Addiction doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a gradual spiral—wrapped in routine, masked by denial, and often fueled by a desire to numb, escape, or survive. Whether it’s substance abuse, behavioral addictions, or compulsions, the experience is deeply personal. But so is recovery. And the road from addiction to healing is paved with one thing: hope.
Addiction is a deeply complex experience—intertwined with pain, shame, and often silence. Supporting someone you care about who is battling addiction can feel like walking a tightrope between compassion and boundaries. It’s not a problem to solve overnight or a burden you’re meant to carry alone. But your presence? Your patience? That can be life-altering.
The answer is relatively straightforward: Research has established a direct and potent association between trauma and addictive behaviours. As an example, nearly two-thirds of people diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) develop issues with substance use and dependence. And more importantly, the symptoms of trauma typically arise before the substance use disorder. The evidence also suggests that the likelihood of having a substance use disorder increases with the amount of trauma people experience in their lives and that the earlier the trauma occurs, the more complex the substance use issues can become.
Addiction doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a gradual spiral—wrapped in routine, masked by denial, and often fueled by a desire to numb, escape, or survive. Whether it’s substance abuse, behavioral addictions, or compulsions, the experience is deeply personal. But so is recovery. And the road from addiction to healing is paved with one thing: hope.
Addiction is a deeply complex experience—intertwined with pain, shame, and often silence. Supporting someone you care about who is battling addiction can feel like walking a tightrope between compassion and boundaries. It’s not a problem to solve overnight or a burden you’re meant to carry alone. But your presence? Your patience? That can be life-altering.
The answer is relatively straightforward: Research has established a direct and potent association between trauma and addictive behaviours. As an example, nearly two-thirds of people diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) develop issues with substance use and dependence. And more importantly, the symptoms of trauma typically arise before the substance use disorder. The evidence also suggests that the likelihood of having a substance use disorder increases with the amount of trauma people experience in their lives and that the earlier the trauma occurs, the more complex the substance use issues can become.
Every calendar year, an eligible client can receive up to 22 hours of counselling performed by an eligible provider on a fee-for-service basis, such as, individual or group counselling. Additional hours in the same calendar year may be provided on a case-by-case basis. The psychotherapists within the Centre for Hope and Recovery are eligible providers within the NIHB program. Please contact us directly to inquire about this service.