Treatment for PTSD with Addiction in Athens, GA
PTSD and addiction often show up together. Many people try to ease the pain of trauma with alcohol or drugs. Sadly, ‘self-medicating’ behaviors like that only deepen the struggle. When both conditions exist together (co-occur), they must be treated together.
Recovery From PTSD and Addiction With Dual Diagnosis Care
Dual diagnosis treatment centers, like Serenity Grove, are uniquely equipped to help people overcome PTSD and addiction together. This integrated approach is vital for recovery to take root and ensure the best possible chance of durable long-term recovery.
Accepting that you cannot recover alone is the first step. The challenge of addiction and PTSD is a tall order for sure. The good news is that all you need to get started is the willingness to ask for help. PTSD and addiction are serious challenges, but they can be managed and overcome with our dual diagnosis treatment program in Athens, GA.
Serenity Grove’s trauma-aware addiction program delivers the treatment and tools you need to overcome and persevere.
Serenity Grove Dual Diagnosis Care for PTSD and Addiction
- Detox, residential, and outpatient care in one program.
- Continuity of care through all levels of treatment and aftercare support
- Personalized treatment plans for PTSD and substance use disorders
- Individual and group therapy for PTSD with trauma-informed therapists
- Specialized PTSD treatment including EMDR and other therapies
- Medication management for addiction with PTSD or anxiety.
- Holistic model treating psychological, emotional, and spiritual aspects.
Help for PTSD and Substance Use Disorders
At Serenity Grove, our supportive team walks beside each person through every step of recovery. If you or someone you care about is struggling with PTSD and substance use, call us today at 844.844.8008 to learn more about our personalized treatment options.
Types of PTSD
PTSD doesn’t look the same for everyone. People can experience trauma in different ways, and those experiences shape how symptoms show up, especially when PTSD occurs alongside a substance use disorder. Understanding the different types of PTSD can help you recognize what you’re facing and take the next step toward healing.
Co‑Occurring PTSD
Co‑occurring PTSD happens when someone lives with PTSD and another mental health condition, often depression, anxiety, or a substance use disorder. These conditions feed into each other. Trauma symptoms can make cravings stronger, and substance use can intensify anxiety, mood swings, or flashbacks. Integrated treatment helps break this cycle by supporting both conditions at the same time.
Acute Stress Disorder (ASD)
ASD develops within the first month after a traumatic event. Symptoms can feel intense and overwhelming, and many people turn to alcohol or drugs during this period to cope with fear, anxiety, or sleep problems. Early support can prevent these symptoms from becoming long-term PTSD.
Delayed-Onset PTSD
Some people don’t notice symptoms until months or even years after the trauma. A major life change, a new stressor, or even a reminder of the event can trigger the onset. When delayed PTSD overlaps with substance use, the connection often feels confusing—people may not realize they’re using substances to manage old wounds that suddenly resurfaced.
Complex PTSD (C‑PTSD)
C‑PTSD develops after long-term or repeated trauma, such as childhood neglect, ongoing physical abuse, or sexual abuse. These experiences can deeply affect a person’s sense of safety and identity. Many individuals with C‑PTSD use substances to numb emotional pain or escape overwhelming memories. Treatment works best when it addresses both the trauma and the substance use together.
Secondary Trauma
Secondary trauma affects people who witness or absorb the impact of someone else’s traumatic experience. First responders, healthcare workers, therapists, and even family members can develop PTSD symptoms through repeated exposure to others’ pain. Many turn to substances to cope with the emotional weight of their work or relationships. With the right support, they can learn healthier ways to manage stress and reclaim balance.
At Serenity Grove, we treat all forms of depression alongside substance use disorders. Our team helps people rediscover meaning, build healthier coping skills, and move toward a life filled with hope and purpose.
Understanding the type of depression is only the first step. True healing requires a plan that treats both depression and substance use together, giving people the tools they need for lasting recovery.
Why Substance Use Disorders Are More Common in People With PTSD
PTSD places enormous strain on the mind and body, and many people turn to substances as a way to cope with that pressure. When trauma symptoms feel constant, nightmares, hypervigilance, intrusive memories, emotional numbness, alcohol or drugs can seem like the fastest way to get relief. Over time, this coping strategy can develop into a substance use disorder, creating a cycle that becomes hard to break without support..
Several factors help explain why the overlap of PTSD and addiction is so common:
Using Substances to Cope With Symptoms
Many people use alcohol or drugs to soften the intensity of PTSD symptoms. Substances may temporarily reduce anxiety, help with sleep, or create emotional distance from painful memories. But this relief doesn’t last. Over time, substances make symptoms stronger and more unpredictable.
Changes in the Brain After Trauma
Trauma affects brain regions involved in stress, reward, and emotional regulation. These changes can increase cravings and make it harder to manage distress without external relief. Research shows that trauma-related disorders alter areas like the amygdala and prefrontal cortex—regions that also play a key role in addiction vulnerability.
Higher Exposure to Risk
PTSD can increase impulsivity, avoidance, and emotional overwhelm. These challenges can lead to risky situations where substance use becomes more likely. In some cases, substance use contributes to new traumatic events, which deepens the cycle.
The Weight of Untreated Trauma
When PTSD goes untreated, symptoms often intensify. Many people begin using substances not to “get high,” but simply to get through the day. Without integrated treatment, both conditions reinforce each other.
Key Takeaways: PTSD and Addiction Together
- About 45% of adults with PTSD also struggle with alcohol or drug use. People with PTSD are twice as likely to develop alcohol problems compared to those without PTSD.
- They are three times more likely to develop drug-related problems than individuals without PTSD.
- Around 50% of people with a substance use disorder have experienced at least one traumatic event.
- Up to 80% of individuals with PTSD will meet criteria for a substance use disorder at some point in their lives.
How We Treat PTSD and Addiction Together
At Serenity Grove, we treat PTSD and substance use at the same time because healing works best when both conditions receive attention together. People learn how trauma affects their thoughts, emotions, and physical responses, while also exploring how alcohol or drugs may have become a way to cope with fear, stress, or painful memories. With steady support, they begin building healthier strategies and addressing the patterns that keep PTSD and addiction in control of their lives.
We use a range of therapies to help people process trauma, strengthen emotional resilience, and develop practical skills for long‑term recovery, including:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Helps people identify and change trauma‑related thoughts and behaviors that fuel the cycle of PTSD and substance use. - Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Builds skills in mindfulness, emotion regulation, and distress tolerance—tools that reduce impulsive reactions and help people stay grounded during triggers. - Group Therapy
Offers a supportive space to connect with others who understand trauma and addiction, reducing isolation and building shared strength. - Family Therapy
Improves communication and healing within relationships affected by PTSD and substance use, helping families rebuild trust and support recovery. - Trauma Therapy
Addresses the root experiences that contribute to PTSD symptoms and substance use, allowing people to process trauma safely and gradually. - Anger Management
Teaches healthier ways to manage frustration, hyperarousal, and emotional triggers that often stem from trauma. - Life Skills Training
Supports everyday functioning—from managing stress to creating healthy routines—so people feel more confident navigating life without substances. - Meditation and Yoga Therapy
Encourages relaxation, grounding, and mind‑body connection, helping calm the nervous system and reduce PTSD symptoms. - Psychotherapy
Provides one‑on‑one support to explore personal challenges, build coping strategies, and set meaningful goals for recovery.
Our PTSD and Addiction Treatment Program in Athens, GA
At Serenity Grove, we believe recovery should support the whole person. Lasting wellness grows when people address both substance use and the trauma that fuels PTSD symptoms. When we treat these conditions together, people gain the tools they need to rebuild their lives with strength, clarity, and hope.
Our program offers:
- Consistency with therapists
People work with the same therapists across all levels of care. This consistency builds trust and creates strong therapeutic relationships that support long term healing. - Evidence based therapies
These approaches help people understand trauma, challenge unhelpful thoughts, and develop healthier habits. They also strengthen motivation and confidence in recovery. - Psychiatric medications
When appropriate, our psychiatrists prescribe FDA approved medications to help people manage PTSD symptoms safely and effectively. - Holistic activities
We offer yoga, meditation, group activities, movie nights, and other supportive practices. These activities help people relax, lift mood, and reconnect with their bodies. - Inclusive care
We provide a safe and affirming space for people of all identities and orientations, including members of the LGBTQIA plus community. Everyone receives care that respects who they are and what they need.
Find Hope Beyond PTSD and Addiction at Serenity Grove
Living with PTSD and substance use can feel overwhelming, but recovery remains possible. At Serenity Grove, patients benefit from compassionate care that treats trauma and addiction together. Our personalized programs help uncover the roots of PTSD while teaching healthier ways to cope and build lasting resilience.
Our continuing care services keep people connected to support long after formal treatment ends. No one has to face PTSD and addiction alone.
At Serenity Grove, we walk with you through every step of healing. Call us today at 844.844.8008 or visit our admissions page to begin building a future filled with safety, strength, and hope.
Sources:
- Substance Use and PTSD – National Center for PTSD, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Co-Occurring Substance Use Disorders – PubMed Central (NIH)
- Post-traumatic stress and future substance use outcomes – PubMed Central (NIH)
