Addiction, Trauma, and Play Therapy: Article Summaries (PDF)

The Addict in All of Us - Explores Gabor Maté’s perspective on addiction - Ties it to trauma and emotional pain rather than seeing it as a standalone disease - Discusses the shift in societal views on addiction - Highlights how childhood trauma influences addictive behavio...

The Addict in All of Us - Explores Gabor Maté’s perspective on addiction - Ties it to trauma and emotional pain rather than seeing it as a standalone disease - Discusses the shift in societal views on addiction - Highlights how childhood trauma influences addictive behaviours, criticizes the biomedical addiction model, and advocates for holistic, trauma- informed treatments - Societal Perception of Addiction – it traces a shift in addiction perception, starting with Betty ford’s revelations about her own struggles, which helped destigmatize addiction and replace outdated stereotypes with more nuanced views - Expansion of Addiction Definition – the concept of addiction broadened to include behavioural addictions like shopping, gambling, and internet use, though this has been met with resistance from some mental health professionals who worry it dilutes the concept of mental illness - Gabor Maté’s Philosophy – Maté connects addiction to trauma, emphasizing that addiction is a coping mechanism for unresolved emotional pain. He believes addiction isn’t a choice or a brain disorder but an attempt to solve an emotional problem - Personal Experiences – Maté discusses his compulsive shopping for classical music as an example of behavioural addiction, illustrating how trauma can manifest in unexpected ways. He reflects on his childhood in Nazi-occupied Budapest, suggesting that early stress shaped his tendencies - Trauma & Brain Development – the article delves into the neuroscience behind addiction, explaining how childhood stress can interfere with brain circuits regulating stress & reward, laying the groundwork for addictive behaviours - Critique of Addiction Treatment – Maté criticizes traditional addiction treatments focused on behavioural change. He advocates for addressing the root causes of trauma to achieve lasting recovery  - Behavioural vs. Substance Addiction – Maté emphasizes similarities between behavioural and substance addictions, pointing out that both activate similar brain circuits and stem from similar psychological roots Play Therapy - Explores its significance as a therapeutic method where children express emotions and resolve psychological issues through play, their natural communication medium - It details its foundations in psychoanalysis and humanistic psychology, elaborating on key figures like Virginia Axline and Carl Rogers - Addresses trauma, behavioural problems, and developmental delays using directive and non-directive models - Core Concept – play serves as a nonverbal medium for self-expression, addressing issues like grief, behavioural disorders, ADHD, and autism - Methods – approaches vary from non-directive (child led) models such as Child-Centred Play Therapy (CCPT), to directive (therapist-led) methods like Cognitive Behaviour Play Therapy - Process – sessions involve creating a safe, consistent environment with specific toys and activities to mirror real-world scenarios, helping children gain mastery over emotions and experiences - Neuroscience – therapy supports neural growth, reduces chronic stress, and strengthens emotional regulation through attachment-building relationships - Applications – widely used in schools, hospitals, refugee programs, and disaster recovery, it addresses emotional and social skills, fostering resilience “Relationship of Childhood Abuse & Household Dysfunction to Many of the Leading Causes of Death in Adults” by Felitti et al. (1998) - Explores the long-term impacts of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on adult health - Study involved 9,508 participants and identified seven categories of ACEs, including abuse (emotional, physical, sexual) and household dysfunction (e.g., substance abuse, violence, mental illness) - Study Purpose – the ACE study aims to explore the relationship between childhood abuse and household dysfunction and various health risk behaviours, health status, and disease - Categories of ACEs – includes psychological, physical, sexual abuse, household substance abuse, mental illness, violence against the mother, and imprisonment of a family member - Major Findings o Strong graded relationship between the number of ACEs and the prevalence of adult health problems, including mental health issues (depression, suicide attempts) and physical health conditions (heart disease, cancer, COPD) o Health risk behaviours such as smoking, substance abuse, and physical inactivity were more common in those with ACEs o Diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, chronic lung disease, and obesity showed a higher prevalence among those with multiple ACEs - Dose-Response Effect – a number of ACEs significantly correlates with increased odds of developing health risk behaviours and diseases. This relationship was statistically significant across various risk factors and diseases - Psychosocial Implications – ACEs are linked to long-term health consequences through the adoption of maladaptive coping mechanisms, such as smoking and alcohol abuse. These behaviours can provide immediate relief but contribute to chronic health problems later in life - Public Health Impact – the study calls for increased recognition of the long-term effects of childhood trauma in both medical and public health settings. It emphasizes the importance of early intervention and the integration of ACE awareness into medical care practices to reduce the long-term consequences of childhood abuse - Recommendations o Primary prevention to reduce ACE exposure o Secondary prevention to address health risks early in life o Tertiary care to help manage the long-term effects of ACEs, such as chronic diseases and mental health issues