The Traditional treatments for recovery is that many of its methods used are counterproductive. Angry, forceful confrontations that are frequently used to break denial can push those with abusive backgrounds further into resistance, because they feel they're being violated again. The whole powerlessness concept is threatening because they were unable to control what was done to them as a child so it's terrifying to think they have no power as an adult. The structure and tone of treatment tends to be punitive, shaming, rigid and blaming, which resembles the atmosphere they grew up in. Traditional treatment methods often make the survivor of trauma feel re-victimised.
Considering the fact that the majority of people entering treatment for addiction have been traumatised, this gives us another clear indication as to why traditional treatment is not successful for so many people. It is our opinion that those survivors who do feel comfortable in traditional treatment do so because, as we learned earlier, one of the most common effects of childhood trauma leaves survivors of abuse unconsciously drawn to situations and people that simulate their dysfunctional family system. It's familiar to them. On some level they feel comfortable and yet on another level it incites great internal conflict. Treatment for alcoholism and drug addiction needs to empower the child within and that is not the case with mainstream rehabilitation centres.
It's also important to note here that although we're talking specifically about the effects of childhood trauma and neglect, that any high-stress, traumatic event in life has the potential to alter and damage the mind. Other events like natural disasters, kidnapping, civilians in war or those engaging in combat, prisoners of war, a car wreck, plane wreck, a terrorist attack, chronic health conditions, domestic violence, unhealthy relationships or other similar scenarios where someone is in crises, traumatised and unable to escape or forced to live with ongoing stress could have the same results and make one vulnerable to dissociation.
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