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Category: Substance Use

When Trauma Leads to Substance Use

A young woman with long red hair sits in a dark, upholstered chair, looking somber and deep in thought. She is holding a glass filled with an amber-colored liquid, such as whiskey or tea, and staring at it with a distant, melancholy expression. The lighting is soft but moody, emphasizing a sense of loneliness or quiet reflection.

Reviewed by Anne Grisham-Pleas, MC, LMHC, SUDP — trauma, EMDR, and substance use specialist with 20+ years of experience Many people who struggle with substance use don’t start out trying to escape their lives; they’re trying to survive their bodies. Alcohol, drugs, or prescription medications can temporarily quiet anxiety, numb emotional pain, or help someone […]