Managing Childhood Trauma in Adulthood

Childhood trauma can negatively impact one’s mental and physical health. The severity of trauma can also affect how an individual’s future folds out. It can be difficult for some individuals to overcome the effects of trauma. Fortunately, Plum Creek Recovery Ranch provides valuable support for individuals, including trauma-informed care, to help navigate the complexities of trauma in a nurturing environment. Combining practical strategies with professional guidance can significantly benefit one’s future. The recovery team at Plum Creek Recovery Ranch strives to empower our clients to heal and build resilience in their adult lives.

What Is Trauma?

A highly disturbing or deeply distressing event can significantly interfere with one’s ability to cope if left unaddressed. Trauma is an emotional response to a traumatic event. It is normal for an individual to experience a great sense of fear or anxiety temporarily after the traumatic event occurs. However, prolonged trauma symptoms left untreated can become problematic. If symptoms are left unmanaged, the effects of trauma can often lead to co-occurring mental health challenges.

Different Forms of Trauma

Not only do individuals who have experienced a traumatic event face challenges overcoming trauma, but those who have witnessed a distressing event also have problems. Trauma can come in many different forms. Acute, chronic, or complex trauma can affect an individual both mentally and physically. For example, acute trauma often results in a single incident, whereas chronic trauma can repeatedly occur over a longer time frame. On the other hand, complex trauma can be a more severe form of trauma that involves multiple events that can significantly disrupt one’s lifestyle.

Childhood Trauma Statistics

Based on the morbidity and mortality weekly report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately two-thirds of U.S. adults reported at least one adverse childhood experience (ACE). About 64% of adults in the United States reported they had experienced at least one type of ACE before age 18. Studies have also indicated that about one in six individuals reported having experienced at least four or more ACEs. Females aged 25 to 34 years old experienced the highest amount of ACEs. Nonetheless, the prevalence of individuals and the total number of ACEs varied across jurisdictions.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

An ACE may occur in the infancy stage to up to 17 years. Based on a separate study by the CDC, a child may experience violence, abuse, or neglect. One may witness violence in their home environment or community or experience distress if a loved one attempts suicide or passes away from a terminal illness. A traumatic experience can impact one’s overall health and well-being. For example, some children may endure unstable housing, experience discrimination from peers, or not have enough food to eat. Different types of adverse childhood experiences that occur include:

• Physical abuse: Intentional infliction or physical harm
• Emotional abuse: Verbal or non-verbal actions
• Sexual abuse: Any form of sexual contact with a child
• Neglect: Failure to provide for the child’s basic needs
• Accidents or injuries: Auto accidents, severe falls, drowning incidents
• Natural or disastrous events: Storms, earthquakes, or wildfires
• Cyberbullying: Intentionally sending, posting, or sharing personal content online
• Substance abuse exposure: Exposure to drugs or alcohol in the home environment

Childhood Trauma and Family Conflict

Trauma and active addiction can wreak havoc on family relationships. Abuse, violence, neglect, alcohol, and drug exposure can damage one’s sense of self-worth or belonging. Plum Creek Recovery Ranch provides valuable support for individuals who have a history of trauma. Our family therapy services and community support help rebuild relationships that have been damaged by trauma or substance use disorder.

Each member of the family can participate in therapy together in the same treatment environment to overcome the effects of trauma and addiction as a whole. Therapy can teach each individual the impact of certain behaviors on their loved one’s health by addressing negative patterns. Family therapy can also teach each family member new coping mechanisms to effectively cope with their symptoms. Additional benefits of family therapy for managing childhood trauma include:

• Conflict resolution
• Improved communication
• Rebuilt trust
• Enhanced empathy
• Strengthened family bonds
• Promoted resilience
• Relapse prevention

How Does Unaddressed Childhood Trauma Affect One’s Future?

Adults who have endured an adverse childhood event may experience problems across various aspects of their lives. For example, one may experience poor relationships with family and friends. Individuals may find it difficult to cope in their work or home environment. Trauma can affect one’s nervous system negatively, interfering with a child’s ability to focus and remain calm. The effects of trauma can cause sleep disturbances, digestive problems, a weakened immune system, and a risk for self-harm.

An ACE essentially reshapes how one sees one’s future. Individuals who have experienced an ACE commonly avoid their feelings and restore to isolation. One may feel consumed by their fears related to the tragic event and fear it may happen in the future. Individuals affected by trauma may carry great guilt and confusion with them throughout their adult years. Frequent childhood trauma can also lead to feelings of deep shame linked with their inability to manage their emotions.  Childhood traumatic stress increases one’s risk of engaging in drug or alcohol abuse. Adults may become obese, develop depression, or battle health problems such as diabetes and heart disease.

The Link Between Childhood Trauma and Poor Mental Health

Children and adolescents are often unaware of how trauma can affect their mental health. Therefore, they do not seek psychological help and go years deep into their teens and adulthood without treatment. Parents and caregivers who do not appoint their children to mental health resources put their kids at risk of developing depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Unaddressed trauma and poor mental health can make it difficult for children to establish healthy relationships with peers. Research indicates that exposure to a traumatic event is correlated with an increased probability of psychiatric morbidity than no history of an ACE.

More specifically, adults faced challenges with dysthymic disorder, panic disorder, alcohol or drug use disorder, and antisocial personality disorder. Furthermore, compared with those who experience interpersonal trauma, adults with childhood trauma are more likely to struggle with lifetime panic agoraphobia, panic disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Link Between Unresolved Childhood Trauma and Substance Use Disorder

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), ACEs are often associated with substance abuse. Youth and teens who suppress their emotions, like with past trauma, attempt to mask their symptoms with drugs or alcohol. Prolonged substance use can increase one’s risk of developing substance use disorder. Substance use disorder is a chronic brain disease that impairs one’s ability to take control of one’s life. There is no direct cause of addiction; rather, various factors play a wide role in the development of substance use disorders. Severe trauma or intense distress can affect one’s brain circuits, further impairing an individual’s reward system. Stress can increase one’s substance cravings and reduce one’s ability to control how to respond to certain impulses.

The Value of Social Support for Childhood Trauma

Knowing that the effects of trauma can negatively impact one’s mental health, social support is a critical element in an individual’s recovery. Understanding that trauma is often linked with social isolation, Plum Creek Recovery Ranch’s services promote reduced psychological distress and improve resilience by providing a greater sense of belonging. Social support can also provide a sense of validation, emotional comfort, and mitigation from the negative effects of trauma. Additional benefits of social support include:

• Reduced stress
• Improved self-esteem
• Stronger support network
• Improved accountability
• Better treatment engagement
• Increased motivation
• Better physical health
• Improved quality of life

What Is an Individualized Treatment Plan?

The team at Plum Creek Recovery Ranch knows that everyone’s recovery journey is truly unique. Knowing that trauma comes in many different forms, no individual’s severity of symptoms is the same. Therefore, Plum Creek Recovery Ranch’s care team is happy to take the time to develop an individualized treatment plan with our clients. An individualized treatment plan is a comprehensive care plan that addresses an individual’s specific needs and goals. Those who choose to move forward with a personalized care plan often reach more positive recovery outcomes.

Screening for Trauma at Plum Creek Recovery Ranch

Although the “one-size-fits-all” approach to care works in some cases, an individualized treatment plan focuses on the individual as a whole to achieve improved treatment efficacy. To start, adults at Plum Creek Recovery Ranch are screened for trauma. One of the compassionate team members at our treatment center may ask a series of questions regarding the client’s trauma history, medical history, and other factors relevant to their past. Doing so can work to target the root cause of an individual’s addiction or co-occurring mental health condition. A specialist may tailor specific services to their client’s needs. Once specialists have a rounded understanding of one’s condition, they can address certain concerns for long-term recovery.

The Link Between Childhood Trauma and Distrust

Many individuals who have faced challenges with childhood trauma experience problems trusting family members, their friends, and new connections. The effects of trauma can make one feel avoidant to surround themselves with certain people. Some individuals may even avoid attending certain events in specific environments for fear of experiencing another traumatic event. Individuals who have a history of trauma deserve to live a life free from any type of harm. Therefore, Plum Creek Recovery Ranch understands that safety and trustworthiness are important in the recovery process. Our combination of a serene environment, highly trained professionals, and a comprehensive treatment approach sets our recovery center apart from others as the leading facility for drug detox and substance abuse treatment in Texas.

What Is Trauma-Informed Care?

Addressing one’s history of trauma is important to reduce the risk of developing substance use disorder or co-occurring mental health complications. Those who seek trauma care have reduced substance use or suicide attempts. Fortunately, trauma-informed care at Plum Creek Recovery Ranch helps individuals affected by trauma, PTSD, adverse childhood experiences, and sexual trauma recover. Trauma-responsive treatment is one of our top-listed services. Our recovery team utilizes trauma-informed care to help our clients safely heal from trauma. Plum Creek Recovery Ranch Implements a comprehensive trauma-informed approach to transform our health setting. Organizational practices include:

• Patient empowerment: Giving patients more control over their healthcare decisions and plan of care
• Choice: Providing various treatment options to choose from
• Collaboration: Family, patient, and staff involvement in organizational and treatment planning
• Safety: Providing a safe care setting and activities to ensure the client’s emotional and physical safety
• Trustworthiness: Creating clear expectations about the proposed treatments and involved care team

Breaking Down Complementary Services at Plum Creek Recovery Ranch to Overcome Childhood Trauma

Knowing that the same form of treatment may not be effective for everyone, Plum Creek Recovery Ranch provides various treatment options as well as complementary services for an enhanced treatment approach. For example, accelerated resolution therapy (ART) can be an alternative to trauma-informed care to help individuals safely heal from trauma.

ART is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on replacing disturbing images with positive ones. This type of therapy helps clients develop a new perspective on their past trauma by guiding them to rescript distressing events and directly express their traumatic memories. Complementary forms of care at Plum Creek Recovery Ranch that can address trauma and improve one’s level of treatment satisfaction include:

• Group therapy: A scheduled therapy session with a multitude of individuals led by a professional
• Self-help groups: An informal group session that is voluntary and peer-led
• Family therapy: A scheduled therapy session that involves multiple  family members led by a professional
• Mindfulness-based therapies: Holistic therapy practices that focus on mind, body, and spirit
• Meditation: Physical holistic techniques for a whole-person approach
• Experiential therapies and activities: Hands-on activities to promote personal growth

The Importance of Adverse Childhood Experience Prevention

Early intervention and prevention strategies are critical for promoting lifelong well-being in children and adults. ACE prevention can help individuals achieve a happy lifestyle with healthy connections, positive behaviors, and better decision-making. Preventing ACEs can prevent the transmission of ACEs to the next generation. ACE prevention can improve education for children and adults. Adults can focus on their work environment and maintain success with their desired company to support their loving family.

Although ACEs have been a longstanding prevalent issue, they are preventable. Based on the aforementioned adverse childhood experience CDC study, preventing ACEs can significantly reduce suicide attempts among high school adolescents by 89%. ACE prevention can also reduce prescription pain medication by about 84% and reduce adverse feelings associated with trauma by 66%.

Preventing Secondary Traumatic Stress With Plum Creek Recovery Ranch

Chronic or complex trauma can cause emotion dysregulation, distorted self-perception, dissociation from society, and a poor quality of life. Although early intervention is key, aftercare is just as important. Plum Creek Recovery Ranch understands that a continuum of care is essential for long-term sobriety and healing. Aftercare services also provide critical peer support during long-term sobriety. People report better outcomes when they have continued accountability and assistance managing symptoms.

It is common for some individuals to relapse within the first year after completing treatment. Take comfort in knowing that Plum Creek Recovery Ranch’s recovery team does not leave our clients in the dark once they complete our addiction recovery program. Our compassionate team of specialists ensures our clients in the Austin, Texas, area have access to aftercare services to support long-term recovery from substance use disorder and childhood trauma. Aftercare services at Plum Creek Recovery Ranch include:

• Medication management
• Ongoing counseling and psychotherapy
• Weekly telehealth therapy sessions
• Relapse prevention strategies
• Holistic therapies
• Information on local self-help groups
• Family therapy and community support
• Alumni programs and events

Substance use disorder linked with trauma can wreak havoc on an individual’s life if left unmanaged. Plum Creek Recovery Ranch is an advanced, unique substance abuse treatment facility. Our treatment programs, coupled with the setting in which we provide our clients, create a more impactful recovery experience. Located in the breathtaking foothills less than 20 miles south of Austin, Texas, Plum Creek Recovery Ranch serves individuals and families from across the country. We develop unique care plans for every client. Early intervention can provide the best outcomes. Call Plum Creek Recovery Ranch at (512) 764-0379 to learn more about some of the services used in our programs that can help you safely overcome substance use disorder linked with childhood trauma.