Why Treating Just the Addiction Never Works
If you are stuck in a cycle of addiction relapse, your brain might be reacting to unresolved trauma instead of the substance.
Traditional treatment models often fail because they prioritize the chemical dependency over the person’s history. Dr. Arwen Podesta, an expert in addiction medicine, explains that we must shift our focus away from the drug of choice and toward the underlying stress history. When a patient experiences significant trauma, it actively causes brain rewiring, making standard recovery efforts less effective without addressing the root cause.
This conversation provides a roadmap for patients and families who feel like they have tried everything. By analyzing family dynamics and past stressors, you can move toward a more sustainable form of healing. Dr. Podesta outlines why trauma informed care is the missing link for long-term sobriety and how looking beyond the symptoms changes the entire treatment landscape.
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Dr. Arwen Podesta MD, DFASAM, DFAPA is a triple board certified physician specializing in functional psychiatry, addiction medicine, and forensic psychiatry. 🧠
🩺#ClinicalPsychiatry, #functional psychiatry, #drpodesta
🩺#MentalHealth, #BehaviorChange, #BrainChemistry
🩺#Neurobiology #Psychiatry #forensicpsychiatry
🩺#AddictionRecovery, #NervousSystem
00:00 – What If Trauma, Not Addiction, Drives Relapse?
01:15 – The Survival Brain Hijacks Healing
02:23 – A Patient Story: When One Text Triggered a Spiral
03:43 – How Trauma Rewires the Brain & Fuels Addiction
05:18 – Why Addressing Only Substance Use Falls Short
06:13 – How to Integrate Trauma-Aware Practices
08:29 – From Abstinence to Resilience: The Power of Integrative Trauma Care
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