In our world, there are many situations that can lead an individual to drug use. Many of these situations involve the traumatizing or emotional wounding of an individual. One of the most common ways that this can happen is through abuse, either emotional or physical.
This article will explore why victims of abuse may be more likely to use drugs or alcohol. We will also touch on some of the solutions that you can use to help overcome these issues. If you’ve been abused in the past, or if you know someone who has, dual diagnosis treatment San Diego may help you.
Different Types of Abuse
There are many different types of abuse. They can be broadly categorized into two different types, emotional and physical abuse.
- Physical abuse takes the form of physical violence, harassment, or confinement against an individual.
- Emotional abuse can take on a lot of different forms. It generally involves negatively influencing someone’s emotional state and causing them harm in the form of trauma or mental scars.
Abuse can be perpetrated by all sorts of different people. Victims are commonly abused by:
- Family members. Early childhood abuse can cause long-lasting emotional wounds.
- Domestic abuse is a serious problem that can cause addiction.
- Bullying is a form of abuse.
How Abuse Leads to Drug Use
Abuse can cause people to develop unhealthy behavior patterns, beliefs, or traumatic wounds that can lead them on the path to drug use.
Many of these wounds emerge early in childhood, and people are often unaware that they are carrying them. They assume that “this is just the way I am,” without considering that they need to improve.
Unfortunately, the result of these unaddressed wounds of abuse can cause someone to use drugs. Trauma can manifest as anxiety, depression, stress, a distorted self-image, social difficulties, and all manner of other problems that can cause someone to use drugs as a crutch or Band-Aid.
Managing Drug Addiction & Abuse
The first thing that you’re going to want to do when managing an abuse-related drug addiction is to get to the source of the problem. Seeking a counselor for dual diagnosis treatment San Diego can help you identify the root cause of any anxiety, depression, fear, or other difficult problems that you have.
They will then help you understand how these beliefs and behaviors related to your drug use. By drawing the connection you’ll be able to replace these behaviors with healthier ones.
Your dual diagnosis treatment in San Diego will focus on helping you figure out the best coping mechanisms for your specific issue. Then you’ll be able to take these skills into the real world so you don’t feel tempted to use drugs again.
Conclusion
If you struggled with abuse at some time in your life, you probably received some emotional scars. If you’re actively using drugs or alcohol, then these habits may be related to your previous emotional challenges and abuse.
Seeking the help of a counselor for dual diagnosis treatment can help you figure out how to overcome these issues. Don’t hesitate to reach out!
