Addiction is a Trauma Response, Marin County Psychologist Says

By: Dr. Denise Renye

A serene natural setting featuring a large boulder reflected in a still pool of water, symbolizing tranquility and the depth of inner healing in the context of trauma and addiction recovery.

Addiction. It’s often portrayed negatively as a heavy and dramatic topic resulting in a series of poor choices. We see movies of alcoholics drinking in the shower, or mothers abandoning their babies to get high. A more charitable portrayal depicts addiction as a disease, similar to diabetes or cancer. However, increasingly the psychological community is understanding that addiction is neither of those things: It’s a trauma response.

Dr. Janina Fisher, a renowned trauma specialist and psychologist wrote about trauma responses and described how after trauma, people go into different modes, such as fight, flight, freeze, fawn, or cry for help. She also reminds us that, “Trauma is not just an event that took place sometime in the past; it is also the imprint left by that experience on mind, brain, and body.”

The trauma imprint can happen in degrees, just like how addiction can happen in degrees. Some addicts are high-functioning members of society and choose to stay addicted while others are jobless and abandoning their babies and everything in between! Regardless, as a Marin County psychologist, I view addiction as a response to trauma and that necessitates treatment approaches that address the underlying trauma rather than solely focusing on the addictive behavior itself.

I practice through a psychodynamic lens and typically do not focus solely on addressing behavior, which means I recognize addiction is a complex coping mechanism that individuals develop in response to traumatic experiences. Trauma, in this context, refers to deeply distressing or disturbing events that overwhelm an individual's ability to cope, often leaving lasting psychological scars.

From a psychological standpoint, trauma disrupts normal brain functioning and affects the areas responsible for emotion regulation, stress response, and reward processing. Individuals who have experienced trauma may turn to addictive substances or behaviors to self-medicate and temporarily escape the overwhelming emotional pain, anxiety, or dysphoria associated with their traumatic memories. This self-medication provides short-term relief but ultimately reinforces the cycle of dependency and avoidance, preventing the individual from processing and healing from the trauma.

Effective addiction treatment must therefore go beyond traditional methods that focus solely on cessation and relapse prevention. It must incorporate trauma-informed care, which emphasizes safety, trustworthiness, and empathy. This is part of the reason that inner child work is so effective for addiction treatment – because it helps to reestablish safety for the little one inside who’s hurting and crying out for help in the form of the addiction.  

An effective addiction treatment approach involves recognizing the widespread impact of trauma, understanding the signs and symptoms of trauma in clients such as how they dance between worlds, and responding by integrating knowledge about trauma into all aspects of treatment.

Part of the healing and recovery process could involve harm reduction. By focusing on minimizing the negative consequences of substance use rather than demanding immediate abstinence, harm reduction meets individuals where they are in their recovery journey. This compassionate approach respects the autonomy of individuals and reduces the stigma associated with addiction, creating a safer environment for those who may not be ready or able to quit entirely.

In my work as a Marin County psychologist, I use harm reduction as a bridge to further treatment by building trust and encouraging engagement with my clients, which ultimately promotes overall well-being and incremental steps toward recovery.

While employing harm reduction, I also use techniques such as eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and other forms of depth psychotherapy that specifically target traumatic memories. This is crucial in helping individuals process their trauma and develop healthier coping mechanisms.

Through bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements, EMDR facilitates the reprocessing of distressing memories, reducing their emotional charge and transforming negative beliefs associated with the trauma. This can alleviate the underlying pain that often drives substance use or addictive behaviors. As these traumatic memories are resolved, individuals can develop healthier ways to manage stress and emotions, thereby reducing the reliance on addictive substances or behaviors and promoting long-term recovery.

In my work as a Marin County psychologist, I take a trauma-informed approach to addiction treatment that creates a supportive and non-judgmental environment. I approach addiction with compassion and this can help reduce the shame and stigma often associated with both trauma and addiction. This encourages individuals to seek help and engage more fully in the therapeutic process.

By addressing the root causes of addiction through a trauma-focused lens, psychologists such as myself can help individuals achieve not only sobriety but also long-term emotional and psychological healing, leading to a more sustainable and holistic recovery.

If you’d like to work with me, I’m a Marin County psychologist and coach that offers services globally. Contact me about working together.   

For a deeper dive on inner child work, click here for The Complete Guide to Healing Trauma Through Inner Child Work