In this recent webinar hosted by Dr. Craig Weiner and Suzanne Fageol, Dr. Adriana Popescu, a clinical psychologist and addiction specialist, shed light on the profound link between trauma and addiction. Drawing from her personal journey and professional expertise, Dr. Popescu highlighted key insights for effective treatment.
Dr. Popescu emphasized that trauma and addiction often go hand in hand. She stressed the importance of addressing trauma early in addiction treatment, challenging the traditional approach of waiting for sobriety before trauma work. This is crucial as unresolved trauma can hinder recovery efforts.
A significant portion of the webinar was dedicated to understanding the similarities between the traumatized brain and the addicted brain. Dr. Popescu explained that both exhibit overactivity in the amygdala and the fight, flight, or freeze response. Integrating energy psychology techniques like Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) can help rewire the brain and aid in both trauma and addiction recovery.