Sexual Trauma and Addiction

Sexual trauma can lead to various issues throughout a person’s life. Although sexual trauma can happen at any point in life, it can be even more deceptive when it occurs in childhood. Some people may not even remember the specifics of what happened to them. They may remember that something bad happened when they were children.

Often, a person with sexual trauma in their background will feel shame and confusion. This may lead them to avoid seeking help or even outright refuse to share their experience with even their closest friends or family members. Avoidance like this can lead to a variety of behaviors, including:

• Sexual promiscuity
• Self-harm
• Inability to connect
• Substance abuse

Other negative behaviors can be detrimental to the individual. However, the main thing to remember is that this may all arise due to an inability or refusal to seek help.

Trauma and Addiction

One way that people deal with the effects of sexual trauma is through substance abuse. They may not realize the reason at first, but it can be readily apparent to outsiders and professionals.

Often, there are two reasons someone who has experienced sexual trauma seeks out illicit substances:

• They present a way to act out against authority
• It provides a way to dull the pain of memories of trauma

When people experience sexual trauma early in life, they may see substance abuse as a way to achieve both of these ends. Authority figures may seem frightening and something to be ignored. Even when people are attempting to help, they may be seen as untrustworthy.

Often, those people with these experiences cannot trust others, especially those who remind them of whoever hurt them. That can mean adults or even fellow young people. They may try illicit substances because they see it as a way of telling people they don’t care.

Unfortunately, this solution to their issues will only cause more problems. It will allow them to detach in a way that will affect their lives, possibly for years to come. When a person pushes the trauma down and it resurfaces, even for a moment, they may dive deeper into their addictions to dull it more.

Trauma-Informed Care

The purpose of trauma-informed care is to explore the concept of addiction through the lens of trauma. In this case, sexual trauma. When a person has this in their background, they must be carefully eased through the recovery process.

Care will begin with standard detox. After that, the rehabilitation process will begin. Before this process begins, the individual will be assessed, and their trauma will be discussed. It will be hard at first, but eventually, they will come to understand that it must be addressed to experience and utilize recovery truly.

Through group and individual therapy, these people will be shown how their sexual trauma led them to their current state of addiction. Once they have accepted this concept, it may cause them to break down even further than the initial admittance of their addiction.

For a number of these individuals, being wholly broken down in a safe environment may be the best way to achieve recovery. There is no better place to address all aspects of one’s trauma and addiction than a recovery center whose only goal is to provide care. A few things that people can find at a recovery center are:

• Knowledgeable and dedicated staff
• 24/7 care and monitoring
• Like-minded peers
• The chance to truly let go

When someone is so deep into their own issues that they have finally accepted that they need help, it may be their most vulnerable moment. It is at this lowest point that there is nowhere else to go. That is the point at which to build them back up.

Twilight Recovery Center’s Treatment Program

All the emotions and trauma that have arisen in someone’s life can be addressed at Twilight Recovery Center. We have seen different types of people with all manner of addictions and trauma.

Our job is to help people ensure they are ready to rejoin society as healthy individuals. For us, one of the most important steps is to remind each client that we will give them top-notch care for as long as they require. However, further care will be needed once they leave us.

It can be challenging for people to reconcile previous trauma and addiction issues with any life after treatment. Luckily, at Twilight Recovery Center, we are confident that recovering individuals will learn and understand their limitations, their need for assistance, and why certain behaviors require more help.

Each person needs to know their worth, regardless of trauma or addiction. At Twilight Recovery Center, we show people that their past does not define them. They are each capable of healing, even when that healing requires outside help. There is no shame in recovery, only hope.