Trauma Affects the Whole Family
Encountering traumatic events is common among addicts. Although you didn’t choose these events, they can (and do) affect your life in a great number of ways. This is something you and your family know all too well. Traumatic events, after all, don’t just impact you but the ones you love as well.
A study in the Current Opinion in Psychology shows that if you suffer from posttraumatic stress syndrome (PTSS), certain behaviors—avoidance, arousal, negative thinking and mood—can negatively impact not only our own life but your relationships as well.
According to research, PTSS can:
- Increase relationship disharmony
- Decrease warmth between couples
- Increase conflict in relationships
- Increase anger and anxiety in couples
- Increase systolic blood pressure during conflicts for both members of a couple
So if you’re experiencing any of these outcomes after a traumatic event, know that you’re not alone. Stress from trauma has a way of undermining romantic relationships. But it doesn’t have to. It’s also possible, the research shows, for the opposite to happen. “Many people show growth post-trauma,” the researchers write.
How Traumatic Events Can Help You Grow
Traumatic events can:
- Instill a greater appreciation for life
- Increase responsiveness toward a partner
- Increase understanding of your partner
- Help you appreciate a partner’s opinions and values
- Help partners better care for one another
Help for You and Your Family
Coast to Coast Recovery’s addiction treatment program works with you and your specific needs to develop a treatment approach that balances the mind, body, and spirit. Our treatment plans include traditional treatment approaches—such as medical care, medical detox, and individual or family therapy—alongside natural healing practices. For more information about how Coast to Coast Recovery can help their families with our specialized services, please contact us today at 1-800-210-8229. We’re here for you.
