Trauma

It is at this point in a discussion about trauma-informed care that we need to talk about the three stages involved in successfully recovering from trauma. This includes addiction.

Those stages are:
Stage One – Safety and Stabilization Stage
Two – Remembering and Mourning
Stage Three – Reconnecting and Integration

Safety and Stabilization
This is the longest and most involved stage of the recovery process. The focus here is on getting clean and remaining sober while learning various coping skills designed to deal with the emotions and painful thoughts that cause the urge to abuse drugs and alcohol. It is when the emotions are no longer numbed that many people in recovery begin to feel a strong sense of anxiety or depression. At this stage, they do not know what to do and this why trauma-informed care in so important. Stage one is a critical part of the recovery process primarily because it is just the beginning. A good goal to begin this stage is to encourage people in recovery to develop positive coping skills. This is how they will be able to begin to recognize how to deal with emotions in ways that are much healthier. It is extremely important to begin to manage those painful mental states that come about unexpectedly, such as flashbacks to the event or moments of self-doubt and criticism. Some helpful skills to include during stage one are: self-care, mindfulness, locating trusted resources, and working with supportive people that can help the recovery process get off to an effective start. Groups such as the 12-step program are also effective at this stage. Many therapists will also use Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Community Reinforcement, and Family Training programs to help individuals in recovery to develop the kind of relationships that are positive, strong, and stable. To the extent that it is possible, it is also helpful to get family members involved in the recovery process and to understand their role as well. Completing a month-long program does not conclude the process. It just means that the client has begun the journey towards building new and more positive coping skills. Developing strong connections with supportive family members and friends is what must take place before recovery can take hold for the long term. This is why stage one is such an involved and lengthy process.

Remembering And Mourning
Stage two involves taking this newly found stabilization and turning it into an ability to gain the type of freedom from substance use that will lead to a more grounded and positive lifestyle. It involves making sense of the trauma that happened in life but learning to channel those emotions into something much more positive. Mourning the loss of the peaceful aspects of life that the client once enjoyed is a part of this process, and it is dealt with in an open and honest way during stage two. Trauma survivors learn that the negative experiences they encountered are real, but they do not define who they are. It is important to remember the event, but not necessarily all of the minute details. Those details are not necessary to the healing process. Stage one teaches clients to be present at the moment while reviewing the past. Once healthy coping mechanisms are embraced, these traumatic events can finally be remembered and mourned in a way that does not bring about the urge to engage in addictive and harmful behaviors such as substance abuse.

Reconnection And Integration
By stage three, the unresolved trauma in one’s life no longer defines them. It is important to recognize the impact that the trauma has had, but also to embrace the idea that real healing can result. In essence, it is important to grow from the experience and learn to live with it without having to resort to negative behaviors as a coping mechanism. While extreme difficulty might have defined life for years following the traumatic event, stage three brings the client to the point that they are growing from the experience and are finally able to pursue a life that is happy and healthy.