any questions at all about trauma treatment for women or trauma-informed care in substance abuse treatment.