Trauma Makes it Even More Difficult to Handle Our Emotions (E72)

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Gill continues our conversation about trauma from last week's episode. She discusses a couple interesting studies about how trauma impacts our ability to regulate our emotions, and how not being able to regulate your emotions leads to relapse. You’ll learn how trauma impacts the way the brain responds to emotions, how this can lead to addiction, and what you can do to start working on improving your ability to handle negative emotions.

Emotion Regulation Skills Questionnaire (ERSQ)

What to listen to next:
E46: Neuroplasticity Helps Us Recover


Sources

  1. O’Leary, D. The Unfortunate Connection Between Childhood Trauma and Addiction in Adulthood. Old Vineyard Behavioral Health Services. 2020. 

  2. Why Trauma Leads to Addiction. Gateway Foundation. 2019

  3. Jenness, J. Alterations in neural circuits underlying emotion regulation following child maltreatment: a mechanism underlying traumarelated psychopathology. Psychol Med. 2021 August ; 51(11): 1880–1889

  4. Gratz, K. L. & Roemer, L. (2004). Multidimensional assessment of emotion regulation and dysregulation: Development, factor structure, and initial validation of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 26, 41-54.

  5. Sinha R, Fox HC, Hong KA, Bergquist K, Bhagwagar Z, Siedlarz KM. Enhanced negative emotion and alcohol craving, and altered physiological responses following stress and cue exposure in alcohol dependent individuals. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2009;34:1198–1208.

  6. Berking M, Margraf M, Ebert D, Wupperman P, Hofmann SG, Junghanns K. Deficits in emotion-regulation skills predict alcohol use during and after cognitive-behavioral therapy for alcohol dependence. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2011;79(3):307-318. 

  7. Ehring, T. et al. Emotion Regulation Difficulties in Trauma Survivors: The Role of Trauma Type and PTSD Symptom Severity. Behavior Therapy. 41:4. 587-598. 2010

Cite this episode

Tietz, G. Episode 72: Trauma Makes it Even More Difficult to Handle Our Emotions. Sober Powered. 2021.

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Gillian Tietz

Gillian Tietz is the host of the Sober Powered podcast and recently left her career as a biochemist to create Sober Powered Media, LLC. When she quit drinking in 2019, she dedicated herself to learning about alcohol's influence on the brain and how it can cause addiction. Today, she educates and empowers others to assess their relationship with alcohol. Gill is the owner of the Sober Powered Media Podcast Network, which is the first network of top sober podcasts.

https://www.instagram.com/sober.powered
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The Obsession May Eventually Even Out (I’m 2 Years Sober) (E73)

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Trauma May Make Drugs and Alcohol Feel More Pleasurable (E71)