Have you ever experienced trauma or PTSD? If the answer is yes, then you know it can leave long-lasting scars. Not all traumatic events will progress to PTSD, but you must have experienced some kind of traumatic event to be diagnosed with PTSD.  The primary difference between trauma and PTSD is the not in the severity of the event or trauma, but the severity and length of the symptoms. Both can be the result of serious violence, physical and sexual abuse, pain, as well as war, natural disasters, witnessing a death, and involvement in America’s criminal justice system. Trauma can also result from bullying, emotional and mental abuse, and family dsyfunction – as far back as childhood.

June is a month set aside to raise awareness of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Some of L.A. CADA’s first work in the field of behavioral healthcare was counseling and supporting young Vietnam veterans returning from war with serious issues of PTSD and addiction. In the 1970’a and early 80’s, there was little help available for low-income trauma victims. What’s worse, many veterans thought they had to keep their pain hidden to fit back into society, find work, and maintain their dignity. Now we know that doesn’t work.

Endless wars and the domestic violence prevention movement have brought trauma into the healing light of community awareness. The new ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences) assessment tool is helping children, youth, and adults understand the full extent of past trauma in their lives – a first step in healing.

L.A. CADA addresses trauma in our SUD patients by using a unique evidence-based practice: Seeking Safety curriculum. Developed for people suffering dual issues of trauma and addiction. It’s a present-focused intervention that focuses on five key principles: (1) safety as the overarching goal (helping clients attain safety in their relationships, thinking, behavior, and emotions); (2) integrated treatment (working on both posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use simultaneously); (3) a focus on ideals to counteract the loss of hope in both PTSD and substance abuse; (4) four content areas: cognitive, behavioral, interpersonal, and case management; and (5) attention to clinician processes.

If you need help with PTSD or trauma, contact L.A. CADA at (562) 923-4545. And learn more about this important issues.