Do Some Trauma Survivors Cope by Overworking? Hypervigilance and an inability to relax without guilt may lead some people to blunt their emotions through work. (TheAtlantic.com)
The link between traumatic experiences and the development of addiction has been well-documented . Edward Khantzian, who originated the self-medication hypothesis of substance abuse, writes that “human emotional suffering and pain” and an “inability to tolerate [one’s] feelings” are at the root of addiction. People may use alcohol, drugs, or gambling to numb or control distress, low self-esteem, anxiety, or depression. But there is virtually no empirical research on the potential link...