Recovery from Self-Destructive Patterns of Coping

Treatment programs are often essential for stabilization, but few of them actually get to the root of the problem–the underlying trauma.  I think a lot more programs are incorporating trauma education into their specialized programs, but many of them still don’t which can help a person stabilize but doesn’t help them stay sober or free of self-destructive behaviors.  Therapy following a specialized treatment program can help an individual remain free of self-destructive behaviors when the therapist is trauma educated and takes a trauma informed approach by acknowledging the traumaitc past and helping them to see how the trauma and compulsive behaviors complicate each other.  When the therapist takes this approach it is much easier to engage in recovery.  It also helps when a therapist understands the complex relationship between trauma and self-destructive behaviors such as addiction, suicidality, self-harm, and eating disorders because they can help their clients reframe their self-destructive behavior in a way that they begin to understand their self-destructive behaviors were merely an attempt to manage overwhelming feelings and memories.  Understanding how self-destructive behaviors initially “helped” is crucial for recovery.  

But remember that shame and self-blame shut-down the prefrontal cortex leaving your more vulnerable to emotional responses and reaction to triggers.  

Another component of recovery is learning how to feel safe requires discovering new ways of feeling a sense of control.  This can be done through learning coping skills and inner resources that expand the window of tolerance.  

Recovery is anything but immediate, but it is possible.