Unresolved Trauma and Addiction: How EMDR Can Help

According to the American Psychological Association, “Trauma is an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, rape, or natural disaster.” Trauma, in its many forms, acts as a profound disruptor of an individual’s sense of safety and well-being. It is not just the event itself but the person’s subjective experience of it that defines trauma. This can range from one-time occurrences to ongoing stressors, each leaving an indelible mark on the psyche.

Trauma is a multifaceted phenomenon, encompassing a wide range of experiences that can deeply affect individuals’ mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Understanding the different types of trauma is crucial for comprehending the complex ways in which individuals react to and cope with traumatic events. Here, we explore several primary categories of trauma, each with its distinct characteristics and potential pathways to substance use disorders and addiction as a coping mechanism.

• Physical Trauma: This type of trauma results from bodily injury or harm, whether through accidents, natural disasters, violence, or other physical threats. The impact of physical trauma goes beyond the immediate physical injuries, often leading to long-term psychological effects such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. Individuals may turn to substances or addictive behaviors as a means to manage pain, fear, or the stress associated with their physical recovery.
• Emotional and Psychological Trauma: Emotional trauma arises from experiences that threaten one’s sense of security or self-worth. This can include experiences of bullying, emotional abuse, neglect, or witnessing violence. Psychological trauma, similarly, refers to damage to the psyche after living through an extremely frightening or distressing event. Both forms can lead to profound feelings of sadness, worthlessness, and detachment, driving individuals toward addiction as they seek to escape these intense emotions.
• Sexual Trauma: Sexual abuse, assault, and harassment fall under this category. The violation of one’s body and autonomy can leave lasting scars, affecting victims’ relationships with their own bodies and with others. The shame, guilt, and trauma resulting from such experiences often contribute to substance use, as victims attempt to numb their pain or regain a sense of control.
• Developmental Trauma: This type arises from adverse experiences during critical periods of development in childhood or adolescence, such as persistent neglect, abuse, or parental substance abuse. Developmental trauma can disrupt normal emotional, cognitive, and neurological development, leading to difficulties in learning, forming relationships, and managing emotions. Individuals with a history of developmental trauma may turn to addictive behaviors as a form of self-medication or to fill emotional voids.
• Complex Trauma: Complex trauma results from exposure to multiple traumatic events, often of an invasive, interpersonal nature. This type of trauma is characterized by the varied and cumulative effects of exposure to prolonged abuse, war, community violence, or captivity. Individuals experiencing complex trauma may face challenges in trusting others, and regulating emotions, and may struggle with a sense of identity. Addiction serves as a maladaptive strategy to cope with the overwhelming stress and emotional pain associated with complex trauma.
• Secondary or Vicarious Trauma: This occurs when individuals are exposed to the traumatic experiences of others, often in a caregiving or professional context, such as therapists, healthcare workers, or first responders. Hearing about or witnessing the suffering of others can lead to similar symptoms as those experienced by direct trauma survivors, including heightened anxiety, hypervigilance, and emotional numbing. Without proper self-care and support, those experiencing vicarious trauma may also resort to substance use or addictive behaviors as coping mechanisms.