Documented evidence related to Vietnam veterans displays a solid relationship between experiencing a traumatic event, developing PTSD, and subsequent alcohol addiction. Individuals who experience traumatic events are more likely to develop PTSD, which is often connected to alcohol dependence. Additionally, the conditional nature of the disorders, based on the exposure to an event or a substance, makes this a complex relationship for analysis, interpretation, and intervention for treatment. In the St. Louis ECA example, Cottler and colleagues confirmed their hypothesis, and they suggested that the use of substances such as opiates or cocaine led to even greater risk of exposure to traumatic events and an increased likelihood of developing PTSD.15 Using the St. Louis ECA, Cottler and colleagues hypothesized that individuals who had SUD may have been exposed to more circumstances that cause traumatic events.15 This heightened exposure may lead to experiencing more traumatic events and, ultimately, increase the likelihood of developing PTSD; although other explanations, such as AUD increasing sensitivity for developing PTSD, may also contribute. Of the 2,493 participants, about 16% were exposed to at least one qualifying traumatic event.8 Of this group, about 8.4% developed PTSD.15 Also, individuals who met criteria for PTSD were more likely to report alcohol-related problems than those who did not meet PTSD criteria.
Why Do People with PTSD Turn to Alcohol?
For effective treatment, it’s necessary to manage both issues simultaneously, which requires a deeper understanding of how they correlate. Are there particular traumatic experiences that provide some resilience against developing AUD? How different are the outcomes of the disorders when one or the other develops first? The evidence suggests that there is no distinct pattern of development for the two disorders. The relationship persists in studies of population subgroups at risk, such as veterans of the wars in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan; firefighters; women; and people with SUD. Several studies have examined how the four clusters of PTSD symptoms (re-experiencing, effortful avoidance, emotional numbing, and hyperarousal) may affect how individuals develop and recover from PTSD and AUD.
Although an estimated 70% of adults in the United States will experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetime, only 20% will go on to develop PTSD. Struggles like these are the reality for those of us living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This helps patients not only overcome their addiction but also deal with the underlying trauma that might contribute to their substance use. A medication noted for its potential to treat both disorders is topiramate. Even when one tries to quit alcohol as a part of rehab, the withdrawal symptoms, along with that of PTSD, make it more difficult.
Blackouts and Your Brain: How To Avoid Memory Loss
- Alcohol is a depressant, which means it can exacerbate PTSD symptoms such as anxiety and depression.
- The symptoms are not a result of the effects of a substance such as medication, alcohol, or another medical condition.
- Many people with complex PTSD use alcohol to self-medicate, which may lead to alcohol use disorder (AUD).
- If you have PTSD, plus you have, or have had, a problem with alcohol, try to find a therapist who has experience treating both issues.
At SoberBuzz, they understand the complexities and challenges that can arise when re-evaluating your connection with alcohol. Positive change comes in various forms, from seeking therapy to explore healthier coping mechanisms to finding support within peer networks and educational resources. The first step in addressing problematic drinking is to redefine what it entails. Research reveals that individuals with PTSD are almost four times more likely to develop Alcohol Usage Disorders compared to those without PTSD. When those symptoms get worse, the need to drink becomes more urgent. Alcohol is a depressant, which means it can exacerbate PTSD symptoms such as anxiety and depression.
PTSD and Alcohol: How Alcohol Affects PTSD Symptoms
- One study conducted with veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan demonstrated a link between PTSD and AUD symptoms and nonphysical aggression.42 Veterans with milder PTSD symptoms who misused alcohol were more likely to perpetrate nonphysical aggression than veterans who did not misuse alcohol.
- Thus, they pose the same short-term and long-term risks as unhealthy drinking habits and excessive alcohol consumption.
- However, other research shows that people with AUD or SUD have an increased likelihood of being exposed to traumatic situations, and they have an increased likelihood of developing PTSD.
- Some populations, such as military veterans and people with SUD, are at high risk for comorbidities, including co-occurring AUD and PTSD.
The presence of two to three symptoms indicates mild AUD, four to five symptoms indicate moderate AUD, and six or more symptoms indicate severe AUD. Some research shows that veterans who have experienced PTSD have a high likelihood of developing AUD, perhaps reflecting the self-medication hypothesis. AUD and PTSD have shown a durable comorbidity that has extended through decades and through changes in disorder definitions. Sadly, for too many people living with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Complex Dealing with PTSD over the holidays Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can cause a whole host of symptoms, which can affect every area of your life, and when this is paired with ‘expectations’ of how you should feel, it can become
Finding Treatment for Alcohol Addiction and PTSD
Research indicates that alcohol-induced blackouts are more likely to occur when someone drinks on an empty stomach, drinks quickly, or engages in binge drinking, which can all lead to a rapid rise in blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Alcohol-related blackouts are gaps in a person’s memory for events that occurred while they were intoxicated. Alcohol-induced blackouts can lead to impaired memory of events that transpired while intoxicated, and a drastically increased risk of injuries and other harms.
These can also occur as a result of excessive alcohol intake. In some people who drink excessively while struggling with PTSD, their increased signs someone is on crack reactivity translates into panic attacks. We learned that one of PTSD’s symptoms is increased reactivity. We just learned that excessive consumption of alcohol often has a boomerang effect on those of us who use it as a coping method or self-medication. In other words, alcohol really does more harm than good.
Expert Guide: How to Handle and Prevent PTSD Blackouts Effectively Integrative Trauma & Somatic Therapy Training
If you fear peer pressure might be overwhelming, it’s perfectly acceptable to decline invitations. Explaining your decision to friends is a vital step in your journey towards a more empowered, healthier you. Journaling can be an invaluable tool on your journey towards making positive changes in your relationship with alcohol.
Conditional disorders
Prior to attending the laboratory, participants were advised of exclusion criteria, and that they would be required to drink alcohol. Blackouts commonly happen after high-intensity drinking, when you have at least twice as many drinks per hour more than binge drinking (8+ drinks in 2 hours for women, 10+ for men). Civilian alcohol rehabs may not be able to provide support for your unique experience. Worse yet, every routine task, whether a trip to the grocery store or a simple phone call, becomes a potential trigger for past traumas. We want to give recovering addicts the tools to return to the outside world completely substance-free and successful. Your BAC may also rise quickly and cause a blackout if you drink alcohol on an empty stomach.
For example, in the NESARC Wave 2, lifetime prevalence of PTSD among women who experienced trauma was twice as high as the prevalence among similar men.18 A review of community samples reported that the prevalence of co-occurring SUD and PTSD among women is higher than the prevalence among men,43 and women who experienced abuse or neglect were significantly more likely to have AUD than controls.44 Higher prevalence in women compared to men has also been found in women who use illicit substances.36 One study conducted with veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan demonstrated a link between PTSD and AUD symptoms and nonphysical aggression.42 Veterans with milder PTSD symptoms who misused alcohol were more likely to perpetrate nonphysical aggression than veterans who did not misuse alcohol. Alternatively, some evidence shows that people exposed to trauma might be less likely to develop AUD after a traumatic experience. In laboratory settings, individuals with both AUD and PTSD reported increased cravings for alcohol after being presented with a trauma stimulus, as compared to a neutral stimulus.31 Other epidemiologic research has shown that a diagnosis of PTSD using the DSM-III-R criteria was predictive of later development of SUD.32,33 Trauma exposure alone, in the absence of a PTSD diagnosis, did not predict SUD. In the NESARC-III sample, about 69% of respondents had experienced a qualifying traumatic event.22 Of this group, almost 9% met lifetime criteria for PTSD, and almost 7% met the criteria in the previous 12 months. However, this association was no longer significant when the analysis controlled for other co-occurring mental health conditions in addition to the sociodemographic characteristics.
Less than 20% of respondents who experienced AUD in their lifetime ever sought treatment for the condition. The ECA program used the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) to conduct face-to-face interviews with more than 20,000 people.12,13 The NIMH DIS questions were based on DSM-III diagnostic criteria. For this reason, it is important to evaluate both risk for exposure as well as risk for a disorder among those exposed. Importantly, analyses can be conducted on the risk for the exposure to an event among the entire population, and then among those who experienced an event.
Stopping the use of alcohol abruptly could cause anxiety, tremors, seizures, headaches, insomnia, nausea and vomiting, high blood pressure, etc. For instance, research suggests that long-term use of alcohol can increase anxiety and depression due to specific chemical changes that can make PTSD worse. Alcohol blackout refers to episodes where one consumes so much alcohol that they can’t form new memories as the brain’s hippocampus stops working completely. This effect may appeal to PTSD sufferers, for it helps them overcome common symptoms like depression, anxiety, and impulsivity. This encourages repeated use of this substance, further enhancing the risk of developing dependence. This imbalance makes emotional regulation more challenging, thus increasing vulnerability to alcohol for managing the negative feelings.
A critical aspect of Alcohol Usage Disorders often overlooked is its strong connection with PTSD, a condition triggered by traumatic experiences. There are those who engage in day drinking, hidden behind closed doors, and those who experience blackouts or damaging incidents during nights out. Others may have periodic bouts of binge-drinking where alcohol consumption spirals out of control. It’s not about conforming to outdated stereotypes of “alcoholism” but recognising that problematic drinking exists along a broad spectrum.
While alcohol initially offers a sense of relief, it eventually compounds the problem, trapping individuals in a cycle of trauma, alcohol usage disorders, and deteriorating mental health. Both PTSD and AUD are conditional disorders; that is, both disorders can be diagnosed only if certain prerequisite conditions are met—specifically, a traumatic event or alcohol use. Instead of finding relief, people often end up trapped in a cycle of worsening mental health, increased drinking, and deepening PTSD symptoms. The American Psychiatric Association defines PTSD as a psychiatric disorder that may occur in people who experienced or witnessed one or more traumatic events. It has been found to reduce alcohol consumption in individuals with alcohol use disorders and may also help alleviate PTSD symptoms.
Treatment for Alcohol usage disorders and PTSD
Start by creating a list of your “whys.” Why do you want to change your relationship with alcohol? To help you along this empowering path, it’s essential to get clear on your reasons for making this positive decision. Seeking professional support is a significant stride towards a healthier, brighter future. Along this transformative path, you will acquire essential life skills and tools to effectively manage your emotions and confront life’s challenges without relying on alcohol as a crutch. They offer a safe, non-judgmental haven where you can openly share your experiences, be heard, and find unwavering support.
Additionally, blackouts may occur at far lower thresholds among younger populations. Studies have shown that young adults under the age of 25 are particularly vulnerable to experiencing blackouts. Blackouts usually appear at blood alcohol levels that are twice the legal limit or higher.” In almost all states in the U.S., the blood alcohol limit for driving is .08. “We know females absorb more alcohol in their bloodstream than males,” says Dr. Streem.
