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While the type of trauma someone has experienced will affect their symptoms and support needs, trauma treatment can be important when memories, avoidance, anxiety, substance use or daily functioning are being affected.
If drug or alcohol use is also present, ask providers how they assess trauma and addiction together, including whether dual diagnosis treatment or coordinated mental health support may be appropriate.
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Recovery Scotland can help you prepare questions about trauma, addiction support and treatment routes before speaking with providers.
Although trauma treatment is widely available, due to stigmas, misconceptions, lack of information and fears, many individuals sadly overlook trauma treatment and self medicate with drugs or alcohol.
To help you understand why trauma treatment is necessary and the trauma treatment that is readily available for you to take advantage of, we have explained trauma and trauma treatment in greater detail below.
When is Trauma Treatment Necessary?
When a traumatic event is encountered, the body will undergo physical and psychological symptoms. Although many of the symptoms experienced will alleviate within a short space of time without trauma treatment, in some instances, when trauma is severe, symptoms are long-lasting.
Sadly, long-lasting symptoms lead many individuals to experience several health complications. These health complications will ultimately indicate that trauma treatment is needed.
If you have recently experienced a traumatic event and are worried about the impact that the event has had on your life, reviewing the symptoms below will help you determine whether trauma treatment could be beneficial.
- Confusion
- Difficulty concentrating
- Mood swings
- Irritability
- Insomnia
- Paranoia
- Isolation from others
- Anxiety
- Fear
- Prolonged bouts of sadness
- Feeling hopeless
- Flashbacks
If you experience any of the above symptoms or have experienced a traumatic event and suffer from addiction, please contact us to secure dual diagnosis addiction and trauma treatment today.
Unfortunately, when trauma treatment is not sought, mental health disorders including depression, anxiety, substance disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder are known to arise.
What Trauma Treatment Is Available?
Trauma treatment comes in many forms, yet individuals that obtain treatment for acute, chronic or complex trauma via NHS or private healthcare providers are often offered therapy.
While the therapy provided will be dependent on the severity of the trauma experienced, the therapies often administered when trauma treatment is required are as followed:
- Talking therapies
- Group therapies
- Well-being therapies
In some instances, medication is also prescribed as a suitable type of trauma treatment.
Comparing trauma and addiction treatment options
Trauma treatment may involve talking therapies, trauma-informed support, stabilisation work, mindfulness, relapse prevention and wider mental health care. Where substance use is involved, it is important that treatment planning considers both addiction and trauma rather than treating them separately.
When comparing providers, ask who completes assessment, what therapies are available, how safety and medication needs are reviewed, whether addiction support is included, and what aftercare is available. You can also read about PTSD treatment and dual diagnosis support.
Aftercare Support is Available
In addition to ensuring that you have a wealth of support at your disposal during your time in our rehab, at Nova Recovery, we will provide you with 12 months of free aftercare support as and when you leave our rehab.
Aftercare support for trauma often includes 12 months of group therapy via Zoom.
If trauma and substance use are affecting daily life, Recovery Scotland can help you compare support routes before speaking with providers. A provider should explain assessment, clinical oversight, costs, waiting times, detox needs if relevant, and what happens after treatment.
For confidential guidance, contact Recovery Scotland.
John Gillen
- Author
- Last updated: June 17, 2026
John has travelled extensively around the world, culminating in 19 years’ experience looking at different models. He is the European pioneer of NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) treatment to Europe in 2010; and recently back from the USA bringing state of the art Virtual Reality Relapse Prevention and stress reduction therapy. His passion extends to other metabolic disturbances and neurodegenerative diseases. The journey continues. In recent times, John has travelled to Russia to study and research into a new therapy photobiomudulation or systemic laser therapy working with NAD+ scientists and the very best of the medical professionals in the UK and the USA, together with Nadcell, Bionad Hospitals own select Doctors, nurses, dieticians and therapists. Johns’ passion continues to endeavour to bring to the UK and Europe new developments with NAD+ Therapy in preventive and restorative medicine and Wellness. In 2017 John Gillen was made a visiting Professor at the John Naisbitt university in Belgrade Serbia.