Substance Use Disorders
Abuse of a chemical substance (alcohol, marijuana, prescription medication, cocaine, meth and other drugs) alters the way the body functions as the substance moves through the blood stream into the brain. It takes approximately 90 seconds for this to occur. Initially you may feel a reduction in the symptoms of trauma. Some of the symptoms you may be experiencing are depression, anxiety, jumpiness, hypervigilance, nightmares, fears, flashbacks of what happened, avoidance of certain people, places or things and more. Using a substance can seem to help you to relax, to feel energy, confident or to feel something in general other than negative emotions or other symptoms from the trauma. When this change is physically, emotionally and/or mentally experienced, it can seem to be a positive impact and reduction of negative experiences. The relief initially experienced reinforces the desire for you to feel this way again.
Repeated use of substances can result in a reduction of relief experienced from the initial use. When this may happen variety by individual. If there is a history of addiction in the family or hereditary factors, abuse or addiction may occur quite quickly after stating use. Abuse of substances may create negative changes such as sleep disturbance, mood or emotional challenges, exacerbation of initial symptoms or behaviors such as missing work or class, decisions that result in legal issues, increased use in either frequency and/or amount, increased tolerance resulting in the need to use more to feel the same effects that were felt when starting use.
If you notice any of these signs it's important to seek help and guidance in addressing the substance abuse before it becomes an addiction.
Repeated use of substances can result in a reduction of relief experienced from the initial use. When this may happen variety by individual. If there is a history of addiction in the family or hereditary factors, abuse or addiction may occur quite quickly after stating use. Abuse of substances may create negative changes such as sleep disturbance, mood or emotional challenges, exacerbation of initial symptoms or behaviors such as missing work or class, decisions that result in legal issues, increased use in either frequency and/or amount, increased tolerance resulting in the need to use more to feel the same effects that were felt when starting use.
If you notice any of these signs it's important to seek help and guidance in addressing the substance abuse before it becomes an addiction.