Have you ever experienced a trauma? A trauma is defined as a deeply disturbing or distressing experience that affects a person’s emotional, psychological and mental well-being. Traumas can be caused by severe weather events, accidents, abuse, violence or the deaths of significant people in the individual’s life. These experiences can lead to the development of trauma personality. Let’s explore trauma personalities and if there is a connection between trauma personalities and developing substance use disorder.

The Formation of Trauma Personality

Experiencing trauma, especially at a young age, can affect how a person’s personality develops. When children show signs of developing a trauma personality, it can be due to several factors. They may have experienced abuse or neglect at home. They may be getting bullied at school, or they may be experiencing violence in their neighborhood.

If trauma is experienced at a young age, the individual’s brain development could be affected. Specifically, there are three areas of the brain that are impacted by childhood traumas, including the amygdala, the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex.

• Amygdala – The amygdala is responsible for the processing of emotions, including being able to detect danger. It’s responsible for an individual’s ability to learn via a system of rewards and punishment, which is vital in childhood development, and it plays a part in our unconscious memory, specifically when it comes to learning tasks for the long term, like riding a bike or tying our shoes.
• Hippocampus – The hippocampus is responsible for our ability to learn new things and form new memories.
• Prefrontal Cortex – The prefrontal cortex is responsible for a range of functions, including emotional regulation, decision-making, analyzing and planning.

A child who is developing a trauma personality may have difficulty regulating their emotions or responding properly to certain situations. For example, when confronted with a traumatic situation or threat, the child may go into “survival mode,” which is a form of dissociation. In this scenario, the child ceases to make informed decisions and simply operates from learned behaviors or habits that have gotten them through similar situations.

Other responses to perceived threats may include flight, flight and fawn.

• Fight – The child aggressively confronts their perceived threat.
• Flight – The child runs away from the perceived threat.
• Freeze – The child is unable to move, run away or call for help. He or she may even faint or go limp.
• Fawn – The child attempts to ascertain what the other, potentially hostile, person needs in order to make them happy so that confrontation is avoided.

It’s important to understand that the fight, flight, freeze and fawn responses are normal responses to threatening and dangerous situations. However, if these responses are overused, even when no threat is present, they can become ingrained. Some people may even take these behavioral patterns into adulthood, and once that happens, the fight, flight, freeze and fawn responses may become maladaptive.

For example, when the fight response becomes maladaptive, it can mean that the individual becomes aggressive in situations where aggression is not the best response. Let’s say that the individual accidentally picks up a hot pan on the stove without a pot holder and gets burned. In an individual whose fight reaction has not become maladaptive, they’d most likely treat the burn and make a mental note to not do that again. In an individual where the fight response has become maladaptive, they might choose to destroy the pan for burning their hand. The good news is that behavioral therapy can help individuals better understand their emotions so that they can control them instead of overreacting.

Common Characteristics of Trauma Personality

Individuals with trauma personality often develop certain traits, like being hypervigilant or trouble feeling safe and secure. They may have difficulty regulating their emotions, and they may have difficulty forming relationships due to trust issues.

• Hypervigilance and Difficulty Feeling Safe – Individuals with trauma personalities are always on the lookout for danger. They may repetitively check that doors and windows are locked because they don’t feel safe.
• Emotional Regulation Challenges – An individual with a trauma personality may have sudden mood swings, low impulse control and be prone to emotional outbursts or anger.
• Trust Issues and Relationship Difficulties – Individuals who were abandoned or hurt as children have difficulty trusting people as adults. This can make it difficult to have meaningful relationships.
• Negative Self-Concept and Shame-Based Identity – Individuals with past traumas may have difficulty believing that they are worthy of success, money, good jobs, friendships and even happiness. They may also be afraid to try due to fear of failure or rejection.
• Dissociation and Disconnection From Self – Dissociation, or disconnecting from oneself during a traumatic event, can be a form of self-preservation. However, chronic use of the defense mechanism can lead to feelings of detachment from one’s body or thoughts, and it can lead to the loss of memories, especially memories surrounding traumatic events.
• People-Pleasing Behaviors or Boundary Issues – Individuals who have experienced traumatic events may seek to make other people happy in order to receive praise and attention, even if it means neglecting their own needs.
• Black-and-White Thinking Patterns – Individuals who have developed a trauma personality tend to be rigid in their thinking. It is either true or false, correct or incorrect, and there is no middle ground. This can lead to an oversimplification of situations, and the individual may have difficulty seeing the entire picture or situation.
• Chronic Stress Activation and Physiological Symptoms – This can lead to an increased heart rate, heart palpitations, a weakened gut barrier, problems with digestion, excessive gas or bloating, restlessness and sleep disturbances.

The Trauma-Addiction Connection

Did you know that there’s a connection between experiencing a traumatic event and having an addiction or developing substance use disorder? According to a research paper on PMC PubMed Central, 75 percent of individuals with substance use disorder have previously experienced a traumatic event. It goes on to further state that of the individuals who seek treatment for their SUD, 95 percent have experienced a traumatic event.

The high rates of substance use disorder are believed to be caused by self-medication. This is known as the self-medication hypothesis (SMH), and this hypothesis goes on to state that individuals who have experienced a trauma in their lives are more prone to using alcohol and drugs to help themselves forget the incident, feel better and get through their day.

The issue with SMH is that it only works to temporarily alleviate the symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, depression and stress. Alcohol and drugs don’t do anything to treat the underlying issues and help the individual heal from their trauma. Not to mention, as an individual continues to use alcohol or drugs, their body starts to adapt. This often results in having to drink more or take more drugs in order to achieve the same effects, which can lead to dependency. In addition to increasing the individual’s risk of developing substance use disorder, drinking alcohol and taking drugs can exacerbate preexisting mental health conditions. Thankfully, there are trauma-informed approaches to helping people heal from addiction.

Trauma-Informed Approaches to Addiction Recovery

There are addiction recovery programs available that use trauma-informed approaches. Trauma-informed approaches to addiction recovery utilize six core values, including:

• Safety – Help the individual feel safe in physical settings and in their interactions with other people.
• Trustworthiness – Facilitate trust by ensuring that the program is transparent, that decisions are made in fairness and that participants are treated with respect.
• Peer Support – Creating a network of support through peer and family interactions.
• Collaboration – Ensuring that treatment is a partnership between the participants and the staff so that everyone’s voice is heard.
• Empowerment – Empowering individuals by discovering and building upon their strengths and experiences.
• Cultural Issues – Dealing with cultural, gender and historical issues with compassion and grace.

Therapies that are often used in trauma-informed approaches include:

• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) – EMDR is used to help people process and desensitize themselves to traumatic events. It involves focusing on the memory of the trauma while performing certain eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation, like tapping on a certain part of the body or making hand movements.
• Somatic Experiencing – Somatic Experiencing (SE) is used for mind-body healing. The therapy focuses on the belief that traumas can get trapped in our bodies and affect us on a cellular level. Therefore, this treatment focuses on the body first and the mind second. The goal is to help the individual feel safe in their own body before working on being mindful of the body’s sensations while thinking about a traumatic experience. Finally, it promotes healing by helping the individual recall feelings of calmness and safety.
• Trauma-Focused CBT – Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is specifically used to help families heal from trauma when the child has PTSD, mood or anxiety disorders from early childhood traumas. It’s used to change harmful thinking and behaviors into positive actions while helping the child and other family members navigate their guilt and fear over the event.
• Internal Family Systems Therapy – Internal Family Systems Therapy helps individuals heal from traumatic events by addressing the various parts of their personalities. For example, in a person who has experienced a traumatic event, they may have a hurt part of their personality. Another part may be sad, and yet another part of their personality may be angry over the event. This therapy facilitates the healing process by identifying and addressing all of those underlying personalities.
• Seeking Safety Protocol – This treatment is used to help individuals heal from their trauma and substance abuse. It is an integrated treatment protocol that helps the individual recover from their PTSD and substance abuse disorder. The program involves helping the individual feel safe in their body, physical spaces, emotions, thoughts and behaviors, and it helps the individual create new, healthy ideals.

Allure Detox’s Trauma-Informed Approach

At Allure Detox, our trauma-informed approach starts with safety. We want all of the individuals in our treatment programs to feel safe and secure so that they can discuss their past trauma responses, fears, behaviors and goals with us. Honesty, openness and validation can help individuals deal with their childhood experiences and heal from their addictions while moving forward in a positive and productive manner.

Each of our treatment programs starts with a thorough assessment and screening. This includes a confidential evaluation that includes filling out a Trauma Screening Questionnaire to identify potential post-traumatic stress disorder or other trauma-related issues. Next, we’ll verify your insurance, and finally, we’ll perform an intake assessment that helps determine all of the services you’ll need, like mental health help, trauma therapy, detox and the type of addiction treatment that would best benefit you. We recognize that many substance use disorders develop as a coping mechanism in response to earlier stressors. For example, we offer residential treatment, 12-step programs and kosher treatment, as well as aftercare and alumni programs.

If you’re ready to get help for dysregulation stemming from past trauma and substance use disorder, we can help you at Allure Detox in Florida. We provide comprehensive trauma and addiction treatments that address interpersonal difficulties and get to the root causes of your issues so that you can heal on a deeper level, rebuild your sense of self, and move forward in your life as a sober person.

To start the process of getting help, give us a call today.

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Published on: 2025-03-31
Updated on: 2025-04-02

Alcohol can have a major impact on the body, including the health of its urinary tract. Besides damaging the liver over time, alcohol affects the body’s ability to produce white blood cells. This, in turn, reduces the body’s ability to fight off infections, including urinary tract infections.

So, while alcohol doesn’t directly cause a urinary tract infection, it can certainly lower the body’s defense systems and indirectly cause one. This article takes a closer look at what a urinary tract infection is and alcohol’s role in getting one.

What Is a UTI?

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection that affects your urinary system, including the kidneys, bladder, urethra, and ureters. Most UTIs are caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria, which enter your urinary system through the urethra and start to multiply. These bacterial infections can affect any part of the urinary system, but most commonly cause cystitis, which affects the lower urinary tract—specifically the bladder and urethra.

The symptoms of a UTI typically include a burning sensation during urination, frequent urges to urinate, and cloudy or strong-smelling urine. If left untreated, the infection can spread to the kidneys, which poses a more serious health risk. A typical course of antibiotics is prescribed to treat UTIs, helping to eliminate the bacteria and reduce the risk of UTIs developing in the future.

Although Escherichia coli is the most common cause, other bacterial infections can also increase the risk of UTIs. It’s important to seek medical attention if you suspect a UTI to prevent complications.

Common Causes of UTIs

Roughly 90% of UTIs are caused by E.coli from the lower intestines. However, people can also pick up bacteria on their fingers and spread it to their urinary system when they go to the bathroom or during sex.

Women are more likely to have a UTI infection than men due to their anatomy. In women, their anus is close to their urethra opening, which makes it more likely for bacteria to reach the urethra. An infection can occur if feces on toilet paper accidentally enters the urethra or if you wipe yourself from back to front after using the toilet.

Common Symptoms of UTIs

There are different types of UTIs, and your symptoms will depend on what part of your urinary system has been affected.

• Bladder: If the infection is in your bladder, you will experience painful and frequent urination, blood in your urine, and lower belly pain or discomfort.
• Urethra: If the infection is in your urethra, you will experience burning when you urinate and discharge.
• Kidneys: If the infection has spread to your kidneys, you will experience back or side pain, high chills, nausea, and vomiting.

Other symptoms include strong-smelling urine, urine that has a cloudy color, and a desire to always urinate.

How Alcohol Can Indirectly Contribute to UTIs

Although there isn’t a direct relation between alcohol and UTIs, alcohol can indirectly contribute to UTIs in various ways.

Dehydration

Alcohol can indirectly cause UTIs by dehydrating the body. When your body is dehydrated, it’s unable to flush out bacteria effectively, leading to a bacteria buildup in your system. To reduce the risk of catching a urinary tract infection, it’s important to stay hydrated while consuming alcohol. If you don’t drink fluids, such as water, while consuming alcohol, try to remember to do so afterward.

Immune System Suppression

Consuming large amounts of alcohol frequently can impair your immune system. How? Alcohol impairs the body’s ability to produce white blood cells, which the body needs to fight off infections. With fewer white blood cells, the body can’t effectively fight off diseases, let alone urinary tract infections. Heavy drinkers will find that with time, their bodies have a weakened immune system and aren’t able to fend off any infection properly.

Practicing Poor Hygiene

Drinking heavily can impair your judgment, resulting in lapses in personal care, such as not wiping yourself well after using the bathroom or neglecting proper hygiene during sex. Poor hygiene may also include forgetting to wash your hands after the bathroom and wiping yourself back to front instead of front to back after using the toilet.

Behavior Changes

Lastly, behavioral changes from drinking too much alcohol can result in delayed urination. By delaying when you urinate, you’re allowing bacteria to build up in your urinary system. Although holding in your pee from time to time shouldn’t be problematic in a healthy adult, doing this constantly can lead to problems.

Another behavioral change is reducing the amount of fluids your body takes in, especially during the times you’re suffering from alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Most people feel rather sick during these times and prefer not to eat or drink anything, including water. As mentioned above, however, a dehydrated body won’t allow your body to flush out the bacteria in its urinary tract system.

Does Alcohol Directly Cause UTIs?

Alcohol doesn’t directly cause UTIs, but it may increase the body’s chances of getting it by contributing to the following risk factors.

• Dehydration: The body can’t effectively flush out bacteria when it doesn’t produce enough urine.
• Poor hygiene: Careless hygiene habits can occur when using the bathroom or during sexual activity.
• Weakened immune system: Consuming large quantities of alcohol weakens the immune system, preventing the body from effectively fighting off infections.

In addition to the above risk factors, alcohol can also worsen your symptoms as your body’s weakened immune system can’t effectively fight infections off. Moreover, alcohol produces concentrated urine, and this concentrated urine can irritate your bladder’s lining. If you have a urinary tract infection in your bladder, this could undoubtedly worsen your pain.

Preventing UTIs While Drinking

There are quite a few ways to prevent UTIs while drinking.

Stay Hydrated

Since alcohol acts as a diuretic, it dehydrates your body, making it crucial to drink plenty of water both while you’re drinking and afterward. Staying hydrated helps flush out toxins and bacteria that can build up in your urinary tract system, reducing the risk of bladder irritation and urinary issues. Increased fluid intake can also help alleviate the burning sensation that sometimes accompanies bladder discomfort due to acidity levels in the body.

In addition to water, it’s a good idea to drink electrolyte-rich beverages, like Gatorade, to replace the potassium and salt that your body loses when consuming alcohol. Maintaining proper hydration is essential for minimizing the negative effects of alcohol on your system.

Practice Good Hygiene

When you’re drunk, it may be difficult to practice good hygiene. However, it’s important to wipe yourself from front to back when using the bathroom (especially for women) and to wash your hands after using the bathroom. You should also wash your hands and clean yourself after sexual activity.

Don’t Hold Your Pee In

If you’re drinking heavily with friends or alone, you may put off going to the bathroom to pee. However, this is a bad idea. The minute you feel the urge to pee, excuse yourself to go to the bathroom. Holding large amounts of urine in your bladder weakens the bladder over time, too.

Stay Away From Irritants

Heavy drinking can irritate your bladder. But if you’re drinking heavily, don’t add additional irritants like spicy foods and caffeine. Try to limit the irritants you put in your body.

Alcohol Addiction Treatment at Allure Detox

Heavy alcohol consumption does significant harm to your body, especially your liver and brain. The impact of alcohol extends beyond physical damage; it can weaken your immune system, dehydrate your body, and impair your judgment, all of which can indirectly lead to conditions like UTIs. While alcohol doesn’t directly cause UTIs, the relationship between alcohol and your overall health plays a significant role in increasing the risks.

If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol abuse, it’s important to seek medical advice and explore treatment options immediately. At Allure Detox, we offer medically supervised detox programs for both inpatient and outpatient care, ensuring you can safely detox under the guidance of experienced professionals. Our goal is to ensure your safety as you begin your addiction recovery journey.

Alcohol dependence is one of the hardest dependencies to overcome, as the effects of alcohol on the body and mind are profound. That’s why our team at Allure Detox creates a personalized treatment plan to guide you every step of the way—from detox to therapy.

Whether you’re dealing with moderate alcohol consumption or excessive alcohol consumption, we’re here to help. If alcohol intake is affecting your life, give us a call to discuss our treatment options and start your journey toward recovery today.

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Published on: 2024-10-22
Updated on: 2025-01-01