close up of a person buried in an assortment of pills, idication an addiction

Addictions – a tabooed coping mechanism for people with c-PTSD

Hey, brave soul!

Today, I need to be a brave soul too because we are going to talk about what I would say was the biggest destroyer of my family overall. All negative characteristics and bad experiences aside, addictions run deep in my family, and I am very wary of them, trying my best to break the cycle at this point. I will try not to throw in too many experiences from my end, and try to keep the article smooth to read. Yet, you might bear with me, that some of my sentences might get a bit emotional at times. Splitting my own emotional heritage and my professional knowledge is not easy on this one. :’D But I will give my best. ♥

One thing I want to make clear right away – addiction is nothing that is bound to someone being weak. If you find yourself in a similar position as the examples given in this blog entry, please know that you are not judged and that I do not think lowly of you. Or your favourite humans. Still, we must address this topic and finally talk about it in connection to c-PTSD. Please seek professional help. Not only for you, but also for those who are dear to you. Addiction is radioactive in its own way, and thankfully you are in the position of power to change that. You don’t need to accept living with it.

Scientific Data on Addictions + c-PTSD

close up of a person buried in an assortment of pills, idication an addiction

By now you might be used to me handing you all the links right in the beginning, but for this article, I have so many – that I decided to share them in the section they belong to. Read what is interesting to you and make sure to check out my sources for more profound insights.

Help Resources

Here are some general help resources if you already know that you might be struggling because of a PTSD/c-PTSD. In the section Where addictions sneak into our everyday life < here you will find help for specific addictions!

Short Introduction: “Addiction”

In order to get the correct diagnosis and to treat everyone as needed, researchers and clinicians rely on criteria in the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) to diagnose addiction (substance use disorder or behavioural addiction).

Those key signs include:

  • Strong urges or cravings to use the substance or a specific behaviour
  • Difficulty reducing or stopping, even when trying
  • Spending increased time and energy on the activity
  • Neglect of other roles or interests
  • Continued use despite social, physical, or psychological harm
  • Developing tolerance
  • Experiencing withdrawal symptoms

Addiction has been recognised as both a physical and mental health issue, with changes in brain function supported by brain imaging studies. This fact makes it especially difficult to get out of the loop, if you have been dragged into it.

I know, nobody wants to talk about it, and I absolutely get it – but we need to talk about the numbers on addictions. Please stay with me and let’s see what the hard numbers on addiction show us:

Worldwide Addiction Prevalence (2025)

Addiction TypeEstimated Global PrevalenceKey Notes & RisksSource
Alcohol~400 million people (7% of global population aged 15+)~2.6 million deaths per year; highest death rates in Europe & Africa; sharp rise during COVID-19 pandemic.WHO Fact Sheet – Alcohol
Hard Drugs~284 million people worldwide with drug use disordersOpioids are leading cause of overdose deaths (110,000 deaths in 2022); synthetic drugs and cannabis use rising rapidly.UNODC World Drug Report 2024
GamblingWorldwide prevalence of gambling disorder: 1.2%–6%*Global estimate: 4.2 billion people have gambled; 38% of gambling addicts bet on sports; harm higher for men (11.9%) vs. women (5.5%).WHO Fact Sheet – Gambling, QuitGamble Stats
Shopping5–8% of the worldwide population**High rates among young adults; driven by easy credit and targeted online marketing.Addiction Help – Shopping

* Gambling rates vary by country but usually fall between 1.2% and 6% of adults.
** Estimates based on global studies and surveys; the US rate is about 5.8% lifetime prevalence.

Here are some reports you might want to look into

World Map view of countries and their alcoholism numbers by 2025, provided by https://worldpopulationreview.com

Quick insights:

  • Alcohol addiction remains the largest single source of substance-related deaths.
  • Opioids and synthetic drugs drive most fatal overdose trends.
  • Online platforms are rapidly increasing rates and risks for both gambling and shopping addiction.
  • Treatment uptake for all forms of addiction lags severely behind need (that comes as a surprise, huh? /jk).

Addiction in combination with PTSD/ c-PTSD

Okay, now that we have a rough idea about how addictions run in today’s society, we need to have a look at what matters to us right now. The question of how PTSD & c-PTSD are co-occurring with addictions. Co-occurring means, that an individual has both problem complexes (addiction behaviour plus a PTSD/c-PTSD) and there is a strong idea that this individual would not show addicted behaviour without the mental health corrupters being in place.

Key Statistics on Addiction and PTSD/c-PTSD (2025)

DiagnosisGlobal PrevalenceAddiction/SUD Prevalence Among This GroupHigh-Risk FactorsSource
PTSD~4% (lifetime, global)*25%–49% have a co-occurring substance use disorder (SUD)**Higher in women; trauma severity; childhood eventsAmerican Addiction Centers, ScienceDirect
c-PTSD1%–8% (lifetime, global)***Substance misuse rates higher (OR: 3–5x general population for cannabis, problematic internet use, etc.)Cumulative/chronic trauma, especially in childhood; higher in mental health settingsAddiction Center, [The Lancet 2022]

* Lifetime PTSD rates are generally higher in women (10–12%) than men (5–6%).
** Among people seeking treatment for substance use disorder, about 36%–50% meet criteria for PTSD.
*** c-PTSD rates higher in women and those with repeated, early life trauma.

Core Take-Aways

  • PTSD nearly doubles or triples the risk of developing substance use disorders compared to the general population.
  • Up to half of those with PTSD (25%–49%) will develop alcohol or drug addiction in their lifetime.
  • For c-PTSD, the risk of addiction (substances, gambling, problematic internet use) is even higher – 3 to 5 times higher odds versus non-traumatised peers.
  • In mental health services, up to 50% of those with c-PTSD have a co-occurring addiction or problematic behaviour requiring treatment.

Here are some more insights, that might be interesting to you

How Addiction became best friends with c-PTSD

Well, if you or someone you know has lived through traumatic events – or even has developed a c-PTSD, you might be aware of the one lingering craving every one of us has. No, it is not chocolate nor is it coffee (okay, yes, on some days it is). It is the wish to have at least one moment of silence in one’s own brain. One day of no pain or stiffness in the body & one night filled with deep and dreamless slumber.

All we want, is one day of peace. One day, feeling like a normal person and not being confronted with our past or our traumas. Or sometimes even 30 minutes would do, duh.

And to get into this state of mind, many of us – often driven by either “learning per example” or “Whoops, I tried this, and it worked a bit too well” – slip into coping mechanisms that turn harmful much too fast, and are accessible far too easy.

These coping mechanisms often have a few things in common.
They are…

  • numbing our emotions & feelings (f.e Substances like Alcohol, Weed and harder Drugs)
  • distract us from our inner pain or the world around us (f.e gaming and binge-watching movies/TV shows; yes, also binge-reading, ladies we really need to elaborate on the number of books you devour without knowing the story at the end.)
  • give us some sense of positivity (f.e sport, work, sex and gaming)
  • maybe even spark some sense of control for us (f.e “taking something to function better”, as we see in the micro-dosing trend)
  • or they give us the feeling of accomplishing some things (f.e workaholics, game addition and sport addiction)
  • they make us feel like we are someone else for a moment (absolutely reading and gaming is to name here)
  • eating to give your brain a little hit with the feel good hormones
  • getting a feeling of control, and self-soothing (by spending money and shopping)
  • getting the kick out of a big positive sensation (gambling, very huge problem nowadays)
  • they bubble wrap our heart for a short amount of time (aaaalll of the above)

That does not necessarily mean that they are harmful on default. Everything that turns into an addiction, has some unproblematic core to it – that is what I believe. Yet, the way we use this tool, how often, and especially how dysfunctional we are without it – is what makes it problematic.

Let me give you a soft example here. My stepdad was (is?) a smoker. I would say back then it was a medium to heavy range of cigarettes per day. Once he tried to break this habit finally, but from what I know today, this was destined to fail from the very beginning. My stepdad used smoking whenever he was stressed, to cope with it, which was pretty often. So, when he tried to get rid of it with a cold turkey move (aka, hard withdrawal from 100% to 0% overnight), his system – both mind and body – got under heavy stress. So much so, that he took a different route to cope with his unresolved feelings and the stress. He began to devour sugary treats from the bakery. Within 2-3 weeks, my stepdad had grown kind of a small belly. Adding the disappointment of his own body change, to the overall feeling of “not feeling well”, and you might imagine how long his smoke-free-streak was about to last. Given what I know, he had a very rough past, with all kind of BS-bingo that you can imagine in a family to happen.

Addictions can develop left and right, and from my perspective, someone who has been exposed to trauma, may it be a PTSD or a c-PTSD is a very vulnerable person in the face of a society that cashes out on your addictions.

Something that I want to address is the genetic part in all of this. There is science backing up the question of how our genes make us vulnerable to developing an addiction and as much as I agree with what we have found out to this day – you are in a position of power. There is nothing carved in stone, even though the journey will be hard, and you will have days that feel absolutely horrible.

But you have the power to get out of your addiction. And if you cannot do it for yourself, do it for the people you love. Because addiction is radioactive. Your kids see how you manage stress, which makes them vulnerable to take the same route later on, and chances are high you have a negative impact on the people you are important to as well. No, this was not to be saying you are a bad human being. That was me, trying to remind you, that you matter. And your actions matter.

Two friends hiding in a closet (aka the tabooing)

Now, if you have been a reader for a while or have munched your way through a few of the already publishes articles, you might know that c-PTSD, same as many other mental health corrupters, is still a thing that people do not talk about openly. I would even go as far as to say, that people are more openly speaking about alcoholism or drug abuse, than they do about c-PTSD. Probably, because you 99% of the time cannot grow a c-PTSD without other people being involved harmfully – which boils down to talking about them, and what they did and so on and so forth. And because we come from a history of people denying mental health diseases and calling them “being weak” or “making drama”. No matter the perspective, we are currently not in a good position – but it gets better!

So, we do not (much) talk about having a c-PTSD, and we do not (much) talk about struggling with an addiction. What else are we not talking about? Ah, right, FEELINGS!

Yes. If I had to boil it down to the root of many addiction cases, it is the fact that many of us in this fast-driven world cannot talk, work through and come clean with our inner wounds. Which leads us to be overwhelmed, frustrated, empty, hopeless and in search for at least a few sparks of good feelings.

And even if we want to talk about it, there are certain things many affected people fear, when it comes to the reactions of the surrounding society.

Here are some stigmas that I have come across talking about addictions:

  • that you are weak, if you have one
  • that you just don’t want to stop
  • that you do not care who you harm while being in your “zone”
  • that you do not care about your life
  • that you just gave up
  • that you are like person xyz/your parent
  • that having an addiction means that you are a failure
  • that being affect comes from having weak genes

None of these stigmas is true by any means – let me hammer that right into your mind. But the fact they exist, shows us a) why people are hesitant to talk about these topics and b) why people avoid helping / take action when they see something like this happening in their area. The idea of being involved in this is so scary for some – and I don’t mean the fear of getting attacked because this, in fact, is a very valid reason – that they rather look away and let bad things happen. That drives me angry to a point I would rather not elaborate further.

So.

We are tabooing to talk about c-PTSD and PTSD.
We are tabooing to talk about addiction.
We are actively trying to not get involved when we see these things happening.

Has there been a change towards a more open discussion and more help-orientated offers? Yes, absolutely, as you will read about in the following parts. Is it already enough? …Nope. And what tastes really bitter, is how society and large companies seem to work even against us, then with us. Let’s give it a look.

The Spider Web of todays’ consumerism / society

The world in which we live is driven by consumerism – and I absolutely blame this as a huge factor for people developing an addiction. The way advertisement works, the way games are structured and everything we watch and “consume” is designed to be of utmost liking to us. How the hell, shall one not fall into this spider web, from time to time? And given that many of us come from problematic backgrounds, same as our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents, it feels like the world is setting us up to fail with this.

To avoid developing an addiction and not fall prey to companies who actually want you to develop one so that they can cash out on your vulnerability, you need a strong foundation and a network of supportive resources.

Where addictions sneak into our everyday life (and how they make it hard to stay ‘clean’)

Alcohol Addiction

  • Work Drinks & Meetings:
    It’s almost tradition now, isn’t it? Sparkling wine at a team celebration, cocktails and beer after closing a deal, or even “relaxed” brainstorming with a glass of whisky. The message? Alcohol loosens tongues, makes networking easier, and lets everyone unwind. But for some, these harmless sips become a shield for anxiety, or a crutch to get through awkwardness, setting the stage for regular, then expected, drinking.
  • Family Events & Special Occasions:
    Birthdays, weddings, Sunday lunch, but also the sad occasions like grief-laden funerals. There’s always a toast, another glass, another excuse. “It’s just one, everyone’s celebrating!” For someone with invisible battles, these routines make it hard to say no, and easy to hide a growing dependency. It feels as if we cannot socialize any more, without a little “helper” in our hands or our pockets.
  • Holidays and Travel:
    “We’re on holiday!” means airport pints at breakfast, bubbly on the plane, and round-the-clock cocktails by the pool. Time and limits blur. For some, these wild or “free” moments, packed with funny or enjoyable memories, become rehearsals for later, more regular use. We want to relive what we felt positively, and same as you can link your brain to become hyped for sport, when putting on your all-time-favourite sport clothings, you train your brain to connect the feeling of joy, with alcohol.

Struggling with Alcohol?

Drug Addiction

  • Nightlife & Parties:
    Going out to clubs, festivals, or house parties often goes hand-in-hand with experimenting. From pills to powders, or a bit of weed passed along as part of the experience. “Everyone’s doing it tonight”, so you can try it, right? Just this once. Until “just this once” happens again next time. And the time after that.
  • Burnout & Stress at Work:
    Struggling to keep up gets “praised with a little something to take the edge off,” like prescription stimulants to work longer hours, or benzos to finally fall asleep. These become secret helpers in a world that won’t slow down, all while you are not even aware of the fact, that you are stepping down the stairs of an addiction step-by-step. The worsening factor comes into play, when other coworkers do the same, and you all need to co-exist in a highly performance-driven and competitive environment at work.

Struggling with drugs?

Gambling Addiction

  • Sporting Events:
    Placing bets before the match or joining office pools is considered harmless fun, a way to “feel more involved.” But chasing that rush of a win can quietly turn into regular, high-stakes habits.
  • Online Boredom:
    Scrolling through your phone on a dull evening and a quick click on a betting app or an online game. Promos pop up: “First bet free!” What starts as killing time can turn into chasing losses, especially when feeling lonely or stressed.

Struggling with gambling?

Shopping Addiction

  • Sales & Promotions:
    Black Friday, flash deals, two-for-one offers. The current advertisement culture is predatory, and it told us shopping “for fun” is a legitimate thing to do. It became a quick mood-fix. “Treat yourself, you’ve earned it!”, or “You are only working nowadays, come and treat yourself with this thing you (allegedly) ‘always wanted’ – ITS TWO FOR ONE TODAY, BUT ONLY TODAY!” This can snowball into maxed-out cards and hidden parcels, Amazon packages stacking to the roof in front of one’s house door and an individual’s entire financial existence becoming a burden, when they try to work of their debts.
  • FOMO (fear of missing out):
    In my opinion, this is one of the most violent tools the advertisement industry has created. In a world where everyone shows us, how amazing their life is – and how awesome it would be for us, if we just would have this one *good damn toaster*, FOMO hammers the last nail in the coffin. “Oh, this item will change your life for the better! You will feel so much more energized and happy! – But it will only be in shop for 4 days or until sold out!”
  • Emotional Shopping:
    After a hard day or argument, filling the online basket brings ten seconds of relief. Soon, hitting “Buy Now” replaces healthier comforts, especially when social feeds and ads keep whispering that you’ll feel better with something new.

Struggling with shopping?

Food Addiction

  • Sugar, Salt and the science behind our food(industry)
    I think this will become a whole article of its own, when the time is right, but right now, let me say it loud and clear: The food industry is paying billions of dollars every year to “design the perfect products”. They are really biting hard into this topic because if you cannot get enough, if you can’t stop – they cash out on it. And given that sugar activates the same brain receptors as THC (which is the “nice” part in weed), we really need to discuss this topic more openly, about how the food industry has us all in their choke hold.
  • Celebrations & Social Environments:
    From cake at every celebration, to the typical “We go out for dinner”-post-work-social-activity, food is everywhere. And not only that, but it is expected of you to eat, even if you do not want because else you get the weird side-eye from your co-worker Jeff who nags you already, for being a bit of a misfit. (Sorry all Jeffs, nothing personal.)
  • Food as Love language:
    It may sound a bit weird, but when you have been given food, in all kinds of situations, especially as a kid – you may have learned that food means comfort, love and carrying. May it be to praise you, or to soothe your first heartbreak, food has always been a parents’ way to showcase that they care for kids, given the nature that we used to live in a world where a full plate was not normal. So, and what do we do when we are stressed? We “parent ourselves” and do what they did. And with catchy advertisement lines like “

Struggling with food?

Digital Addictions (Screens, Social Media, Gaming)

  • Boredom & Breaks:
    Killing time with endless scrolling at every lunch break, commute, or pause gives little dopamine hits. It feels as if some people simply cannot put their phone down any more and the reactions you get when you tell them, are…telling, often. Yet, it should be mentioned that we are creatures of habits, and our brain – despite what we often think about ourselves – is very fast in picking up habits. Especially those who feel positive and rewarding. Who does not like the little dopamine-ping when we play a game with highly vibrant colours, cute icons and rewarding mechanics, hmmm?
  • Gaming for Escape:
    “Just one more round”. I must admit, this is where I find my old self in. But whether it’s mobile games or late-night marathons, time disappears and you barely notice it. I often used it to “calm down” after a stressful day – which is hypocritical to think, given that I love PVP (player vs player) games. But I did not know that this only reduces f.e my anger, but it is not recharging at all. And somehow it became a habit to crave a round of PVP when life got rough. I have not been affected by a critical addiction, but I have seen people close to me fall victim to it and I saw their struggles to get out of it, and I can absolutely see why.

Struggling with digital consume?

To sum it up:
So many of these moments are woven into “normal” social life, making it easy to shrug off warning signs. What’s celebrated, encouraged, or simply routine can, for some, quietly build into something that feels impossible to manage alone. Recognising those early scripts is the first step in rewriting the story, and making sure you will not fall prey to it eventually. Addictions are a serious topic, which should be addressed as such.

If you see yourself in any of these moments, know you’re not weak, and you’re not alone. Every habit starts somewhere, often with pressure to fit in, feel safe, or just make it through another day. As you have learned by now especially with PTSD and c-PTSD, it is hard to stay away from these things. And you can be proud about every step you make towards a brighter future! And it is also okay, if you on some days, make two steps backward.

So. Not that we know about why people cope, how do they cope, and what might be the result of it – the question that remains is, what can we do about it?

Breaking the cycle – healing actions you can take right now

Here’s a clear path you can follow. Remember, starting small, growing your awareness, and then making gentle, real changes is the path for making the first better decisions. You don’t need to overhaul everything overnight. In fact, that might backfire badly as you might have read in previous articles already. Take it easy, take it slow. One change every few days. Being consistent is way more important, then having 3 perfect days and then falling apart again.

1. Grow Your Awareness

  • Notice Your Patterns:
    Pay attention to when and why you reach for certain habits, may it be drinking, shopping, scrolling, eating, or everything else you find yourself doing when emotionally uncomfortable. Is it boredom, stress, routine, or wanting to fit in?
  • Track Your Triggers:
    Write down moments that nudge you toward overuse (work stress, parties, certain people, loneliness, even happy celebrations). Be honest with yourself and try to find a clear red-line in what brings you from point a – being uncomfortable to point b – finding yourself again using this one thing to “calm yourself”.
  • Ask Tough Questions:
    “Do I feel in control of this habit?” “Does it help me or make me feel worse later?” Challenge the excuses we all use and remember: you are not alone, and you are in a society that wants to cash off your emotional vulnerability.

2. Acknowledge Your Current Status

  • Get Honest (Just With Yourself, nobody else needs to be involved just now):
    List your most used coping habits. Are some quietly hurting you, affecting your sleep, mood, health, or relationships?
  • Notice Impact, Not Just Frequency:
    You don’t have to use or do something every day for it to be a problem. Are you hiding it, lying about it, or feeling shame or regret?
  • Check Your Motivation:
    Do you rely on a behaviour to feel “normal,” social, calm, or to avoid feeling at all? That’s a sign to have a closer look on.

Remember: Coping with stress, in this – hecking stressful world – is normal. But it cannot and never should be a long-term solution.You need to get down to the root of your uncomfortable feelings, in order to lay a foundation for your future self. So, yes, reflection work is probably the most important part, so don’t skip on it.

3. Take Action

  • Tell Someone You Trust:
    Even just saying “I think I may have a problem with…” is powerful. Secrets keep you stuck and they weigh heavy on your soul, while connection opens the door to change. Addressing that there *is* something that is eating you up from the inside, devouring your money and makes like miserable on the long run, is super, super important. Because it helps yourself to stay accountable and be there for your inner kid too. Learning to face problems, instead of coping and running away. Remember, your inner kid and your inner warrior, always listen to your words. Always.
  • Swap One Routine:
    Pick one moment when you’d normally use your habit and try to break it. Try pausing, breathing, walking, or reaching out instead. Small changes matter. You do not need to start working out for 2hrs because you are angry. But getting up from your desk, and stepping outside to breathe air and see plants – already helps a big deal. A 10 minute walk can make a huge difference, I promise.
  • Set Simple Goals:
    It could be as basic as “Today I won’t bet during the match,” or “I’ll skip the after-work drink.” Be specific and kind to yourself if you slip. If these goals sound too much, scale them down. “Today I will only bet on 3 matches and only with the money I have in my pocket” as well as “I will only have 3 drinks tonight and only with the money in my pocket.” Set realistic goals for your current status and make sure you are ‘limiting yourself’ f.e with the money-in-the-pocket trick. If you are comfortable, tell your friends – even if it’ just one among those you go to see the match with – who backs you up and holds you accountable.
  • Reach for Support:
    Look up helplines, peer support groups, or a therapist trained in trauma and addiction, to get the help you deserve. And yes, you deserve it. You matter. Your existence, your actions, your dreams, your feelings, and thoughts and your inner kid, all of this matters. And regardless of where you are in life right now, it is always worth it, to start your healing journey.
  • Celebrate Every Effort:
    Any step is a win. no matter how small you deem it for yourself. Whether it’s one honest conversation, one skipped purchase, or just noticing what’s challenging. Change builds from noticing, not perfection.

Start today by picking just one thing to notice, one thing to name, and one supportive action, even the smallest step counts. Your future self will thank you, one gentle choice at a time.

Okay, we have reached the end of today’s article! I hope you have learned something new, and maybe grow a bit more curious to see where the future might lead for you. Because this is what I want to do for you, show you a path and maybe even inspire you to take a few steps.

Addiction is a monster on its own, and I am glad if you – or your beloved favourite human – is trying their steps to overcome it. You do not have to be alone in this – and in fact, the numbers showed loud and clear, that you are not.



If this article were helpful to you, I would love to receive your support in the form of one small cup of coffee, to fuel my brain cells for the next articles ahead. This one was especially emotional for me, given my own past. Not as someone with an addiction, but as someone living with addicted people and relying on them and their decisions. ♥

If money is unreachable, don’t worry! Sharing my work helps my blog grow extremely, so please hit the share buttons and spread the word. (Even if it is just with your personal discord server or ‘its me’WhatsApp chat 😉 )

Have a great rest of your day and I hope to see you soon for the next article, here at SWMD!
~Cheers, Alka.

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