Addiction and trauma – why do they so often go hand in hand?

Introduction

Many people believe addiction begins with “bad choices,” curiosity, or negative peer influence. Yet for a large number of individuals who come to the Monar treatment center in Kębliny near Łódź, something deeper lies beneath the surface: unresolved trauma.

This may include a difficult childhood, violence, neglect, the loss of a loved one, a toxic relationship, chronic stress, or experiences that may not appear dramatic at first glance — yet leave deep emotional wounds.

In this article, we explain why trauma and addiction so often coexist — and what can be done in therapy.
 

1. Trauma Does Not Disappear on Its Own

Trauma is not just a past event. It is a lasting reaction of the nervous system to overwhelming pain, fear, or helplessness.

As a result, a person who has experienced trauma may continue to struggle with:

• chronic tension and hyperarousal,

• sleep disturbances,

• emotional outbursts,

• a constant sense of threat,

• difficulty trusting others,

• emotional numbness,

• persistent shame or guilt.

Many individuals seek relief from this inner chaos — and it is at this point that the risk of addiction emerges.
 

2. Substances Relieve Pain — But Only Temporarily

Drugs, alcohol, and addictive behaviors (such as gambling, compulsive shopping, or pornography) can function as a quick “off switch” for emotions. They may temporarily provide:

• a sense of relief,

• escape from anxiety,

• suppression of painful memories,

• physical relaxation,

• an illusion of control.

But this relief is deceptive.

Unprocessed emotions return with greater intensity, and the body requires increasing amounts of the substance to maintain the same effect. This is how the cycle of addiction develops.
 

3. Why Are Trauma Survivors More Vulnerable to Addiction?

Trauma affects the brain and nervous system. A person who has lived in prolonged tension or emotional chaos may:

• struggle to regulate emotions,

• avoid closeness because it feels unsafe,

• experience chronic emptiness,

• have low self-esteem,

• feel ashamed to ask for help,

• distrust others — and even themselves.

Addiction offers a quick solution:“If I don’t feel, I don’t hurt.”

For many, substance use is not about pleasure — it is about survival.
 

4. Can Addiction Be Treated Without Addressing Trauma?

In theory, someone may attempt to stop using without exploring deeper wounds. In practice, lasting recovery often requires trauma work.

Without addressing trauma:

• old behavioral patterns return,

• relapse risk increases,

• emotional regulation remains fragile,

• relationships remain unstable,

• self-worth stays low.

At Monar, addiction treatment is combined with psychoeducation, emotional regulation skills, rebuilding safety, and relational therapy. First, individuals learn how to stabilize tension. Only then do we gradually approach the most painful experiences.
 

5. What Does Trauma-Informed Addiction Therapy Look Like?

It is not a single conversation — but a gradual and safe process.

At Monar, therapy focuses on:

✔ Establishing safetyA trauma survivor must first feel secure before deeper work can begin.

✔ Understanding personal reactionsMany individuals only realize in therapy that their impulsivity, anxiety, or anger are rooted in past wounds.

✔ Emotional regulationLearning how to feel, express, and regulate emotions without substances is a foundation of recovery.

✔ Rebuilding relationshipsTrauma often damages trust. Within the therapeutic community, individuals slowly regain the ability to form healthy bonds.

✔ Creating a new identityNot “an addict,” but a person healing wounds and regaining control over life.
 

6. Why Trauma Work Increases the Chances of Long-Term Sobriety

Addressing trauma:

• reduces chronic tension and anxiety,

• teaches healthier stress management strategies,

• rebuilds self-worth,

• helps individuals understand rather than fear their emotional responses,

• strengthens relational skills,

• breaks the cycle of shame and avoidance.

As a result, substances are no longer needed to “survive the day.”
 

Conclusion

Trauma is not a life sentence, and addiction is not a weakness. It is often a response to pain that once felt unbearable.

Effective treatment must address not only the addiction itself, but also what lies beneath it.

At Monar in Kębliny, we help individuals return to life without substances — and heal the wounds that led to addiction. Only then can a new life be built — calmly, consciously, and with hope.

 

 

Monar Kębliny pod Łodzią.