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The Link Between Substance Abuse and Domestic Violence: Understanding and Breaking the Cycle

There’s a strong relationship between substance abuse and domestic violence. Abuse is traumatic, and its effects can follow you even after you end the relationship. Many people use drugs or alcohol to cope with that trauma, which can quickly lead to addiction. But addiction is traumatic, too. What starts as a coping mechanism might eventually compound the problem. When you’re ready to end this cycle, a rehab that treats trauma and addiction can help you move forward.

If you or someone in your life is experiencing domestic violence, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) to get immediate support. 

What Is Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence is the intentional use of force by a family member, romantic partner, roommate, close friend, or other loved one. There’s a common myth that all abuse is physical assault. In reality, domestic violence can be much more subtle and complex. You don’t have to wait for it to escalate. Instead, you can get help as soon as you notice any of these types of abuse, no matter how minor they may seem:

  • Intimidation
  • Destroying property 
  • Physical assault
  • Verbal insults
  • Social isolation
  • Forced sex
  • Harming pets
  • Financial, physical, or emotional control
  • Coercion to have sex, drink, or take drugs

Domestic violence can happen to anyone, regardless of their age, gender, or social standing. There’s also a complex relationship between substance use and domestic violence.1 These 2 issues often go hand in hand, and each one makes the other more likely. 

Both perpetrators and survivors of abuse have high rates of addiction.2

The Impact of Addiction on Domestic Violence

Addiction is common among perpetrators of domestic violence.3 25-50% of intimate partner abusers have substance use disorders. And as an abuser’s addiction grows more severe, both the frequency and severity of their abuse increases.4 

It’s important to note that most people experiencing addiction are not violent5 towards others. However, the influence of drugs or alcohol can make people with violent tendencies more likely to act on them.

By definition, being drunk or high changes your brain chemistry.6 As a result, drinking or using drugs can change the way you think, feel, and react to stress. You might be less capable of controlling your anger, making violence more likely. Ongoing drug use increases your risk of violent behavior7 over time. 

Social norms can also contribute to higher rates of violence. In some cultures, “I was drunk” is an acceptable excuse for a wide range of negative behavior, from telling secrets to picking fights. When people feel like they can blame their actions on substances, they may drink or use drugs to justify ongoing violence.8 This mindset can also prevent them from getting the help they need.

Women experiencing alcohol or drug addiction are also more likely to become victims of domestic violence.9 However, studies show that this often relates to their partners’ substance abuse issues even more than their own.

Substance use doesn’t cause domestic violence. And blaming violence on a person’s addiction—whether they’re the survivor or the perpetrator—removes the abuser’s responsibility.

Facts on Substance Abuse and Domestic Violence

Data shows a strong connection between correlate substance use and domestic violence: 

  • Domestic violence survivors are nearly 6 times more likely to develop alcohol addiction. 
  • Nearly 50% of women who enter addiction treatment are domestic violence survivors. The rates are much higher for women in opioid addiction treatment. 
  • When both people in a relationship use substances, their risk of interpersonal violence goes up.
  • 39% of incarcerated abusers have a history of alcohol addiction.
  • 22% of incarcerated abusers have a history of drug addiction.
  • Substance use is involved in up to 80% of child abuse cases.
  • Teens and young adults who were abused in childhood have a higher risk of addiction.
  • Serious physical violence occurs in 8-13% of all marriages.
  • Women who abuse substances are at a higher risk of domestic violence.

How Domestic Violence Can Lead to Addiction

Domestic violence survivors are at a high risk of addiction.12 That’s partly because it’s so common for survivors to self-medicate13 the symptoms of trauma. Survivors are also more likely to experience mental health issues.14 So they may use drugs or alcohol to cope with the symptoms of another diagnosis, like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Addiction in Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence

Many people cope with the trauma of intimate partner violence (IPV) by using drugs or alcohol.19 For many survivors, this occasional coping method quickly turns into addiction—especially if you lack other coping strategies. Survivors of IPV also tend to have more severe addiction symptoms. 

Physical injuries from IPV can also lead to addiction. For example, it’s common for IPV to result in chronic pain or traumatic brain injury. Both of these conditions increase your risk of addiction. But developing an addiction also increases your risk of experiencing IPV again, and this can quickly become a cycle. Seeking treatment can keep you safe from further violence. 

Special Considerations for Men Who Have Survived Domestic Violence 

Although most research focuses on women survivors, 25-50% of people who survive IPV each year are men.20 And like women, studies show that male survivors of domestic violence are more likely to develop addiction. But the cultural stigma that male survivors face can be a barrier to treatment and recovery. 

Treatment for Addiction and Domestic Violence-Related Trauma

When you’re recovering from abuse and addiction, it’s ideal to find treatment that addresses both at the same time. Studies show that comprehensive treatment is more effective21 than seeking help for trauma and addiction separately. 

How Does Comprehensive Treatment Work?

Most rehabs that address both addiction and domestic violence offer trauma-informed care. Trauma affects everyone differently, and its impacts can be surprising. A trauma-informed approach accounts for your unique needs during recovery, even as those needs change.

Recognizing your triggers and respecting your boundaries is a huge part of this. For example, you’ll be able to say “stop” at any point in therapy, and take a break or change the subject. The physical environment will also be conducive to healing with well-lit common areas, no loud noises, and safety features like security personnel at entrances and exits. 

Integrated treatment also accounts for the role of trauma in addiction.22 For example, if you’re in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), you might learn how to cope with trauma triggers without using drugs or alcohol. These skills can help you navigate long-term recovery from both conditions. 

Aftercare Planning for Survivors of Domestic Violence

For survivors, aftercare includes more than ongoing mental health support. While that’s important, it’s just one part of your safety. In most programs, you can start planning for aftercare as soon as you enter treatment.

When you start rehab, your therapist may ask you to sign a no-contact contract,23 where you’ll agree not to communicate with your abuser during treatment. But after rehab, it’s not always that simple. If you have children with them or share assets like a house, the legal system may require some amount of contact. 

It’s also common for survivors to be socially isolated24 and have fewer financial resources immediately after an abusive relationship. So as you approach the end of treatment, you’ll work with your therapist to create a concrete safety plan25 for after you leave. That plan might include: 

  • Intentions around if, when and how you’ll be in contact with your abuser, including information about your legal rights
  • A safe place to live
  • A new phone number, email address or other contact information your abuser won’t have access to
  • A local therapist
  • In-person support groups
  • Relevant hotlines for social services
  • Other community resources

Healing from abuse is a deeply personal process, and every survivor has unique needs. Your provider can help you find the resources you need to achieve your recovery goals.

You can start healing from abuse and addiction in treatment centers around the world. Rehabs that treat trauma will help you plan for a safer, brighter future. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Domestic Violence and Addiction

How does substance use affect domestic violence?

Substance use is common among both perpetrators and survivors of domestic violence, and it can increase the risk and severity of violent behavior. Alcohol and drugs change brain chemistry, making it harder to control anger and increasing the likelihood of violence.

How can rehab help with domestic violence and addiction?

Rehabs that specialize in treating both addiction and trauma offer a safe, supportive space where survivors can heal from the trauma of abuse while also addressing their addiction. Treatment often includes individual and group therapy, medical care, and complementary therapies. Rehab can also provide survivors with the skills and tools they need to build a healthy, substance-free life after leaving the program. It’s important to choose a rehab that’s equipped to handle both issues and has experience working with survivors of domestic violence.

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Neurofeedback For Addiction Recovery: Letting Your Body Heal Your Mind

Neurofeedback can help those who need something different than a traditional way of healing during their recovery journey. With neurofeedback, you can see how your mind and body connect. And you’ll learn how you can shift your habits and ways of thinking to help you overcome addiction. You can start moving in the right direction to align your mind and body through neurofeedback treatment. 

How Addiction Affects the Brain

The human brain is made up of cells called neurons1 that interact with each other in different networks. One neuron releases a neurotransmitter, like a message, into the gap called a synapse, which then attaches to the next neuron telling it what to do. And different networks, or circuits, of neurons are responsible for different functions in the body.

neurotransmitter process

When you take drugs, they interrupt how this process occurs in the brain. Some drugs mimic the structure of natural neurotransmitters, and others cause neurons to release a lot of natural neurotransmitters. 

Addiction starts when your brain begins to produce less of its natural neurotransmitters due to high, constant drug use. It becomes harder to find the same happiness from things you used to enjoy. You then need to use drugs to find that pleasure again. And oftentimes, you need to use higher and higher amounts to get that same joy.

This becomes a dangerous cycle. Fortunately, there are treatments that can help you find your passion for life again without the use of a substance.

What Is Neurofeedback?

Neurofeedback, also known as EEG biofeedback, measures brain activity with a few different devices like an electroencephalogram (EEG), sweat sensors, and heart rate monitors. Then, a trained professional can see where damage is in the brain. Your neurofeedback practitioner can work with you to get these harmed parts of the brain back to healthy functioning. It essentially harmonizes your brain waves. This treatment is non-invasive and does not use medication.

The main goal is to give you strategies to interfere with unhealthy thought patterns and help you take charge of your mind. This facilitates positive changes in thinking and behavior.

How It Works

Professionals at Luna Recovery explain that an electroencephalogram (EEG) uses sensors placed on your skin to gather information about brainwave activity2. It also collects data about your blood pressure, heart rate, and skin temperature. Practitioners then locate where there’s damage in the brain due to drug use, or other conditions. Knowing this, they can help you correct these faulty neural pathways.

What Happens During Neurofeedback Therapy?

During a neurofeedback session, which typically lasts about an hour, you’ll likely wear a cap on your head with different electrodes placed on it. These electrodes connect to a machine to monitor your brain’s activity.

neurofeedback session

After this is all set up, your practitioner will do activities with you to stimulate different areas of your brain. This could include watching a movie or playing a video game; however, your brain activity directly affects what’s happening on the screen. 

For example, your screen may only be at full brightness when your brain waves are interacting in unison. If you lose focus and your brain activity scatters, the screen will dim. Simple exercises like this not only show you how your brain is working, but they also begin to teach you how you can control it.

Are There Risks Associated with Neurofeedback Treatment?

Neurofeedback is generally a safe form of treatment because it’s non-invasive. It is possible, but unlikely, to experience some side effects during sessions, like anxiety, fatigue, and headaches.

Neurofeedback for Addiction Treatment

Addiction typically creates irregular brain waves3, and each drug creates different types of damage in different areas. Luckily, we can correct these irregularities through neurofeedback. 

During sessions, you’ll pay close attention to your thoughts. Outside of sessions, you can practice what you’ve learned to help you manage your feelings or cravings in real life. You’ll learn skills to adapt to any new situation that life throws at you. Throughout treatment, you can train your brain to become as healthy as someone without addiction4.

Neurofeedback and Mental Health

Neurofeedback is extremely useful for not only addiction recovery, but also for mental health disorders5. It’s an effective treatment for common disorders like anxiety and depression6. But neurofeedback can also treat co-occurring disorders and other singular  diagnoses:

  • Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
  • Insomnia
  • Schizophrenia 
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

By disrupting unhelpful thought patterns, you can manage the emotions that come with your mental health condition. And neurofeedback can offer a good alternative to medication, especially if medications or other treatment plans haven’t worked for you in the past.

A Different Way of Healing

You have resources available to heal from addiction or mental health issues. Neurofeedback can give you a whole new perspective on life. You can attune your mind and body to connect with yourself and the world around you. Discover how rehabs with neurofeedback can help you start living fully.

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Finding Freedom Through Gestalt Therapy

You can’t be defined as just one thing. So healing requires looking at all of the things that make you, you. Gestalt therapy shows how all the facets in your life impact you. This approach honors that both you and your environment are always shaping each other. And you can learn how to make this relationship a positive one. 

In rehab, gestalt therapy can empower you to move forward from what’s holding you back.  

What Is Gestalt Therapy?

A “gestalt” is a whole that’s greater than the sum of its parts.1 According to this approach, if you want to understand something, you have to look at its context. Gestalt therapy helps you realize how different areas of your life impact you. 

This therapy works by bringing you into the present moment to heal.2 It focuses on the here and now. You can still look at past experiences that you want to work through. But by focusing on what you’re feeling right now, you’re better able to understand and regulate your feelings. Gestalt therapy aims to help you make peace with the past, so you can move on to a brighter future.

This healing journey encourages you to reconnect with and accept buried parts of yourself. It also urges you to be accountable for how you live your life. While we can’t always control our circumstances, learning to adapt to the unpredictable can be hugely empowering.

How It Works

The key to Gestalt therapy is trust: trusting your therapist and trusting yourself. Doing so helps you develop the self-awareness to recognize patterns you want to change. 

In session, your therapist focuses on empathizing with you. By giving unconditional acceptance, they’ll provide a safe space for you to heal. They’ll do much more listening than talking. 

Gestalt Therapy Exercises 

Gestalt therapy takes a hands-on approach to healing. This experiential therapy will have you do more than just talking. In a session, you might do exercises like the following, including some that focus on analyzing body movement:

  • “I” statements: Instead of “they were mean to me,” for example, you might say: “I feel that they’re being mean to me.” Using this kind of phrasing helps you take responsibility for your thoughts and emotions instead of blaming them on others. 
  • The empty chair: You’ll face an empty chair, representing someone or something, and have an open conversation with it. Here, you’ll work through your unprocessed experiences—what Gestalt therapy refers to as “unfinished business.” The empty chair method3 releases negative feelings, making life more joyful. 
  • The reversal technique: Your therapist will encourage you to act in ways you normally wouldn’t. If you’re normally passive, for example, you might act assertively. This allows you to overcome self-imposed labels and get in touch with your full self.
  • Top dog vs. underdog: You’ll speak as both the “top dog” and “underdog” of your personality. That is, you’ll speak as your own dominant side versus your submissive side. This exercise reveals internal conflict and empowers you to work toward a middle ground. 
  • Exaggeration: Your therapist will ask you to repeat certain actions, like your leg bouncing or picking your nails, that you do while talking. By doing this action again, you’ll see what emotion it’s tied to. Understanding this mind-body connection is grounding and allows you to develop control of your emotions. 

Is Gestalt Therapy Right for You?

Gestalt therapy treats a variety of mental health issues, including anxiety and depression. And you don’t have to have a diagnosis to benefit from it. Gestalt therapy is also used for low self-esteem4 and relationship problems. 

Gestalt therapy is process-oriented,5 unlike many other therapies. This means that it follows the flow of the therapy session and does not have specific rules or a timeline. If you need more structure, Gestalt therapy may not be a fit.

Gestalt Therapy for Mental Health

When you’re in the present moment and self-aware, your mental health benefits. If you’re feeling stuck in old ruts, Gestalt therapy may be able to help you break out of them.

Gestalt Therapy for Trauma and PTSD

Your body stores trauma.6 And Gestalt therapy can help you safely explore it. Focusing on how your body is currently moving or feeling can help you process your past. As trauma expert Dr. Bessel van der Kolk explains: 

“If you have a comfortable connection with your inner sensations—if you can trust them to give you accurate information—you will feel in charge of your body, your feelings, and yourself.”7

For PTSD patients, Gestalt therapy revisits past emotions that are tied to traumatic events.8 By fully processing the effects on your mind and body, you can move beyond the hold your past has had on you. 

If you have bodily or sexual trauma, approach Gestalt therapy with caution. Trauma sits differently for everyone, so what may work for others could be triggering for you. Your treatment team can help you decide which modalities are best suited for your goals. 

Gestalt Therapy for Trauma Anxiety

Anxiety often starts from stress about your past or about the unknown future. Gestalt therapy can decrease anxiety9 by helping you focus on the now. It can also increase self-love by showing you that all parts of you are worthy. For many, recovery is a lifelong process, and this therapy can support lasting healing. 

Addiction and Gestalt Therapy

Addiction might begin as self-medication to cope with stress or other mental health concerns. Learning to accept your life in the present through Gestalt therapy could be a powerful tool for setting yourself free. 

Your therapist will look at you as a whole person, instead of just a set of addiction risk factors. Professionals at Monarch Shores explain that the biggest goal in recovery with Gestalt therapy is growth. As you grow to accept your life, you’ll also grow to embrace who you are. And in doing so, you’ll be more motivated to make positive changes. 

The fundamental skills Gestalt therapy teaches are also useful for preventing relapse.10

Healing Your Present–and Your Future

You are a collection of every experience in your life. When you learn to love and accept all of the elements that make up who you are, you become a stronger whole. Radically accepting everything you feel can help you focus on the present moment—and find freedom from the past.

Look for rehabs that offer gestalt therapy and reach out to their admissions staff directly.

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What Happens in Residential Rehab for Trauma?

Rehab isn’t just for addiction recovery. That’s a common reason to start treatment, but it’s not the only one. You can also go to rehab to heal from trauma.

Defining Trauma

Traumatic events don’t always cause trauma symptoms.1 The same event that leaves you with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)2 could be annoying but forgettable for someone else. Certain qualities can make you more vulnerable to developing symptoms. Specifically, people who have a history of childhood trauma, mental health issues, or addiction may be at higher risk.  

Trauma Symptoms

Everyone reacts to trauma differently. But there are a few common effects you might experience after a traumatic event:3

  • Fatigue
  • Confusion
  • Anxiety
  • Emotional numbness
  • Loss of hope
  • Fear

These are often short-term reactions in the immediate aftermath of the event. But for some people, they become ongoing symptoms. If that’s the case, you can ask your doctor to evaluate you for PTSD.  

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

PTSD is a prolonged reaction4 to a finite traumatic experience. This could be a single event, like a car accident, or a period of time, like a tour of duty in the military. Symptoms of PTSD include the following:

  • Flashbacks 
  • Sleep problems like nightmares
  • Avoidance, where you stay away from reminders of your trauma
  • Feeling tense
  • Angry outbursts
  • Loss of interest in your passions

To fit the criteria for PTSD, these symptoms need to last for more than a month and interfere with your quality of life. 

Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Chronic trauma can lead to complex PTSD5 (c-PTSD), instead of PTSD. The 2 conditions are similar, but with a few key differences. Unlike PTSD, c-PTSD is the response to long-term circumstances. For example, teens or adults who survived child abuse might show signs of c-PTSD. 

In addition to the symptoms of classic PTSD, people with c-PTSD may also experience the following: 

  • Dysregulated emotions
  • A negative self-image
  • Difficulty forming and maintain healthy relationships

While treatment for these diagnoses is similar, c-PTSD can cause additional challenges. 

Co-occurring Trauma and Addiction

Studies indicate a strong link between addiction and traumatic experiences.6 There are several reasons for this. Drugs and alcohol can offer a temporary distraction from the pain of trauma. Or, you might decide to self-medicate in order to manage your symptoms. 

It’s all too easy to get caught in a cycle of trauma and addiction. That’s true for a few reasons. First, drug and alcohol use can make your mental health worse. And second, addiction itself can be traumatic. You might find yourself in dangerous situations because of the way you obtain or take drugs. Those experiences can compound your trauma. But without support, drug use might be the only way you know how to manage your symptoms.

What Happens in Rehab for Trauma?

If you’re having a hard time healing on your own, you might benefit from residential treatment. There, you’ll have the time and space to focus on healing, instead of just surviving. 

What is Trauma-Informed Care?

Trauma-informed rehab programs provide treatment in a safe and empowering way. Clinicians are sensitive to your concerns, and may have special training in trauma recovery.

Trauma symptoms can put you on high alert,7 even if there isn’t any danger. The tranquility of a trauma-informed treatment center can help you stay centered. For example, you might attend therapy in a soundproof room, so there’s a lower chance of loud noises. Or, your massage therapist might ask for consent before starting every session.

This type of care accommodates your needs, but it won’t insulate you from all your triggers. Instead, you’ll learn how to navigate them while keeping yourself safe. Rehab gives you the chance to practice new coping skills before you reenter a less curated environment. 

A Framework for Recovery

While you can heal from your trauma in an outpatient setting, going to residential treatment offers unique benefits. For example, keeping a consistent schedule helps people with PTSD feel safe.8 And when you attend inpatient treatment, your days will have a set routine. It’s common for people to feel overwhelmed after trauma,9 so taking a break from making certain decisions can be a relief. That way, you can focus on your recovery, instead of what you’re going to have for dinner.

A Calming Environment

It’s much harder to heal in the same place where you got hurt. If your trauma happened close to home, a change of scenery might be necessary for recovery. Studies even show that changing your environment can improve your mood.10 

If you travel for rehab, you can choose your ideal location. And some environments make healing even easier. Specifically, living in the midst of nature can help you process your thoughts11 and cope with stress. 

Social Support During Treatment

Trauma can be isolating.12 And when your symptoms interfere with relationships, it’s hard to ask for the help you need. Many residential rehabs offer a built-in community13 of patients with a similar experience of trauma. Some programs even cater to people with shared identities, like LGBTQ+ patients. And studies show that having robust social support can help your recovery14 from trauma. 

Specific Therapies for Trauma 

Everyone’s healing process is different. That’s why so many luxury rehabs offer personalized care. During inpatient treatment for trauma, you can access several different types of therapy in the same program. This empowers patients to take control of the healing process, under the expert guidance of their care team.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a popular treatment for trauma symptoms.15 In session, patients learn to recognize and work through thought patterns that no longer serve them. This is easiest to understand with triggers. For example, after an accident, you might feel intense fear about getting into a car. CBT can help you put that feeling in context. Instead of avoiding cars altogether, you could learn how to calmly assess whether it’s safe to drive. And then, additional CBT skills can help you stay centered while you’re on the road.

Prolonged Exposure Therapy 

Prolonged exposure therapy (PE)16 is a type of CBT. In PE, you’ll confront your trauma head-on. Patients do this by recounting their most painful memories in great detail. As you tell the story of what happened, your therapist may encourage you to engage your 5 senses. What did the room smell like? What noises did you hear? How did your body feel?

PE isn’t easy. The goal is to trigger yourself, purposely causing an intense emotional response. But as you return to the same memory over and over again, you’ll become desensitized to it. Eventually, you’ll be able to think about what happened without feeling triggered at all. 

If you’re healing from complex trauma, you may need to repeat this process with a few different memories. Over time, PE helps patients regulate their feelings in and outside of sessions. 

Cognitive Processing Therapy

Cognitive processing therapy (CPT)17 helps you address the emotional fallout of trauma. With a therapist’s guidance, you’ll explore the way you feel about what happened. Early in treatment, you’ll write a trauma impact statement.18 There, you’ll describe why you think your trauma happened, and list its lasting effects on your life. Then, you’ll recount a traumatic experience and talk through the way it makes you feel. 

While this process is a lot like PE, the goal is a little different. Instead of desensitizing yourself, you’ll work to understand why you feel the way you do. For example, self-blame is a common response to trauma.19 If you feel guilty about what happened, you might practice self-compassion during CPT. You’ll also learn how to cope with the triggers you encounter in daily life. 

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)20 uses visual or audio cues to help you process your trauma. First, you’ll learn more about trauma and coping skills. Then, you’ll identify a “target” traumatic event. For about 30 seconds, you’ll focus on that target as you pay attention to an external cue. 

Studies indicate that EMDR helps patients reduce anxiety and other PTSD symptoms. But it can also be emotionally taxing to concentrate on your trauma. You might feel triggered or vulnerable after a session. But in residential treatment, you won’t have to jump right back into other tasks after EMDR.  

Holistic Therapies for Survivors

Trauma affects more than just your mental health. For example, trauma can cause physical pain,21 or interrupt your spiritual practice. Holistic therapies address all parts of your life,22 and help you heal in an integrated way. There are several different types of holistic treatment: 

These methods aren’t replacements for talk therapy, but they can work well as complementary therapies. In rehab, you can combine holistic treatments with more traditional techniques. 

What Are the Stages of Trauma Recovery?

No matter what therapy you use, it still takes time to heal from trauma. And healing is nonlinear. As you grow and change, your feelings about what happened might change, too. For example, some people have trauma from romantic relationships. They might feel completely healed—while they’re single. But then new triggers might come up when they start dating again. 

While everyone’s process is different, experts describe 5 distinct stages of trauma recovery.23 You might progress through these in order, or all at once. You might even revisit some stages more than once. But as you heal, it’s likely that you’ll touch on these different perspectives.

Trauma Processing and Reexamination

Processing your trauma is an important part of recovery. Therapies like CBT and PE help you understand the effects of what happened to you. By working through your past triggers, you can focus on the present, and start to build a meaningful future. Living on-site in a rehab program helps you focus on healing, without the distractions of daily life.

Managing Negative States

During rehab, you’ll learn more sustainable coping strategies. And when you encounter triggers, your care team will likely be on hand to help you practice them. As you develop those skills, you can let go of any behavior—like addiction—that doesn’t support your growth.

Rebuilding the Self After Trauma

Trauma can make you feel disconnected24 from yourself. During rehab, you can rebuild your confidence and self-esteem. There are several ways to work toward that goal. Holistic therapies, for instance, can help you reintegrate different parts of your identity. 

Connecting With Others

Trauma affects the way you relate to other people.25 And no one exists in a vacuum. On the contrary, healthy relationships are vital to recovery. There are countless ways to approach this part of healing. You might connect with other patients, or join a support group. But those options don’t work for everyone. Some high-profile clients, for instance, may need confidentiality during rehab. If privacy is a priority, you might consider family therapy with your closest loved ones.

Regaining Hope and Power

After you survive trauma, serious danger stops being theoretical. You know from personal experience that getting hurt is a real possibility. It’s happened before, and it might happen again. Recovery means learning to live a rich, beautiful life in the face of that uncertainty. Treatment can help you regain your power and hope for the future. 


Compare luxury rehabs that treat trauma and reach out to them directly to learn how you can get started on your healing journey.

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Demystifying Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Traditional therapy and medications aren’t always effective for treating mental health disorders. If this is the case for you, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) could be a viable alternative. This non-invasive treatment works by stimulating different parts of your brain to alleviate symptoms of mental health conditions like depression and PTSD.

Your primary care physician, mental health treatment provider, or rehab treatment team can help you determine if TMS is right for you.

Health Conditions TMS Can Treat

TMS can be used to treat1 several conditions:

About 20-30% of patients with MDD continue to experience depressive symptoms2 despite therapy and medication. For those patients, looking for alternatives to traditional treatment approaches is often a logical next step. TMS shows significant potential to improve depressive symptoms among people with treatment-resistant depression and PTSD. It may take several weeks to see results, so it’s imperative for patients to consistently attend the number of sessions prescribed by their doctor.

Repetitive TMS, or rTMS, has also been shown to be successful for anxiety and bipolar disorders,3 although it’s more effective in treating depression than manic episodes. It may also speed up recovery after a stroke, and help alleviate symptoms that arise after the event. In addition, low-frequency rTMS can help control the symptoms of Tourette syndrome and OCD. High-frequency rTMS helps people quit smoking by reducing cravings. rTMS can even reduce cocaine use and cravings4 in people struggling with addiction.

What Exactly Is TMS?

TMS is a non-invasive procedure that stimulates brain tissue5 by producing a high- or low-intensity magnetic field through a copper wire. There are 3 main methods of TMS used today:

  • Single-pulse TMS (spTMS) stimulates the motor cortex while a machine measures and records electrical activity.
  • Paired-pulse TMS (ppTMS) delivers 2 pulses through the same coil, with long or short intervals in between.
  • Repetitive TMS (rTMS) is a popular variation of TMS that applies repeating pulses to a specific area of the brain. This method treats the symptoms that come from mental health disorders. Deep TMS (dTMS)6 is a newer type of rTMS that stimulates deep brain areas because their larger helmet allows for more surface area. All Points North Lodge is one rehab center that offers dTMS treatment.

Typically, spTMS and ppTMS evaluate brain functioning, while rTMS actually creates changes in the brain. If you’re treated for a mental health condition, you’ll most likely undergo rTMS. There are several different coils available for use in TMS treatment. The specialists who deliver your treatment will determine the best one for your needs.

You can either complete TMS sessions at an inpatient rehab center (Inspire Malibu, for example, offers this in partnership with a physician’s office) or at a private clinic as an outpatient. In the latter option, you’d stay at home and commute to your sessions each day.

What Happens During a TMS Session?

Before you undergo any TMS procedures,7 you’ll take a physical and mental health screening to confirm your candidacy. This includes discussions of symptoms, conditions, and any medications you take with your treatment team, who will then guide you through the process.

During your session, you’ll sit in a reclining chair with earplugs (or some sort of hearing protection) with an electromagnetic coil attached to your head. The Dawn Rehab in Thailand even lets you listen to music so you feel as comfortable as possible. During rTMS (the most common type of TMS procedure), the operating physician will turn the coil on and off repeatedly to deliver pulses to your brain. During this process, you’ll feel a tapping sensation, called “mapping.” The professional administering rTMS will slowly increase the dose of magnetic energy to determine the right amount for you.

Most people don’t find TMS painful,8 but some people may feel slight discomfort. The Dawn Rehab describes their TMS sessions:

“A TMS-trained nurse will place an electromagnetic coil against your head which will painlessly deliver brief magnetic pulses – the same as those used in MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) machines – to the region of the brain involved in mood control and depression.”

After your session, you can continue your regular daily routine as usual.

How Long Are TMS Sessions?

Duration can vary from person to person, and will also depend on your diagnosis. Standard rTMS treatment for major depressive disorder,9 for example, averages around 20-30 daily sessions for around 4-6 weeks. However, research recommends a minimum of 6 weeks. One study found that 38.4% of MDD patients responded well to just 4 weeks of treatment, but then surveyed patients who didn’t respond well to the initial 4 weeks after an additional 12 weeks of biweekly sessions. 61% of those patients responded well to the longer treatment phase.

Some studies have explored another, faster form of rTMS called “accelerated rTMS” or arTMS. During rTMS, people undergo multiple sessions in one day. Some studies suggest promising outcomes from this procedure, but more research will determine if this is actually a more viable option. Theta burst stimulation (TBS) is another, newer form of rTMS that can produce quicker results.10 Some studies found that, after only 5 days, patients enrolled in TBS arTMS trials reported success rates of 90%.

Some people may continue to attend “maintenance sessions” after their first set of TMS sessions. This involves slowly reducing the number of sessions per week from 3 to 1, which is eventually reduced to 1 session every 2 weeks. However, some people stop rTMS altogether, and go back to therapy and medications after completing their sessions. Unfortunately, rTMS maintenance isn’t well studied, and needs more research before making any determinations.

Should You Try TMS Therapy? Consider the Cons

While TMS has relatively few drawbacks, they do exist. Side effects are possible, but are usually minimal. And, TMS can be expensive and time-consuming. However, it may still be worth it for you, since lifting your depression to any degree can greatly impact your quality of life. Here are some factors to consider before trying TMS:

Possible Side Effects

Although TMS is non-invasive and seldom produces side effects,11 it can cause seizures in rare cases, and doctors do not recommend it for patients with epilepsy. While the risk of a seizure is small (less than 0.01% if you don’t have epilepsy, and less than 3% if you do), it’s still a possibility. If any of the following apply to you, you may be more likely to experience seizures:

  • Pre-existing neurological conditions
  • Adolescent
  • Changes in medication
  • Active substance use

You should talk to your doctor if you have any metal or electronic implants that will be near the TMS coil. This includes cochlear implants. These may cause problems with the therapy, and can be dangerous.

You may feel some slight discomfort in your scalp or neck during the procedure or pain afterward. You might also become more sensitive to sounds or experience ringing in your ears—which is why treatment providers should always provide ear protection. Some people report feeling fatigued afterward. However, it’s unlikely that you’ll encounter any of these side effects, and if you do, they will most likely be mild and short-lived.

Cost

rTMS is expensive,12 ranging from $200-300 USD per visit in a private clinic. If you complete the full course recommended by your doctor, you may end up paying $5,000-10,000 USD. Of course, this can differ depending on the duration and number of sessions you attend. Check with rehabs you’re considering to see if TMS is included in the cost of your program, or how much additional costs are.

Could TMS Provide the Relief You’ve Been Looking For?

Being unresponsive to treatment is incredibly frustrating when you’re living with depression or other mental health issues. But the good news is, you still have options. Alternative treatments like TMS just might do the trick for you, and the simple act of being open to trying something new can empower you to move forward in your recovery journey.

To learn more about residential treatment programs that offer this and other alternative therapies, browse our collection of luxury rehabs and connect with centers directly.

Frequently Asked Questions About Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Addiction Treatment

How does Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) work for addiction treatment?

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate specific areas of the brain. It works by delivering targeted magnetic pulses to activate or inhibit brain cells, which can help regulate mood and alleviate symptoms of mental health conditions.

Is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation safe for treating depression and anxiety?

Yes, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is considered a safe procedure for treating conditions like depression and anxiety. It has been extensively studied and approved by regulatory authorities. Common side effects may include mild headache or scalp discomfort during or after the session, but these are generally well-tolerated.

What are the potential benefits and risks of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation?

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation offers several potential benefits, including its non-invasiveness, minimal side effects, and efficacy in treating certain mental health conditions. However, it may not be suitable for everyone, and some individuals may experience rare side effects such as seizures. It’s essential to consult with a qualified healthcare provider to determine if TMS is a suitable treatment option.

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Trauma-Informed Care: How Rehab Can Support Post-Traumatic Growth 

Trauma can be an isolating experience. When you go through something so painful that it changes you, it’s natural to feel like no one else can understand your new reality. You may have trouble connecting with the people around you, or no longer enjoy activities you once found meaningful. No matter how hard it is at first, remember: this is not the end of your story. You can always create a new beginning.

By going to rehab, you can get help from experts in trauma, PTSD, and CPTSD. The simple fact that these experts exist is proof that trauma is extremely common. You may feel isolated, but you’re certainly not alone. Depending on your program, you can also spend time in rehab building community with people who have life experiences like your own.

Diagnosis After Trauma: PTSD and CPTSD

This process can teach you a great deal about your own perspective. There are countless kinds of trauma, and everyone’s response to it is unique. For the most part, however, people whose mental health has been severely impacted by trauma are diagnosed with PTSD and/or CPTSD. 

PTSD

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder1 (PTSD) normally develops in response to trauma that occurred in a discrete, specific amount of time. It’s often diagnosed in veterans and survivors of sexual assault. This condition is characterized by many symptoms, including but not limited to the following: 

  • recurring, involuntary, and intrusive memories of the traumatic event
  • flashbacks and/or dissociation
  • avoidance of reminders of the traumatic event
  • dissociative amnesia
  • persistent negative beliefs and/or self-blame
  • feelings of alienation

PTSD can be overwhelming. You may have the sense that one moment, or one brief period of time, permanently changed your emotional capacity. And that might even be true. But it doesn’t mean you’ll always be in pain. 

paracelsus confidentiality
Paracelsus Recovery in Zurich, Switzerland takes developmental trauma into account when addressing mental health and addiction issues.

CPTSD

Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder2 (Complex PTSD or CPTSD) is similar but not identical to PTSD. This describes people who have experienced prolonged trauma, such as long-term domestic abuse or long-term childhood trauma. While many veterans who served only one tour have PTSD, those who spent years in active service, and especially those who were detained in Prisoner of War camps, may in fact have CPTSD. The term may also apply to people who grew up in violent neighborhoods or spent time in prison. 

CPTSD is not yet officially classified as a diagnosis by the DSM-V (the American Psychiatric Association’s manual for assessing and diagnosing mental health conditions). However, many clinicians use it as a framework for discussing their clients’ experience. The term has been in use since at least 1988, when Dr. Judith Hartman of Harvard University suggested that the symptoms of long-term trauma may require a different kind of treatment than those of PTSD. She referred to a number of specific symptoms: 

  • self-destructive behavior, such as impulsivity and substance misuse
  • emotional difficulties, including rage, depression, and panic
  • chaotic personal relationships
  • dissociation and personality changes

Although CPTSD is not yet classified as a medical diagnosis, a growing number of healthcare providers use the concept as a therapeutic tool. It may very well be included in a future version of the DSM. Even now, many people in recovery identify with the term. Like any diagnosis, this is not only meant as a way of explaining ineffective or damaging behavior. Instead, it can help you define your experience in order to chart a path away from destructive patterns. 

What Is Trauma-Informed Care?

“Trauma-informed care“3 refers to a variety of healthcare practices that take into account the unique experiences of people with a history of trauma. Providers may be experts in treating PTSD and CPTSD, and they may offer special accommodations for certain clients. For example, when a survivor of assault sees a massage therapist who offers trauma-informed care, the therapist might make it a point to ask for verbal consent before touching any new area of their body. The provider’s goal is to treat the client with respect, making sure they feel as safe as possible throughout the healing process. 

Trauma-informed care takes the client’s past, present, and future into account. It’s not productive or even possible to ignore the original traumatic event while trying to move forward. Jan Garber, the CEO of Paracelsus Recovery, explains:

“When we’re looking at trauma, we often look at family of origin to understand how people were shaped and how that then informs how they react in life and how they relate to others.”

He adds, “If someone’s coming to us, most of the time they’ve identified a set of symptoms that’s saying, ‘Hey, stuff in life isn’t well, or it’s not working the way it could.’ So that’s the smoke, and where there’s smoke, there’s fire. So we want to really look at where that fire is and how the fire started.”

Looking at the root cause of trauma is not about assigning blame. It’s unlikely that you caused your own trauma, and it’s certainly not true that you’re responsible for other people’s behavior. You did not make this mess; or at least, you didn’t make it alone. Whatever or whomever the source of your pain may be, though, healing is your responsibility. That can feel very daunting, especially for people who experienced childhood trauma. Remember that you are not the first person to feel this way. There is a great deal of research that can guide you through PTSD and CPTSD, and your healthcare providers are there to help you navigate it.

mclean fernside
McLean Fernside in Princeton, Massachusetts recognizes clients’ need for trauma treatment as an essential part of recovery.

Learning From Triggers

Trauma-informed care is sensitive to triggers. This word has been co opted and even denigrated in recent years, so it’s important to define it in this context. 

A trigger is an inciting event that elicits a strong emotional reaction which may be disproportionate to the present moment, but is a reasonable response to the past trauma you’ve experienced.

It is not true that being triggered means you are weak, or fragile, or maladjusted. On the contrary, triggers exist for good reason. The extreme emotional reactions they cause used to serve you well. With time, effort, and therapy, many people can overcome these disproportionate reactions. 

Triggers are unique to everyone. Some are very common; for example, many survivors of physical violence have trouble looking at gorey images. However, they can also be hard to predict. A bouncy pop song might be triggering if it was playing when you got in a terrible car accident. If you struggle with your family of origin, you may be triggered by a funny sitcom about a happy family.

Simply avoiding triggers is both impractical and ineffective. Even if you never play the radio in your home, that same bouncy pop song might come on the speakers while you’re at a grocery store. Isolating yourself from situations in which you might be triggered can prevent you from living the life you want. The long-term goal of trauma-informed care is not to protect you from triggers—although that may be a useful short-term strategy. You will instead learn how to regulate your emotions and tolerate difficult situations.

The first step toward building habits is to acknowledge your current patterns. From there, you can decide which of them are still helpful. The skills that got you to this point served an important purpose, but they may not be the skills you need to build a better life. 

Trauma, Addiction, and Mental Health

When you experience trauma, it’s natural to develop coping mechanisms that are appropriate to use in emergencies. These strategies are very important; they are designed to help you survive and ultimately escape. But life isn’t always an emergency. Some of these habits can become harmful if you keep using them after the danger has passed. For example, a person who grew up in a violent home might have learned to mistrust their family members. That skill was probably a very important defense mechanism during their childhood. In adulthood, however, that same skill has the potential to damage a romantic partnership. 

If you’re living in an unsafe situation, it’s normal to want to escape. If physical escape is not an option, you may turn to other means of escape, such as substance use. Researchers have found “that there is high comorbidity between PTSD with substance abuse disorders4 and other mental disorders.” Because of this well-understood connection, many rehab centers are well-equipped to offer trauma-informed care. 

“Even if the person doesn’t define for themselves that they have trauma history, we assume that they do,” says Dr. Monika Kolodziej, Program Director of McLean Fernside. She describes their trauma-informed approach:

“What that means is being very respectful of space. It means being a clear communicator. It means not overstepping boundaries. And it means introducing the possibility that treatment for trauma might be an important part of their recovery. So in addition to being sensitive and interacting with the person in a way that’s respectful, that doesn’t overstep boundaries or is not aggressive or confrontational, it also means providing treatment and skills.”

PTSD and CPTSD can also co-exist with or even cause other diagnoses, such as anxiety and depression. Scholars have also suggested a link between CPTSD and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD);5 some even suggest that we stop differentiating between these two conditions.6 If you’re living through ongoing trauma, and develop an additional mental health issue as a result, it can be even harder to get out of danger. And once you do arrive at a safer place, these conditions can complicate the healing process. 

Trauma-informed care takes these many complexities into account. Rehab is a place to not only move past substance use, but also learn to cope with the underlying cause that led you to use substances in the first place.

Camino Recovery exterior pool
Camino Recovery in Vélez-Málaga, Spain uses EMDR to help clients reduce the impact of traumatic memories.

Trauma-Informed Behavioral Health Services

Rehab is designed to be a safe, protected environment in which you can begin healing from trauma. You’ll have access to experts who can help you process your past experiences and learn new skills to use in the future. Without the added responsibilities of work, school, or caring for your family, you’re free to focus on yourself. This dynamic is especially important for people with a history of domestic violence, and anyone whose trauma has caused them to struggle with interpersonal dynamics. 

PTSD and CPTSD can be extremely isolating, both during and after the original trauma. That isolation can even be a key indicator of whether or not you’ll develop one of these conditions in the first place. For instance, if a person gets in a car accident and then has to wait for hours before an ambulance arrives, that waiting period might be just as emotionally damaging as the accident itself. After that traumatic event, it could also be hard for them to explain why they’re triggered by sitting quietly at the side of a road.

Rehab offers clients the opportunity to inhabit a safe and protected environment, without isolating them from care. By connecting with your cohort and your team of providers, you can learn how it feels to simultaneously exist in a private space and benefit from community support. 

Various rehab facilities offer different types of therapy for people with a history of trauma. Behavioral therapy is a particularly effective treatment. This approach provides clients with very specific tactics for navigating difficult situations, coping with triggers and urges, and living in accordance with their personal values. Some common styles of therapy for healing from trauma7 include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure therapy, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). 

Each of these kinds of therapy looks at trauma from a slightly different vantage point, and it’s important to choose the one that’s right for you. EMDR, for example, aims to restructure the way memories are stored in the brain. Meena Lavender, Family Therapist and EMDR Practitioner at Camino Recovery, explains:

“If you had a filing system in your brain, it would house traumas in different sections of your brain. What EMDR does is access it one by one and processes that to eliminate the emotional charge it has.”

EMDR is just one example of trauma-informed care that simultaneously treats the mind and the body. This holistic approach can be helpful for clients who experience physical symptoms as a result of their emotional experience. In some cases, these symptoms can be extreme: panic attacks can be mistaken for heart attacks, and dissociative episodes can put a person at risk of physical harm. Ryan Soave, Director of Program Development at All Points North Lodge, states: 

“We hold trauma in our body, and stress is really the symptom of trauma. we can start working some of that stress out of the body, utilizing things like yoga, breath work, meditation, massage, the sensory deprivation tank, exercise and other types of functional movement, then when that stress is released from the body, it makes it easier to deal with the stressors that are going to come on a daily basis.”

The Ball, the Box, and the Button: A Metaphor for Healing

Imagine that, at the moment you originally experienced trauma, someone handed you a box. Inside it, you find a bouncy ball and a big red button, which is mounted on one of the sides. Whenever the ball hits the button, you’re reminded of your painful experience. That may mean you get triggered, feel anxious, and/or have the urge to engage in destructive behavior. 

At first, the ball and the box are almost the same size. The ball is constantly pressing down on the button, and you spend most of your time feeling the effects of what you’ve been through. This acute phase of healing from trauma can be very overwhelming. Without effective tools to regulate your emotions, it’s unfortunately easy to fall back on unhealthy coping mechanisms.

Over time, though, you learn. You grow. The box gets bigger, and the ball has room to bounce around. It spends less and less time pressing on the button. Your feelings may still be intense every time the button gets pushed, but you’ll have some space to breathe in between those moments. You’ll develop skills to manage your own reactions, and be better prepared for the next time the ball hits. 

This metaphor was originally developed to describe grief. And the process of healing from trauma is not unlike the process of grieving.8 Often, though, what you’re grieving is a version of yourself. As painful as that is, there is a well-charted path forward. 

Trauma-informed care offers people the space they need to get to know themselves again. This is your opportunity to redefine yourself, your life, and your values. Healing is a-linear, and there will always be good days and bad days. This process is intended to help you navigate them both. 

To learn more about your options for care, see our collection of residential rehabs offering trauma treatment here. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Trauma-Informed Care in Rehab

What is trauma-informed care in rehab?

Trauma-informed care in rehab is an approach to treatment that recognizes the impact of past traumatic experiences on an individual’s mental, physical, and emotional health. It focuses on creating a safe and supportive environment for healing and recovery.

What are the key principles of trauma-informed care in rehab?

The key principles of trauma-informed care in rehab include safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration, empowerment, and cultural sensitivity. These principles inform every aspect of treatment, from the initial assessment to ongoing support after leaving rehab.

What are the benefits of trauma-informed care in rehab?

Trauma-informed care in rehab benefits individuals by taking their experiences and trauma into account to provide a safe and supportive environment for recovery. This can foster a sense of empowerment and autonomy, which may lead to improved mental health outcomes.

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Ibogaine Treatment for Substance Use Disorders

gabon scenery

When you first enter recovery, it can be daunting to consider the road ahead. Especially after addiction, which sometimes offers instant gratification, you may be concerned about the slow rhythm of sustainable change. Some clients find it helpful to kickstart this process using ibogaine-assisted therapy.

Ibogaine is an alternative medicine, often administered in a short-term retreat setting. While it’s not readily available in the U.S., clients can travel to treatment centers around the world to seek it out. If ibogaine is right for you, it could certainly worth the trip. This experience is extremely different from most other forms of treatment.

What Is Ibogaine?

Ibogaine is a naturally occurring psychoactive alkaloid, found in the West African iboga shrub. In small doses, it’s a mild stimulant. In large doses, it can produce a dreamlike psychoactive state. This medicine has a long history, and has historically been used in healing and initiation ceremonies by members of the Bwiti religion.

The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) is exploring ibogaine as a potential treatment for substance use disorders, especially opiate addiction. According to their experts, “People with problematic substance use have found that larger doses of ibogaine can significantly reduce withdrawal from opiates1 and temporarily eliminate substance-related cravings.”

Experts found that ibogaine can have both psychological and physiological benefits. It’s sometimes administered at the beginning of a client’s detox process, because it “diminishes opioid withdrawal symptoms and reduces drug cravings.”2 Research suggests that ibogaine and its analogs “potently promote neuronal growth,” and produce “antidepressant-like behavioural responses.” Because of this, its effects may be beneficial for clients with a variety of mental health diagnoses.

The Uses of Ibogaine

This versatile treatment is especially useful for clients at the beginning of their recovery process. According to Álvaro de Ferranti, Founder of Tabula Rasa Retreat,

“It is not necessary to detox off drugs before an ibogaine treatment, particularly heroin…Ibogaine does take away heroin withdrawals instantly.”

It’s important to note, however, that clients detoxing from alcohol or benzodiazepines should taper off before beginning this treatment. Make sure to talk to your team of providers about your medical history, in order to avoid any serious side effects.

In addition to opiates, ibogaine is “also known to arrest cravings and addictions to stimulants such as crack cocaine and meth,” Ferranti continues. “It can also help people with dual disorders, mental disorders, and people who simply want to enhance their life spiritually and find answers and come back to self-love.” In particular, research supports the use of ibogaine for certain mental health concerns.

Opioid Addiction

In the Western world, this treatment is best known for its effect on recovery from opiate addiction. It alleviates most withdrawal symptoms, making detox faster and less uncomfortable. Clients also experience long-term benefits.

In one study, conducted by MAPS, “Results showed the most improvement in drug use at one month with 50% of participants reporting no opioid use during the previous 30 days. Ibogaine was associated with substantial reductions in opioid withdrawal symptoms3 and drug use in participants and may provide a useful prototype for development of innovative pharmacotherapy of addiction.”

Cocaine and Stimulant Addiction

According to the team of providers at Iboga Quest in Mexico, “cocaine addiction appears to respond very well to ibogaine treatment4 when coupled with proper preparation and after-care.” This finding is aligned with preliminary data from formal research.

In one retrospective study, subjects who had been treated for “cocaine dependence,5 almost none of whom used opioids, reported a median relapse-free interval of 5.5 months following single doses of ibogaine.” Ibogaine’s influence on the risk of relapse may be caused by its other psychological benefits.

Another study, which specifically focused on people in recovery from cocaine addiction, found that clients “patients benefited from the treatment in all the secondary outcomes, reporting decreases in craving and improvements in personal relationships, quality of life, and self-efficacy, thus supporting existing notions that treatments combining ibogaine and psychotherapy do have a therapeutic potential in the treatment of substance use disorders.”6

PTSD

Many people in recovery present with co-occurring disorders, meaning that they have both substance use disorders and additional mental health diagnoses. In particular, it’s quite common for clients to have PTSD. This condition has a complex relationship with substances. Some clients turn to substances in order to self-medicate its symptoms, and others develop PTSD due to experiences they have while using substances.

Ibogaine is shown to have a positive impact on PTSD patients.7 One study, conducted with military veterans, found that treatment “may offer a rapid and robust, and well-tolerated, treatment option for those suffering from a variety of psychiatric and cognitive symptoms,” and specifically for symptoms related to trauma.

Depression

Promising research is currently being done into ibogaine as a treatment for depression. Scientists began by creating an analog of ibogaine,8 intended to have similar effects. This medicine, called tabernanthalog (or TBG), “appears to relieve depression and addiction symptoms without producing hallucinations or other dangerous side effects.”

Although much more research is needed into the effects of TBG, some healthcare providers already support success using ibogaine to treat depression. According to the team at Tabula Rasa Retreat, “ibogaine can lead to an increase in serotonin levels in the brain, leading to a sense of wellbeing and possibility after a difficult period.” Their program caters to people with substance use disorders, depression, PTSD, and a wide variety of other mental health concerns.

The Experience of Ibogaine

Ibogaine is available at treatment centers around the world, although not in the U.S. Just like any other type of rehab, each of these facilities has its own distinct philosophy. Choose an environment that suits your specific needs.

Whatever the atmosphere of the facility, it’s important to carefully prepare for this experience. If you’ve been using certain substances—such as alcohol—you may need to detox prior to treatment. For others, this may not be required. Make sure to talk to your medical doctor and to the staff at your treatment center about the safest way to proceed.

Ibogaine induces a psychedelic experience. During the session itself, you may find yourself in a dreamlike state for up to 72 hours. Clients often report revisiting traumatic events from the past, and gaining new insight into their least healthy behavioral patterns.

As you slowly emerge from this state, you will likely experience immediate and significant differences. Rich, a client at Iboga Quest, had previously undergone detox, and later decided to try ibogaine after a relapse. Comparing these 2 experiences, he told interviewers, “With iboga, or ibogaine, it’s like hitting the reset button…I would say I still had symptoms, but they were significantly less—maybe 20-30% of what you’d normally have.”

Ibogaine also transformed his experience of shame. Prior to treatment, he struggled to accept himself, and was haunted by past mistakes. In an ibogaine-induced dream state, he envisioned a human body with empty spaces inside it, which he’d been trying to fill by using substances. As he explored these images, he learned the value of accepting himself just as he is.

“I always thought that acceptance was almost like admitting defeat. And [ibogaine] showed me that I didn’t have to necessarily like these aspects of myself; it wasn’t asking me to do that. But I had to accept them…these are things that happened…and even if they’re aspects of myself that were true at some point, they don’t have to remain true. And accepting them doesn’t mean that they remain true forevermore. In fact, accepting them puts you in a really great position to be able to change those aspects of yourself that you don’t like. And so that was my major teaching, really.”

The Long-Term Effects of Ibogaine

Unlike some other psychedelic medicines, ibogaine can have a lasting effect on mental health.9 In fact, researchers believe that it can “modify addiction-related neural circuitry through the activation of neurotrophic factor signalling.” This has important implications for its use in the long-term recovery process.

Despite its rapidly apparent benefits, however, ibogaine is not a miracle cure for substance use disorders. Experts at Tabula Rasa Retreat have defined 4 distinct phases of ibogaine treatment:10

  • In Phase 1, patients ingest ibogaine and experience a dreamlike state. You’ll likely spend this portion of treatment in bed, and under medical supervision.
  • During Phase 2, you’ll be fully conscious and aware, but may be hypersensitive and overwhelmed by recent epiphanies.
  • Phase 3 “begins abruptly and lasts for around 3 months. This phase is known as Temporary Freedom.” During this time, clients report decreased cravings and a lower sensitivity to triggers. It’s extremely important to remember that this, too, is just one phase of treatment. Clients should have a clear plan for aftercare in order to take advantage of this time.
  • Phase 4 is also known as the “Return to Earth.” At this point, clients often see an increase in their emotional sensitivity, and may be susceptible to relapse.

Researchers have determined that ibogaine “is not a cure for addiction.11 Instead, it merely interrupts addiction.” There is a great vulnerability associated with Phase 4 of treatment. No matter how relieved you may feel in Phase 3, it’s extremely important to prepare for your long-term recovery. If at all possible, it’s best to make plans for aftercare before you begin treatment. This may guard against the impulse to return to your old life too quickly.

Some clients begin recovery with ibogaine, and then go on to attend a more traditional rehab program. You might also consider joining an intensive outpatient program (or IOP), meeting with a support group, or simply seeing a talk therapist who specializes in substance use disorders. However you choose to proceed, make sure you’re prepared for the next phase of the healing process.

Beginning Recovery With Ibogaine

Although more research is needed, ibogaine is a very promising treatment. Whether you’re healing from substance addiction, trauma, or another mental health diagnosis, it may be a good place to start moving forward. However, like any other medication, this medicine is not appropriate for all clients. It has some notable health risks,12 and may cause unwanted physical side effects. Make sure you consult with a medical professional in advance, to ensure it’s a safe method for you.

Remember that while recovery can start with ibogaine, it’s just the first step in a lifelong process. It’s best to combine this medicine with other, evidence-based therapies, which may include rehab, medical care, talk therapy, or other options. Ibogaine can be a powerful element of your healing process, and may make it easier for you to move toward a healthier lifestyle. But this experience is no replacement for the slow, careful cultivation of sustainable behaviors.

If you’d like to learn more about this therapy, see luxury rehabs offering ibogaine-assisted treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions About Ibogaine Therapy

What is ibogaine treatment for substance use disorders?

Ibogaine treatment is a unique approach to treating substance use disorders that involves the use of the iboga plant. It’s believed that ibogaine can help people heal from addiction by providing a deep psychological and spiritual experience that helps them confront its root causes.

Is ibogaine treatment safe?

While ibogaine treatment shows promise in treating addiction, it’s not without risks. It’s important to seek treatment at a licensed and reputable facility with trained medical staff who monitor patients and provide appropriate care.

What types of addiction can be treated with ibogaine?

Ibogaine treatment is used to treat a range of conditions, including addiction to opioids, alcohol, cocaine, and meth. However, it may not be suitable for everyone and should only be used under the guidance of trained medical professionals in a controlled and supervised setting.