It shouldn’t be a surprise that PTSD and alcohol abuse problems are related.
People with PTSD are more likely to have drinking problems. Also, people with drinking problems often have PTSD.
Learn how having PTSD & alcohol use problems at the same time can make symptoms of both, worse.
Studies show that the relationship between PTSD and alcohol use problems can start with either issue. For example, people with PTSD have more problems with alcohol both before and after they develop PTSD. Having PTSD increases the risk that you’ll develop a drinking problem. Also, drinking problems put people at risk for traumatic events that could lead to PTSD.
Trauma / PTSD Can Lead to Problems with Alcohol
Going through a trauma—whether or not you develop PTSD—can lead to alcohol abuse problems.
- Up to three quarters of people who survived abuse / traumatic events report drinking problems.
- Up to a third of those who survive traumatic accidents, illness, or disaster report drinking problems.
- Alcohol problems are more common for those who experience trauma if they have ongoing health problems or pain.
Gender is an important factor as well.
Women who have PTSD at some point in their lives are 2.5 times more likely to also have alcohol abuse or dependence than women who never have PTSD. Men are 2.0 times more likely to have alcohol problems if they have PTSD than men who never do not have PTSD.
60% – 80% of Vietnam Veterans seeking PTSD treatment have alcohol use problems.
War Veterans with PTSD and alcohol problems tend to be binge drinkers. Binge drinking is when a person drinks a lot of alcohol (4-5 drinks) in a short period of time (1-2 hours). Binges may be in response to memories of trauma. Veterans over the age of 65 with PTSD are at a higher risk for a suicide attempt if they also have drinking problems or depression.
Alcohol Can Make PTSD Symptoms Worse
You may drink because using alcohol distracts you from your problems for a short time. You should know, though, that drinking makes it harder to concentrate, be productive, and enjoy your life.
Using too much alcohol makes it harder to cope with stress / traumatic memories. Alcohol use and intoxication (getting drunk) can increase some PTSD symptoms.
Examples of symptoms that can get worse are:
- feeling numb or having no emotions
- being cut off from others
- feeling angry and irritable
- feeling depressed
- feeling jittery or as if you’re always on guard
If you have PTSD, you may have trouble falling asleep or problems with waking up during the night.
You may “medicate” yourself with alcohol because you think it’s helping your sleep. In fact, using too much alcohol can get in the way of restful sleep. Alcohol changes the quality of your sleep and makes it less refreshing.
If you have PTSD, you may have bad dreams or nightmares. You may drink because you think using alcohol will help you avoid bad dreams or how scary they are. Yet avoiding the bad memories and dreams actually prolongs PTSD—avoidance makes PTSD last longer.
You cannot make progress in treatment if you avoid your problems.
Other Mental Health Issues
If you have both PTSD and drinking problems, you are likely to have other mental or physical health problems. Up to half of adults with both PTSD and drinking problems also have one or more of the following serious problems:
- Panic attacks
- Extreme fears/worries/compulsions
- Mood problems such as depression
- Attention problems
- Addiction to other drugs
- Long-term physical illness (diabetes, heart disease, liver disease)
- Ongoing physical pain
Getting Help for PTSD and Alcohol Problems
Treatment should include education, therapy, and support groups that help you with your drinking problems in a way you can accept.
Treatment for PTSD and alcohol use problems should be planned in a way that gets at both problems together. You may have to go to separate meetings for each issue, or see providers who work mostly with PTSD or mostly with alcohol problems. In general though, PTSD issues should be included in alcohol treatment, and alcohol use issues should be included in PTSD treatment.
Once you become sober (stop drinking entirely), you must learn to cope with your PTSD symptoms to prevent relapse (return to drinking). This is important because sometimes the PTSD symptoms seem to get worse, or you notice them more, right after you stop drinking.
