Trauma, Mental Health, and Addiction: Why Integrated Treatment Works

If you’re grappling with addiction and the ride has felt more like a tempest than smooth sailing, you’re not losing your mind. You’re navigating a reality many face and few talk about. At Holland Pathways in Wichita, Kansas, we’re seeing first-hand how trauma, mental health struggles and substance use are tied together. That’s why our approach doesn’t just treat the addiction; it treats the whole person.

Co-occurring Disorders: It’s More Common Than You Might Think

Many people in addiction treatment don’t only have a substance use disorder, they also have a mental health condition or trauma history that feeds it. In fact, research shows individuals with a past trauma or PTSD have higher rates of alcohol and/or drug use. 

When two or more conditions overlap, that’s called a co-occurring disorder aka dual-diagnosis. It could be depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and a substance use challenge all at once. According to SAMHSA, treating only one “piece” while ignoring the others often leads to relapse or partial recovery. 

Why Integrated Treatment Works: The Science Behind “Whole Person” Care

Integrated treatment means addressing the addiction, the trauma or mental-health challenge, and their interactions simultaneously. The evidence backs it. A meta-analysis found that integrated treatment for people with co-occurring disorders effectively reduces both trauma symptoms and substance abuse from pre-treatment to long-term follow-up.

Here’s the takeaway: When you treat one domain (say substance use) while ignoring the other (trauma), you’re leaving key drivers of the struggle untouched. Integrated care rewires the map so the brain, body and emotions are all working together.

What This Means For You (and Why It Might Be The Right Time)

Maybe you’ve tried treatment before. Maybe you walked out of a program and felt better for a minute, only to get hit again by the same triggers, the same pain, the same desperation. You don’t have to keep repeating that cycle. 

If your gut says something’s missing in your recovery plan, it might be time to pause and ask: “Are all the parts of me being seen?” At Holland Pathways, we believe they should be.

Take The Next Step With Confidence

Recovery is no small feat but you don’t have to go through it solo. Here in Wichita, Holland Pathways is ready to meet you where you are, with a team that understands trauma, mental health and addiction deeply and treats them integratively.

Call us today. You’re worth the investment. Let’s walk this path together.