Memorial Day, PTSD Addiction Recovery

We are more than halfway through the three-day weekend, and tomorrow is Memorial Day. This weekend marks the beginning of the summer which is most certainly cause for smiles. However, it is important that you have a plan in place for tomorrow if you are working a program of recovery.

On Memorial Day, we should all take a moment to reflect on the brave American soldiers who gave their lives to protect all that we hold dear. We would be wise to remember the sacrifices made by veterans who are still with us, but have been changed by the trauma of armed conflict. Thousands of veterans are struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder.

 

PTSD In The Military 

The Department of U.S. Veteran Affairs reports that:

• About 11-20 out of every 100 Veterans (or between 11-20%) who served in Operations Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Enduring Freedom (OEF) deal with PTSD in any given year.
• About 12 out of every 100 Gulf War Veterans (or 12%) have PTSD in any given year.
• About 15 out of every 100 Vietnam Veterans (or 15%) were currently diagnosed with PTSD at the time of the most recent study in the late 1980s. It is estimated that about 30 out of every 100 (or 30%) of Vietnam Veterans have had PTSD in their lifetime.

PTSD is a debilitating mental health disorder, one that wreak havoc on the afflicted lives. Without adequate treatment, such individuals are left to manage their symptoms on their own which often makes the problem worse. It extremely common for people battling PTSD to use drugs and/or alcohol to calm their symptoms, a counterproductive behavior that actually makes one’s symptoms more severe and often leads to a co-occurring substance use disorder. If you have loved one self-medicating their untreated post-traumatic stress, please call Celebrate Hope at Hope by The Sea today.

Staying Clean and Sober On Memorial Day 

If you are new to the program or have been in the rooms for a while, it is vital that you have a plan for getting to the other side of major holidays. Memorial Day often involves barbecues and family gatherings where drinking alcohol is pervasive. If you are planning to attend get-togethers where people are drinking, talk to your sponsor or recovery coach beforehand. It is always a good practice to attend such events with somebody from your homegroup. Even if you feel strong in your recovery, temptation can rear its ugly head. Do your best to attend a meeting tomorrow, one's addiction does not break for holidays. Nor should your recovery. We hope that everyone has a safe and sober Memorial Day.

If a relapse does occur, then please get back to the program immediately. The longer you wait, the harder it is. If you need extra assistance, please contact Celebrate Hope.