What’s the Connection Between Trauma & Addictions
June 13, 2022 2:00 PM MDT
60 minutes
CEU’s available
Description: First, this presentation will provide a brief overview of what we know about the brain and what we know about the release of hormones during stress or trauma.
Second, we will examine some of the ritual behaviors that are set up by individuals which produce neuro-chemical brain changes.
We will examine how the traumatic experience impacts brain functioning as an underlying cause of process addictions. We will also learn how addictions serve a purpose to provide an immediate reward or feeling.
In counseling, we need to help our clients find something to REPLACE the addiction with, something that you want more than the immediate pleasure of addictive behavior. Certainly grief works to deal with the losses that fuel the compulsion is ESSENTIAL, and then methods to change entrenched behavior patterns used to relieve stress, self-medicate, and alter brain chemistry for self-soothing or adrenaline high will be covered.
Finally, a look at the role of spirituality in healing addiction—a higher power, a redeemer, discovery of a new self and transformation in Christ.
Learning Objectives:
- Examine addictions as a development process.
- Looking at the common denominator: addictive, compulsive behaviors.
- Identify common addictions that post-abortive women and men frequently battle, such as: Sexual Addictions, Compulsive Spending, Compulsive Gambling, Compulsive Working, Eating Disorders, Internet Addiction, Alcoholism, Multiple Abortions, Shoplifting, Drug Abuse and Trauma Drama Junkies.
