Are addictions related to post traumatic stress syndrome?

Is Alcoholism related to post traumatic stress syndrome?

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Post Traumatic Stress and Alcoholism/Addiction


The Consequences of Child Maltreatment: A Reference Guide for Health Practitioners . A Reference Guide for Health Practitioners was prepared by Jeff Latimer for the Family Violence Prevention Unit, Health Canada.


Physical Consequences
In addition to the obvious physical injuries, such as broken bones, bruises and scarring, maltreatment is also related to several additional physical complications for children, including the following:
children who have suffered serious and chronic neglect are more likely to be smaller and lighter than non-maltreated children, which has been shown to affect long-term health37
children who are physically abused (or shaken in the case of very young children) may suffer permanent neurological damage, dramatically affecting their future development38
weight problems ? often emerging as eating disorders39
serious sleep disturbances and bouts of dizziness when awake40
other stress-related symptoms, such as gastrointestinal problems, migraine headaches, difficulty breathing, hypertension, aches, pains and rashes which defy diagnosis and/or treatment41
poor overall health.42
Behavioural Consequences
Maltreated children are known to display the following behavioural problems:
developmental delays43
clinging behaviour, extreme shyness and fear of strangers44
troubled socialization with peers ? constant fighting or socially undesirable behaviours, such as bullying, teasing or not sharing45
poor school adjustment and disruptive classroom behaviour.46
There is a growing understanding among researchers that child maltreatment is associated with a host of behavioural problems that manifest themselves in adolescence:
school-age pregnancy47
self-destructive behaviours such as self-mutilation or burning48
truancy and running away behaviour49
delinquency and prostitution50
early use of drugs/alcohol and substance abuse/dependence51
eating disorders, such as anorexia, bulimia or obesity ? primarily among female victims52
suicide and suicide attempts.53
Evidence suggests that many of these problems continue into adulthood and become ingrained patterns of behaviour. It is believed that in order to deal with the trauma of being abused and neglected, children and youth develop such behaviours as coping strategies. And although these behaviours eventually become self-destructive, they are often extremely difficult to abandon. Additional behavioural difficulties may continue into adulthood:
increased aggression and violence54
homelessness55
criminal offending ? crimes which are sexual in nature are often associated with sexual abuse while violent crimes are more often linked to physical abuse56
chronic substance abuse/dependence.57
? Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada, 1998 Cat. H72-21/156-1998E ISBN 0-662-26602-1


This reproduction/excerpt is not official version of the material reproduced, nor is it being presented here as having been made in affiliation with or with the endorsement of the Public Health Agency of Canada
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