The cycle of PTSD symptoms and alcohol consumption can be particularly insidious. As individuals drink to alleviate their PTSD symptoms, they may experience temporary relief. However, as the effects of alcohol wear off, PTSD symptoms often return with increased intensity.

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Medications that reduce alcohol cravings or deter alcohol consumption, such as naltrexone, may also be considered as part of the treatment plan. Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that can interfere with the brain’s ability to process emotions and memories properly. As a result, alcohol use can intensify the severity and frequency of PTSD symptoms, including flashbacks, nightmares, and anxiety. Additionally, alcohol can impair judgment, increase aggression, and negatively impact relationships, further complicating the individual’s overall well-being.

Behavioral Treatments for PTSD

• Measurement based care (MBC; 29) or the use of patient-reported information collected as part of routine care, can be used to inform clinical care and shared decision making, individualize treatment, and assess progress toward recovery goals.
• She has combined both degrees to work in the addictions field for over ten years, both as a case manager and therapist.
• Research is currently underway to adapt and test CPT for individuals with PTSD and SUD.
• PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) and alcohol abuse are two serious mental health issues that often occur together.
• We provide integrated treatment programs that address both trauma and addiction, helping our clients build the skills and resilience needed for lasting recovery.
• In research and practice, several notable gaps exist in addressing co-occurring PTSD and AUD in military and veteran populations.

If you struggle with PTSD and alcohol abuse, and you aren’t sure where to turn for help, we can help. Contact a treatment provider today to explore your treatment options and start your journey toward a healthier, sober future. Neurobiological factors also play a crucial role in linking PTSD and alcohol use. Both conditions affect similar brain regions and neurotransmitter systems, particularly those involved in stress response and reward processing.

There is a significant correlation between PTSD and substance abuse, particularly alcohol use. Many people with PTSD turn to alcohol as a form of self-medication, attempting to numb the emotional pain and distress caused by their traumatic experiences. Another crucial aspect to consider is the level of support available to individuals following a traumatic event.

Treatment Interventions for PTSD and AUD

Future research would benefit from further explicating of the relative and unique roles of alcohol use to down-regulate despondency, anger, and positive emotions in PTSD-AUD. Pearson correlations were conducted to examine the bivariate associations among PTSD symptom severity, alcohol use to down-regulate negative (i.e., despondency and anger) and positive emotions, and alcohol misuse. Using Model 1 of the PROCESS SPSS macro (Hayes, 2012), we tested whether alcohol use to down-regulate despondency, anger, and positive emotions, separately and simultaneously, indirectly affected the relationship between PTSD symptom severity and alcohol misuse. Gender responses were coded into ‘male’ and ‘female’ (other responses were excluded due to limited endorsement) and included as a covariate in study analyses given well-established relations with both PTSD (Kilpatrick et al., 2013) and AUD (Grant et al., 2015). The bootstrap method was used for estimating the standard errors of parameter estimates and the bias-corrected confidence intervals of the indirect effects (MacKinnon et al., 2002; Preacher & Hayes, 2004). The bias-corrected confidence interval is based on a non-parametric re-sampling procedure that has been recommended when estimating confidence intervals of the indirect effect due to the correction it applies over a large number of bootstrapped samples (Efron, 1987).

• U.S. surveys, such as the St. Louis sample of the ECA,8 the NCS,16 and the NESARC,23 have consistently found relationships between alcohol problems and PTSD.
• We know the analgesia is attributable to a release of endorphins because drugs that block endorphins (opioid blockers) also block the analgesia in PTSD patients.

Concurrent treatment of PTSD and substance use disorders using prolonged exposure (COPE)

Additionally, alcohol use can hinder the effectiveness of PTSD treatments, making it more difficult for individuals to process and overcome their traumatic experiences. Human studies have also shown that traumatic events can increase endorphin activity. For example, patients with PTSD will experience numbness or analgesia when simply exposed to reminders of the trauma (Pitman et al. 1990). We know the analgesia is attributable to a release of endorphins because drugs that block endorphins (opioid blockers) also block the analgesia in PTSD patients.

• The stress of the transition back to civilian life is challenging on its own but coupled with pain relief or mental health issues, 1 in 10 returning veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have reported a problem with alcohol or other drugs.
• Exposure to an uncontrollable negative event elicits the familiar “fight-or-flight” response.
• Create a plan for this transition, which might include a soothing shower or bath, reading a book, and trying wellness practices like breathing techniques or meditation.
• However, one of the greatest predictors of positive treatment outcomes is social support.
• However, this relationship was not demonstrated with significance among veterans who had more severe PTSD symptoms.

This explains why alcohol consumption would increase after the trauma, not before (in anticipation) or during the trauma, as predicted by the tension-reduction hypothesis. Research in humans has also identified a strong association between PTSD and alcoholism. For example, in a sample of Vietnam combat veterans with PTSD, more than half subsequently showed signs of alcohol addiction (Bremner et al. 1996).

Military trauma and stress exposure

• Furthermore, research shows that AA individuals experience more severe symptoms of AUD as compared to EA individuals (Mulia et al., 2009).
• The VA doesn’t have a specific code just for chronic pain, but it does provide benefits for veterans who can connect it to their military service.
• This is true in both civilian and military populations, as well as for both men and women.
• To help you along this empowering path, it’s essential to get clear on your reasons for making this positive decision.
• Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that can interfere with the brain’s ability to process emotions and memories properly.
• However, it’s essential to assess personal triggers, set clear limits, and regularly evaluate whether alcohol use remains within healthy boundaries.
• However, using alcohol to cope only delays facing the trauma and often makes the symptoms worse over time.

Throughout her professional experience, she has grown in her passion for serving those with an addiction, as she is able to positively impact some of the most vulnerable in our society. Reframe supports you in reducing alcohol consumption and enhancing your well-being. Plus, we’re always introducing new features to optimize your in-app experience. We recently launched our in-app chatbot, Melody, powered by the world’s most powerful AI technology.

With regard to behavioral treatments, exposure-based interventions are recommended given the greater improvement in PTSD symptoms observed, coupled with significant reductions in SUD severity experienced. The available evidence suggests that medications used to treat one disorder (AUD or PTSD) can be safely used and with possible efficacy in patients with the what is alcoholism other disorder. However, additional research on pharmacological agents based on shared neurobiology of AUD and PTSD would be useful. Regardless of the causal mechanisms or shared factors responsible for the emergence of PTSD/AUD, once both disorders exist, it is possible that they mutually maintain and exacerbate one another (mutual maintenance model). For instance, alcohol may be used to attempt to suppress PTSD symptoms, but repeated use may interfere with natural recovery from trauma and also lead to physiological effects that heighten anxiety. As a result, PTSD symptoms and alcohol misuse may exert bidirectional influences on each other over time.