Mental health issues, trauma, abuse and neglect are all commonly linked to substance misuse disorder. Drugs and alcohol are used to self-medicate for a variety of reasons. They are used to cope with guilt and shame. They are also used as a means to mask hidden pain, fears and insecurities as a result of trauma. So how does one move forward with their life after suffering any form of traumatic event? More importantly, how does one move forward without relying on substances?
The simple answer I always got was to just "let it go." Anyone who has been inside the alcoholic or addict mind knows it is much easier said than done. I have found the best answer is not to "let it go" but to "accept it." We do not have control over other people. The only thing we can control is ourselves. Drug and alcohol addiction is a vicious cycle that leads us to an out-of-control downward spiral. That is why we must stay away from it. Chemical dependency does the exact opposite of what we want it to do. It destroys us mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Substance use can actually intensify the trauma we have experienced, rather than make it go away.
I struggled with opioid addiction as a result of traumatic experiences in my life. I would end up going through suboxone treatment at a medication assisted treatment facility. I went through intense cognitive behavioral therapy sessions by myself and in groups. Cognitive behavioral therapy was vital in my recovery and moving forward with my life. The idea behind this type of therapy is to change our cognitive thinking, specifically negative thoughts and feelings. By changing my way of thinking, I have learned to have a more positive outlook on life. I have learned the power of acceptance.
By accepting a certain person, place, thing or situation as it is, was or will be, it allows us to move forward with our lives. As much as we don't want to, we must accept certain things in life. We cannot let the past hold us back or prevent us from reaching our full potential in the present or future.
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