Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Research Paper
“The coexistence of both a mental health and a substance use disorder is referred to as co-occurring disorders.” (SAMHSA, n.d.) Many people that suffer from the disease of addiction have experienced a traumatizing event in their life. These same people also suffer from an issue of diagnosing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The issue of a dual diagnosis of addiction and PTSD is which do you address first? Then there is the someone with co-occurring disorders. Substance abuse can cause mental illness and mental illness can be misinterpreted as signs of substance abuse.
PTSD is caused by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event that results in feeling intense anxiety or stress. It may make the person feel out of control or