Click to View Full Document: Childhood Trauma
Document Summary:
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Addiction is a complicated issue, and childhood trauma—caused by events like abuse, neglect, or loss—can have lasting effects on the mind and body, leading some people to turn to addiction as a way to cope.
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Trauma and addiction are closely linked, as people who can't process painful experiences may use substances like alcohol or drugs to numb or avoid emotional pain, which can lead to dependence over time.
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Trauma can change how the brain handles pleasure and motivation, causing those who lacked love and validation to seek substances like cocaine or meth to feel good, eventually relying on them for emotional fulfillment.
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Children exposed to domestic or physical abuse may grow up feeling fear, shame, and unworthiness, and as adults, use substances to escape overwhelming emotions, becoming trapped in addiction.
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Children who grow up in homes where parents use substances may view that as a normal way to cope and mimic the behavior, even if their trauma is different, continuing the cycle through generations.
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Everyone’s trauma is unique, but since trauma changes the brain and makes addiction feel like survival, healing requires addressing both substance use and the trauma behind it.
