Fight, Flight, Freeze, Fawn: The 4 Trauma Responses

Your body remembers what your mind tries to forget. When something overwhelming happened—whether in childhood or later in life—your nervous system made a split-second decision about how to survive. Fight back. Run away. Shut down. Make yourself small and agreeable.

These four trauma responses—fight, flight, freeze, fawn—aren’t conscious choices. They’re automatic survival mechanisms hardwired into your nervous system. And while they once kept you safe, they might now be keeping you stuck.

Understanding your dominant trauma response pattern is the first step toward healing. At Integrative Life Center, we help you recognize these patterns and work with your nervous system to create lasting change.

Understanding Your Nervous System’s Survival Strategies

When your brain perceives a threat—real or imagined—it activates one of the four trauma responses before you can consciously think about it. This happens through your autonomic nervous system, which operates below your awareness to keep you alive.

According to polyvagal theory, your nervous system has different states: safe and connected, mobilized for fight or flight, or immobilized in freeze. When you experience trauma, your nervous system gets stuck in threat-detection mode, activating these responses even when you’re actually safe.

The four responses (fight flight freeze fawn) are all valid survival strategies. None is better or worse than another. Your nervous system simply learned which one worked best in your specific circumstances. These responses happen to you, not because of any weakness or failure on your part.

Fight Response: When Survival Looks Like Anger

The fight response shows up as anger, aggression, irritability, and a constant need for control. You feel on edge, ready for battle, easily triggered by things that others might brush off. Your nervous system learned that fighting back equals staying safe.

In daily life, the fight response might look like snapping at loved ones over small things, needing to “win” every argument, or feeling like everyone is against you. You might struggle with road rage, conflicts at work, or explosive reactions that surprise even you. Hypervigilance keeps you always scanning for the next threat, unable to let your guard down.

The hidden function of fight is that it keeps you from feeling powerless. When you’re ready to defend yourself, you’re not vulnerable. But this constant defensiveness damages relationships and keeps you isolated. You might struggle with high-functioning anxiety that manifests as controlling behavior or difficulty trusting others.

Flight Response: Running From What Hurts

Flight looks like avoidance, staying constantly busy, workaholism, panic, and restlessness. You fill every moment with activity to avoid sitting with uncomfortable feelings. Your nervous system learned that escape equals survival.

This shows up as difficulty with commitment—ending relationships before getting too close, changing jobs frequently, always having an exit strategy planned. You might overschedule yourself to avoid being alone with your thoughts, use substances or exercise to stay in motion, or feel panic when you’re “trapped” in situations you can’t easily leave.

Flight keeps you from facing painful emotions or situations, but it also leads to exhaustion, burnout, and an inability to be truly present in your life. Anxiety and meditation techniques can feel impossible because sitting still feels dangerous to your nervous system.

Many people with the flight response struggle with the fight flight freeze response cycle, swinging between anxious avoidance and occasional freeze states when escape isn’t possible.

Freeze Response: When Your Body Shuts Down

Freeze happens when fight or flight aren’t options. Your nervous system immobilizes you to survive—like playing dead. This shows up as dissociation, numbness, feeling disconnected from yourself, brain fog, or literally going blank during confrontations.

You might watch yourself make choices you don’t want to make but feel unable to stop. Life feels like it’s happening to someone else. You struggle with procrastination and decision-making because taking action feels impossible. Memory gaps are common—you don’t remember important conversations or events because you weren’t fully present.

In moments of conflict, you freeze up and can’t speak. Only later do you think of what you wished you’d said. This response protects you from overwhelming pain by numbing everything, but it also means life passes by while you’re stuck watching from the outside.

EMDR treatment for anxiety is particularly effective for freeze responses because it helps reprocess the traumatic memories that created the pattern, allowing your nervous system to “unfreeze.”

Fawn Response: People-Pleasing as Self-Protection

The fawning trauma response is the newest recognized pattern and often the most overlooked. Fawn looks like people-pleasing, over-apologizing, having no boundaries, and putting everyone else’s needs before your own. You become whoever others need you to be.

This response typically develops when expressing your needs or disagreeing was dangerous—common in families where children had to manage their parents’ emotions or walk on eggshells to keep the peace. Your nervous system learned that appeasing others equals safety.

In daily life, fawn shows up as apologizing constantly for things that aren’t your fault, saying yes when you mean no, taking responsibility for others’ emotions, and losing yourself in relationships. You struggle to know what you actually want because you’ve spent so much energy anticipating what others need.

The hidden function is preventing conflict and abandonment by making yourself easy and accommodating. But this leads to resentment, burnout, one-sided relationships, and a complete loss of identity. Many people with fawn responses develop codependent patterns and don’t realize they’re connected to adverse childhood experiences.

Where These Patterns Come From

These four trauma responses develop as survival strategies, usually in childhood. Your nervous system learned which response kept you safest in your specific environment. It’s not about what happened—it’s about what your nervous system concluded about survival.

Common origins include unpredictable or dangerous caregivers, emotional neglect, physical or emotional abuse, witnessing violence, medical trauma, or being required to parent your own parents. The patterns become automatic, happening before conscious thought.

You might use different responses in different contexts—fight at work, freeze at home, fawn in romantic relationships. This makes sense. Your nervous system adapted to different environments in different ways.

These responses made sense given what you experienced. Your nervous system was doing its job to keep you alive.

How Fight, Flight, Freeze, Fawn Show Up in Adult Life

In romantic relationships, fight might look like constant arguments and defensiveness. Flight shows up as fear of commitment or leaving when things get serious. Freeze appears as an inability to express needs or going along with things you don’t want. Fawn manifests as losing yourself completely in one-sided relationships.

At work, fight creates conflicts with authority and difficulty receiving feedback. Flight drives job-hopping and anxiety about being trapped in any position. Freeze leads to procrastination and missed opportunities. Fawn results in overworking, inability to say no, and being taken advantage of.

These patterns aren’t conscious choices. You don’t wake up deciding to respond this way. That’s why simply trying harder or “getting over it” doesn’t work. Your nervous system needs support to learn new patterns.

The anxiety recovery stages often include recognizing these trauma responses as a crucial part of healing.

The Connection to Addiction and Mental Health

Unhealed trauma responses often underlie both addiction and mental health conditions. Fight responses can lead to using substances to calm anger and irritability. Flight responses correlate with anxiety disorders and using substances to slow down or escape. Freeze connects to depression, dissociation, and using to feel something or nothing. Fawn responses drive codependency and using substances to fit in or please others.

Treating only the addiction or mental health symptoms without addressing the underlying trauma response leads to high relapse rates. Why? The nervous system dysregulation remains untreated. This is why trauma-informed care is essential—it addresses the root cause, not just symptoms.

Healing Trauma Responses at Integrative Life Center

At Integrative Life Center in Nashville, we understand that your fight, flight, freeze, or fawn responses aren’t character flaws. They’re your nervous system’s attempt to keep you safe. Our holistic approach to mental health treatment addresses healing at the deepest level: the nervous system itself.

Our trauma-specialized therapists help you recognize your dominant trauma response patterns and understand the “why” behind behaviors that may have confused you for years. Many clients experience profound relief when they realize their reactions aren’t failures but protective mechanisms that once served them well.

Through EMDR therapy, we help you reprocess the traumatic memories that created these survival patterns. EMDR allows your brain to “digest” experiences that got stuck, reducing the intensity of trauma responses over time. Your nervous system learns that the threat is in the past, not the present.

New Start, Call Today

We work directly with your nervous system using polyvagal theory principles. You’ll learn to recognize when you’re in fight, flight, or freeze mode versus a safe, regulated state. More importantly, you’ll develop tools to shift your nervous system from survival mode back to a place where healing can occur.

Trauma lives in the body, not just the mind. Our trauma-informed bodywork, yoga, and movement therapies help release stored trauma from your nervous system. When talk therapy isn’t enough, somatic approaches access healing at a different level.

Through Internal Family Systems therapy, you’ll understand the different “parts” of yourself that activate different trauma responses. The part that fights may be protecting a younger part that felt powerless. The part that fawns may be trying to prevent abandonment. IFS helps these parts work together rather than against you.

Our cognitive behavioral therapy exercises for anxiety and DBT skills training give you practical tools to regulate your nervous system when trauma responses are triggered. You’ll learn grounding techniques, distress tolerance, and emotional regulation strategies that work with your specific response pattern.

Ready to move beyond survival mode? You don’t have to live in constant fight, flight, freeze, or fawn. At Integrative Life Center, our trauma-informed care helps you heal at the nervous system level, addressing the root causes of patterns that have kept you stuck. Call 615-891-2226 today to speak with our admissions team about how our Nashville program can help you find safety, regulation, and lasting healing.

The post Fight, Flight, Freeze, Fawn: The 4 Trauma Responses appeared first on Integrative Life Center.

source https://integrativelifecenter.com/mental-health-treatment/fight-flight-freeze-fawn-the-4-trauma-responses/

Delta 8 Dangers You Need to Know

According to 2023 and 2024 Gallup poll data, 15% of Americans reported that they smoke weed. It’s an increasingly popular (and still federally illegal) drug in the United States. As more people embrace marijuana, cannabis-adjacent products are hitting the shelves, too, and one of the most noteworthy is delta 8 THC. A popular gas station drug, delta 8 consumption isn’t without risk. In fact, there are a number of delta 8 dangers that are important to understand about this drug on the rise. 

Delta 8 Dangers: Understanding Delta 8 THC

Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol, or delta 8 THC for short, naturally occurs within the cannabis plant. As psychoactive cannabinoids, both THC and cannabidiol (CBD) are most prevalent. THC is broken down into delta 8 and delta 9 compounds within the cannabis plant.

Delta 9 is the more well-known compound within THC. It’s the main ingredient in marijuana, after all. Delta 9 is primarily responsible for the psychoactive and medicinal effects of marijuana, according to the Association of Cannabinoid Specialists. It’s also considered a Schedule 1 substance in the US Controlled Substances Act, meaning delta 9 has a high potential for abuse.

Delta 8, however, occurs in much lower concentrations within cannabis. It also provides weaker psychoactive effects than delta 9. As such, delta 8 falls into a legal gray area with drug classifications, making it ripe for production as a gas station drug. You may encounter delta 8 products sold on shelves of convenience stores, smoke or vape shops, mini marts, or on the web. The products you buy commercially are often synthetically manipulated to increase delta 8’s potency, however.

People who are interested in feeling the effects of weed — though not as strongly — may be inclined to use delta 8 products. More people may use them in states with laws that make marijuna illegal, too. Yet many who do use may not realize the delta 8 dangers they’re facing, such as higher levels of substance exposure, unregulated production, drug abuse, and more.

Common Delta 8 Dangers

Is delta 8 dangerous though, really? In some ways, new information about the drug is still being learned, but red flags are becoming increasingly obvious. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has even issued warnings about delta 8 products posing serious risk to consumers. Delta 8, for example, has not been approved or evaluated by the FDA for any safe use. 

The FDA has also pointed out that delta 8 may be marketed in ways that put public health at risk, too. When kids and pets see delta 8 products packaged in bright colors and sold as candies, gummies, or brownies, they may accidentally take them. And the dangers of delta 8 THC when consumed can also include:

• Tachycardia
• Anxiety
• Dizziness
• Vomiting
• Hallucinations
• Discoordination
• Memory loss
• Delayed reaction time
• Loss of consciousness
• Death

SOURCE: Emergency Medicine Residents’ Association

Because these gas station drugs fall into legal gray areas without regulation, delta 8 products may make medicinal or therapeutic claims on their packaging. Yet the health benefits they promote are wholly unsubstantiated. This lack of regulation also presents other delta 8 dangers in the manufacturing process, such as:

• Using potentially dangerous household chemicals to make delta 8 THC products
• The presence of harmful contaminants or byproducts in ingredients
• Products containing varying levels of delta 8 potency without the user’s knowledge
• Unsafe substance exposure in the final product when made in unsanitary or uncontrolled settings

 

The Reality of Delta 8 Addiction

In addition to the delta 8 dangers above, is delta 8 addictive, too? There’s actually growing concern that addiction can be a very real outcome if you use delta 8 THC regularly. The reality is that delta 8 usage can eventually spark marijuana usage. And marijuana still remains a gateway drug to harder, more addictive substances and cross addictions. Today’s weed is also more concentrated, posing a greater risk for marijuana addiction (and the ensuing need to get marijuana addiction treatment) in its own right. 

But delta 8 addiction is also possible. Delta 8, like marijuana, can impact the pleasure and reward systems of your brain. When you use delta 8 THC, your brain will release dopaminine, making you want to use delta 8 again. As the dopamine release continues, you’ll eventually develop a tolerance. This will mean taking more delta 8 more often to get the same effects. This cycle can soon become vicious, however, leading to delta 8 addiction. 

Drug Addiction Treatment in Tennessee

Are you concerned about delta 8 pulling the strings of your life? If so, we can help at Integrative Life Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Our comprehensive drug addiction treatment program provides both evidence-based and experiential therapies to help you finally overcome your addiction at its source. Tailoring our treatment to your unique needs, our team can empower you to reclaim your life and stay healthy long-term. To get started, call us today. 

The post Delta 8 Dangers You Need to Know appeared first on Integrative Life Center.

source https://integrativelifecenter.com/substance-abuse/delta-8-dangers-you-need-to-know/

ADHD and Addiction: Understanding the Hidden Connection

If you’ve been struggling with substance use and wondering why it feels so hard to stop, there might be more to the story. For many people, what looks like addiction on the surface is actually connected to something deeper—untreated or undiagnosed ADHD.

The connection between ADHD and addiction isn’t coincidence. Adults with ADHD are two to three times more likely to develop substance use disorders than the general population. In fact, research shows that up to 25% of adults seeking addiction treatment have ADHD, often without realizing it.

Many people don’t recognize that their substance use started as an attempt to self-medicate ADHD symptoms they didn’t know they had. The racing thoughts, the inability to focus, the constant restlessness—substances temporarily quiet these struggles. But that relief comes at a cost, one that can spiral into a cycle that’s difficult to break on your own.

The Brain Connection: Why ADHD and Addiction Go Hand-in-Hand

At its core, both ADHD and substance abuse involve the same brain chemical: dopamine. Your brain uses dopamine to regulate attention, motivation, and reward. In people with ADHD, dopamine doesn’t work the way it should. There’s a deficiency in how your brain produces and uses this crucial neurotransmitter.

When you use drugs or alcohol, they flood your brain with dopamine. Suddenly, you can focus. You feel calm. Your anxiety quiets down. For someone who has spent their whole life feeling like their brain is working against them, that feeling of “normal” is powerful—and it’s why the risk of addiction is so high.

Impulsivity Drives Experimentation

One of the core symptoms of ADHD is impulsivity. This means acting without fully thinking through the consequences. When it comes to substance use, this translates into being more likely to:

• Try drugs or alcohol in the first place
• Use more than intended
• Continue using despite negative consequences
• Make risky decisions while under the influence

The same brain wiring that makes it hard to resist checking your phone for the tenth time in an hour also makes it harder to resist that drink or that high, even when you know it’s causing problems in your life.

What Substances Do People with ADHD Use?

People with ADHD often turn to substances to self-regulate:

• Stimulants (cocaine, meth): Can briefly improve focus, but are unsafe, unregulated, and highly addictive.
• Marijuana: Feels calming, but worsens motivation, memory, and executive function.
• Alcohol: Used to “shut off” the brain; dependence forms fast and symptoms rebound harder.
• Nicotine: Temporary focus boost leads to high smoking rates and difficulty quitting.
• Prescription misuse: Even ADHD meds can be abused by overuse or altering how they’re taken.

The ADHD Symptoms That Drive Substance Use

• Emotional dysregulation: Intense feelings lead to using substances to numb or cope.
• Boredom intolerance: Constant craving for stimulation makes drugs/alcohol feel appealing.
• Executive dysfunction: Impulse control + planning are harder, so long-term consequences don’t register.
• Time blindness: “Just once” turns into more; past/future impacts feel distant or unclear.
• Working memory issues: Easy to forget consequences, promises, or why you wanted to stop.

How Substance Use Makes ADHD Worse

Here’s the cruel trap of ADHD and addiction: while substances temporarily relieve symptoms, they worsen them significantly over time.

Chronic substance use disrupts sleep, and poor sleep compounds every ADHD symptom. Your attention span shrinks, your emotional regulation deteriorates, and your impulsivity increases.

Substances create their own anxiety and depression, which amplify the anxiety and emotional dysregulation that often accompany ADHD. You end up using more substances to manage the problems the substances themselves created.

Memory and cognitive function decline with ongoing substance abuse. If you already struggle with executive function because of ADHD, adding substance-induced cognitive impairment on top creates a level of dysfunction that affects every area of life.

When ADHD Goes Undetected Until Addiction Treatment

Many adults first learn they have ADHD while seeking help for addiction. This happens because:

Childhood Symptoms Were Missed: ADHD in children often goes undiagnosed, especially in girls and in kids who were academically successful despite internal struggles. You might have been called “lazy,” “unmotivated,” or told you weren’t “living up to your potential” without anyone recognizing the underlying neurodevelopmental condition.

Symptoms Were Masked by Coping Strategies: Many intelligent people with ADHD develop elaborate systems to compensate for their symptoms. These strategies might work through school and early adulthood, but they eventually break down, often around the same time substance use escalates.

Substance Use Masked ADHD Symptoms: If you’ve been regularly using substances since your teens or early twenties, the symptoms of ADHD and the symptoms of substance use blend together. It’s only when you stop using that the ADHD symptoms become clearly visible.

Gender Bias in Diagnosis: Women with ADHD are significantly underdiagnosed because they’re less likely to display the hyperactive symptoms that we traditionally associate with ADHD. Instead, they’re more likely to be labeled as anxious, scattered, or emotional.

This is why comprehensive psychiatric evaluation is essential during addiction treatment. A holistic approach to recovery means looking at the whole person, not just the addiction.

Can You Take ADHD Medication in Addiction Recovery?

This is one of the most common concerns people have: “If I’m in recovery from substance use, does that mean I can never take ADHD medication?”

The answer is more nuanced than a simple yes or no.

The Fear

Many people worry that taking stimulant medications for ADHD will trigger a relapse or simply replace one addiction with another. In some 12-step communities, there’s stigma around taking any medication, even when prescribed and monitored by a doctor.

The Reality

Research actually shows that properly managing ADHD with medication reduces relapse risk, not increases it. When your ADHD is untreated, you’re still dealing with all the symptoms that drove you to self-medicate in the first place. Addressing those symptoms through appropriate treatment removes one of the major triggers for substance use.

Non-Stimulant Options

For people with a history of stimulant abuse, there are effective non-stimulant medications for ADHD, including Strattera (atomoxetine), Wellbutrin (bupropion), and Intuniv (guanfacine). These medications don’t have the same abuse potential but can still significantly improve ADHD symptoms.

The Importance of Proper Monitoring

The key is working with a prescriber who understands both ADHD and addiction. Medication management in recovery requires:

• Thorough assessment of your substance use history
• Consideration of which substances you used
• Close monitoring of medication effectiveness and side effects
• Regular check-ins to ensure medication isn’t being misused
• Coordination between your addiction treatment providers and prescriber

Why Treating Both ADHD and Addiction Together Is Essential

Imagine trying to stay sober while your brain still feels like a television with 50 channels playing at once, and you don’t have the remote control. That’s what recovery looks like when attention deficit disorder and addiction aren’t treated simultaneously.

Studies consistently show that when only addiction gets treated while ADHD remains unaddressed, relapse rates are significantly higher. This makes sense—if the underlying reasons you started using substances are still there, you’ll likely return to old patterns when stress hits.

Conversely, if you only address ADHD without treating the addiction, you’re missing the physical dependence, the behavioral patterns, the trauma, and all the other factors that substance use created in your life.

Integrated dual diagnosis treatment addresses both conditions together, recognizing that they’re interconnected. This approach helps you understand:

• How ADHD contributed to your substance use
• Which ADHD symptoms need specific strategies
• How to manage cravings that are linked to ADHD symptoms
• What healthy coping skills work for your specific brain

The benefits of inpatient mental health treatment for dual diagnosis conditions like ADHD and substance abuse include having everything under one roof—psychiatric care, addiction treatment, therapy, and skill-building all working together toward your healing.

How Integrative Life Center Treats ADHD and Addiction Together

At Integrative Life Center in Nashville, we understand that ADHD and addiction aren’t separate problems requiring separate solutions. They’re interconnected conditions that must be addressed together for lasting recovery.

We recognize that many people with ADHD also have trauma histories. Our EMDR therapy and trauma-focused approaches address the underlying experiences that may have compounded both ADHD symptoms and substance use. Trauma changes the brain in ways that overlap with ADHD, and healing one supports healing the other.

Our mindfulness and meditation programs help you develop attention regulation and impulse control without relying solely on medication. Neurofeedback training offers another evidence-based tool for improving focus and self-regulation. Understanding how neurofeedback works can help you see how directly training your brain’s activity patterns addresses both ADHD and addiction at a neurological level.

This approach to mental health treatment ensures you have multiple strategies for managing ADHD in recovery. Not everyone needs medication, but everyone benefits from learning skills to work with their brain rather than against it.

We also understand the importance of family psychoeducation. ADHD affects relationships, and addiction damages them. Helping your family understand the connection between ADHD and your substance use reduces blame and shame while teaching them how to effectively support your recovery from both conditions.

We work with major insurance providers, including Aetna mental health coverage, to make comprehensive dual diagnosis treatment accessible to those who need it.

Your Path Forward

Living with undiagnosed ADHD and self-medicating with substances isn’t laziness, lack of willpower, or moral failing. It’s your brain trying to find a solution to a neurological condition. The problem isn’t that you sought relief—the problem is that substances create more problems than they solve.

If you’ve been struggling with compulsive behaviors around substance use and wonder if ADHD might be part of the picture, you’re not alone. You’re not broken. You just need the right support to address what’s really going on.

Stop the cycle of self-medication. If you or a loved one is struggling with ADHD and substance use, comprehensive dual diagnosis treatment can break the pattern. At Integrative Life Center, we treat both conditions simultaneously for lasting recovery. Call 615-891-2226 today to speak with our admissions team about how our Nashville program can help you finally find the relief you’ve been seeking—the healthy kind that actually lasts.

The post ADHD and Addiction: Understanding the Hidden Connection appeared first on Integrative Life Center.

source https://integrativelifecenter.com/dual-diagnosis/adhd-and-addiction-understanding-the-hidden-connection/

Eating Disorder Recovery through a Trauma-Informed Lens

In a society that can advocate willpower and “picking yourself up by your bootstraps,” eating disorder recovery has too often been reduced to a problem of cognition, one that can be trained out of the patient with hard work and habit-forming practices. 

While there is truth to this perception, many an eating disorder therapist has begun to see the importance of trauma informed care when it comes to eating disorder recovery. 

For many individuals, the development of an eating disorder can be deeply rooted in past traumatic experiences. Any approach to recovery must go beyond simply addressing eating behaviors. A trauma-informed lens applied to eating disorder treatment allows mental health practitioners to understand the underlying emotional wounds, attachment issues, and coping mechanisms that may contribute to disordered eating.

What Is an Eating Disorder?

As defined by the National Eating Disorders Association–the organization whose logo has become an empowering symbol for eating disorder recovery–eating disorders are “serious but treatable mental and physical illnesses that can affect people of all genders, ages, races, religions, ethnicities, sexual orientations, body shapes, and weights.” 

These illnesses include a variety of disordered eating conditions, such as:

• Anorexia nervosa–characterized by weight loss and distorted body image
• Binge eating disorder–recurrent episodes of binge eating, often alone and past the point of being full, coupled with feelings of guilt or shame
• Bulimia nervosa–a cycle of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors such as vomiting or taking laxatives
• Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder–severely limiting the volume or kinds of foods eaten, not out of body image concerns, but rather due to lack of interest, sensory issues, or fear of choking
• Pica–involves eating items that are not food, such as hair, dirt, or paint chips
• Orthorexia–an obsession with healthy or proper eating so strong that it can affect overall well being, including social interactions

Diagnosing any of these conditions is the domain of mental health treatment professionals, but if you are wondering “do I have an eating disorder?” there are some indicators to consider, such as:

• Preoccupation with food, weight, calories, or dieting
• Making excuses to avoid mealtimes or situations involving food
• Development of food rituals (chewing a certain number of times, rearranging food on a plate)
• Extreme mood swings
• Withdrawal from friendships and previously pleasurable activities
• Noticeable weight fluctuations
• Fainting and dizziness
• Menstrual irregularities
• Dental problems
• Impaired immune function, susceptibility to diseases

While not an exhaustive list, if you recognize any of these symptoms in yourself or a loved one, it may be time to consider eating disorder recovery counseling or some other form of treatment.

Understanding the Role of Attachment and Shame in Disordered Eating

Eating disorders are not only about food—they often stem from a deeper place of relational wounding and attachment trauma. Many individuals with disordered eating have histories of emotional neglect, invalidation, or inconsistent caregiving in early life. These experiences can result in attachment insecurities—where relationships feel unsafe, unpredictable, or conditional.

In response, individuals may develop coping mechanisms like food restriction, bingeing, or purging as a means of gaining control or avoiding overwhelming emotions. Eating behaviors can serve as a substitute for emotional regulation and safety when secure attachment is unavailable. Unfortunately, these survival strategies often reinforce shame, especially in a society that places heavy emphasis on body image and willpower.

A trauma-informed approach, such as that offered at ILC, helps individuals untangle this shame. Through compassionate therapeutic relationships, clients can safely explore how early relational dynamics may have shaped their behaviors, and begin forming new, healthier patterns of connection—with themselves and others.

The Importance of Trauma-Informed Care in Eating Disorder Recovery

The question of what that treatment should look like has many answers, but if you are seeking anorexia eating disorder recovery, or recovery for any other disordered eating condition, the importance of trauma-informed care cannot be overstated.

Elizabeth Woods, a therapist at the Integrative Life Center (ILC) in Nashville, TN, has learned throughout her career the necessity of looking at eating disorders through a trauma-informed lens: “I think a lot of traditional eating disorder recovery for clients looks like a laundry-list of do’s and don’t’s…I think it eliminates the possibility of clients actually getting to direct what’s important to them.” 

This self-direction, this element of personal choice throughout the recovery journey, is a key tenet of trauma-informed care. Rather than focusing on re-training a patient’s habits only, trauma-informed treatment acknowledges trauma in the person’s past that may be responsible for the eating disorder itself, creating a safe, empowering, and compassionate environment.

Again in the words of Woods:

“I see this common thread [in trauma victims] that it’s not safe to feel, it’s not safe to express how they feel. And so any amount that we can help support clients, in reconnecting with themselves, reconnecting with their physical bodies, I think helps people re-identify with who they are at their core. That is the treatment philosophy at ILC is really wanting people to understand, acknowledge, their self-worth, [and] the inherent dignity that they have as humans. Trauma in life can so easily make people forget or not believe. So I think our bodies are really crucial to being alive, being human, being connected to ourselves and other people.”

The compulsive behaviors that can arise out of trauma cannot be fully addressed without also processing the traumatic experience at their root.

Integrating the Body into Healing: Somatic and Holistic Practices

Disordered eating often leads to disconnection from the body. Whether through restriction, compulsive behaviors, or constant negative self-talk, individuals with eating disorders can come to experience their bodies as foreign, broken, or even dangerous. Trauma adds another layer, as it can lodge itself in the nervous system and manifest as chronic tension, dissociation, or hypervigilance.

That’s why at Integrative Life Center, somatic therapies are an essential part of eating disorder recovery. These body-based approaches help individuals gently reconnect with their physical selves in a way that feels safe and empowering.

Some somatic and holistic practices at ILC include:

• Trauma-informed yoga, which focuses on grounding, breathwork, and choice—helping clients build body awareness without pressure or performance.
• Equine therapy, where interaction with horses supports emotional regulation and relationship building through nonverbal communication.
• Expressive arts therapy, which encourages self-expression and creativity as a means of processing emotions that are difficult to verbalize.
• Mindfulness and meditation, offering tools to observe cravings, sensations, and thoughts without judgment.
  

By treating the body not as an enemy, but as a partner in healing, clients are given the opportunity to experience self-trust, agency, and resilience. Recovery becomes not just about symptom reduction, but about building a loving, empowered relationship with the body.

Lasting Eating Disorder Recovery in Nashville, TN

If you are looking for eating disorder treatment in Nashville, TN, consider the Integrative Life Center. Through our holistic approach, we foster genuine and sustainable healing in eating disorder recovery, ultimately nourishing the whole self – mind, body, and spirit. Our residential eating disorder program is not a mere series of cognitive retraining exercises, but rather an incorporation of the whole person into the healing process through a trauma-informed lens, with modalities ranging from anxiety treatment to equine therapy to mindfulness and meditation.

Consider the fact that the eating disorder recovery symbol is a combination of a heart and the outline of a woman’s body. This embodies our women’s residential eating disorder treatment program: safely addressing past trauma so that we can learn to truly love the bodies we are blessed with and experience lasting healing.

So if you or a loved one are experiencing the symptoms of an eating disorder, do not hesitate. Reach out to the Integrative Life Center today at (615) 891-2226 to start your journey to recovery.

The post Eating Disorder Recovery through a Trauma-Informed Lens appeared first on Integrative Life Center.

source https://integrativelifecenter.com/eating-disorders/eating-disorder-recovery-through-a-trauma-informed-lens/

The Link Between Social Isolation and Addiction

Has life gotten lonelier? You’re not the only one feeling this way. In 2023, the US Surgeon General declared loneliness and isolation as an epidemic in America. A 2024 national survey by the Harvard Graduate School of Education found that 21% of US adults had serious feelings of loneliness. Rising social isolation and loneliness present a number of health problems in our society today, including addiction. 

Social Isolation, Defined

What is social isolation, exactly? According to the American Medical Association, social isolation is defined as a lack of engagement with others, or having very few people in your life that you would call, text, or visit. People struggling with social isolation may know a lot of people, whether at work or school, but they don’t have a fulfilling, quality relationship in their life. Related to social isolation, loneliness is a state of mind characterized by disassociation between what you want in your relationships and what you actually experience in your relationships, shares the University of Chicago. 

No matter your age, relationship status, personality, or income level, you can experience social isolation. It can happen to anyone. However, certain groups of people, circumstances, or seasons of life face greater risk for social isolation, such as:

• Having a mental or physical health challenge
• Experiencing discrimination
• Living in rural areas
• Facing language barriers
• Victims of abuse or violence
• Facing a divorce, unemployment, or loss of a loved one
• Low-income adults
• Adults living alone
• Immigrants
• People who identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual
• Young adults
• Older adults

SOURCE: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Common Social Isolation Symptoms

Though you may live alone or enjoy solitude, it doesn’t mean you’re socially isolated. Alternatively, you may know a lot of people and be well-connected on social media, yet you feel lonely. So what are the circumstances and signs that indicate you’re experiencing social isolation in your day-to-day life? Be on the lookout for the following social isolation symptoms:

• Spending a lot of time alone or having limited interaction with others
• Feeling anxiety, panic, or dread when thinking about social interactions
• Feeling distress during times of solitude or when you’re alone
• Canceling plans often and feeling relieved after cancellation
• Avoiding social interactions, including those you previously enjoyed

SOURCE: Healthline.com 

The Long-Term Impact on Your Health

What happens if you’re socially isolated long-term? Experiencing loneliness and social isolation doesn’t just mean a lack of deep friendships or an empty social schedule. Over time, these struggles can reduce your mental and physical health in various ways. Prolonged loneliness and social isolation effects can increase your risk for:

• Heart disease and stroke
• Type 2 diabetes
• Depression and anxiety
• Suicidality and self-harm
• Dementia
• Premature death

SOURCE: CDC

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), a lack of social connection heightens your health risk as much as smoking 15 cigarettes a day or having an alcohol addiction. Loneliness and social isolation are also twice as harmful for your health as obesity. 

Social Isolation, Addiction and Loneliness

Addiction can often come into the picture when looking at the long-term effects of social isolation and loneliness. Just think about it: when you’re socially isolated, you don’t have healthy emotional or social connections. Without this regular support, you’re left to navigate difficult feelings and circumstances alone. Consequently, it can be very challenging to cope without loved ones when hard times come. 

Without the built-in support system of your community, your social isolation can make you more vulnerable to unhealthy coping mechanisms. Before long, you may be reaching for the bottle or taking drugs. But without regular connection with others, you miss out on the accountability and concern a close friend or family member may provide regarding your choices and behaviors. As a result, your own ways of self-medicating can spiral into substance abuse. At this point, you’re dealing with both addiction and loneliness while isolating yourself. No doubt shame and stigma creep in as well, further isolating you from the help and community you need.

With that said, social isolation is also a hallmark symptom of addiction and substance abuse. When you’re addicted, your whole world revolves around your substance abuse. Everything else falls by the wayside, including your relationships. That means you pass on family gatherings, social outings, and preferred activities in favor of your addiction. Before long, you’re socially isolated.  

Social isolation is also one of the obvious relapse warning signs when you’re in recovery. If you’ve begun the stages of relapse, then you may start socially isolating yourself from your support system. Social isolation can also be an addiction trigger that drives you to use again.

Addiction Treatment and Support in Nashville

If you’re struggling with an addiction and social isolation, we can help at Integrative Life Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Our compassionate team provides a variety of addiction treatment programs that address the underlying issues responsible for your struggles. And we offer helpful support at each stage of your recovery, including long-term alumni programming so you can find healthy community again. To start your recovery journey, call us today. 

The post The Link Between Social Isolation and Addiction appeared first on Integrative Life Center.

source https://integrativelifecenter.com/substance-abuse/the-link-between-social-isolation-and-addiction/

Understanding Kratom Addiction

Is kratom addictive? You may be wondering this after seeing kratom advertised in gas stations, smoke shops, vape shops, mini marts, and beyond. Kratom is a substance that’s growing in popularity…and controversy. Not only has it been banned in a handful of US states, but kratom addiction is also becoming more of a common struggle.

What is Kratom? 

Kratom falls into the category of gas station drugs, newer substances on the scene using questionably legal loopholes to market themselves as herbal or dietary supplements. While seemingly safe on the surface, gas station drugs like phenibut, delta-8, and tianeptine can have adverse and even addictive effects when used. 

Like other gas station drugs, kratom gets productized as an herbal supplement, showing up on the shelves of convenience stores, smoke shops, and sometimes even everyday vitamin stores. It comes from a tree native to Southeast Asia, and is usually used by:

• Mixing it into food and drink
• Brewing it into tea
• Swallowing its raw form as a powder or capsule
• Drinking it as an extract

 

Based on the dosage, kratom can be either stimulating or sedating when consumed. Reports about kratom indicate that people use it to relieve pain and promote relaxation. Other instances show that it helps you become more alert and energized, as if you’re caffeinated. However, most kratom users take it for its opioid-like effects to help manage pain or avoid prescription opioids, according to the University of Utah. 

While its uses may seem practical and well-intentioned, taking kratom is also a concerning habit. More and more health agencies are publicly stating that kratom use can create serious problems. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as an example, has issued warnings about using kratom, saying it’s not appropriate for use as a dietary supplement. The FDA also doesn’t approve it for any medical use. Other risks associated with kratom include:

• Liver toxicity
• Seizures
• Substance use disorder
• Neonatal abstinence syndrome
• Salmonella or heavy metal contamination
• Death

The Reality of Kratom Addiction

As the FDA has warned, cases of substance use disorder and addiction have been observed in people who’ve used kratom. Studies have even shown that people may experience mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms when they stop regular kratom use, shares the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). The US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) even periodically threatens to make kratom a Schedule 1 controlled substance (the same category as heroin or meth), according to the Food & Drug Law Institute. 

With that said, people continue to use kratom often without realizing its addictive potential. No one is having to buy kratom clandestinely in a dark back alley or scary part of town. Because you can buy it in a brightly-lit store on a popular street corner (or even online), it’s a common assumption that it’s a safe everyday supplement.  When you continue to use it regularly, however, you become vulnerable to kratom addiction and withdrawal struggles. But why?

When you take kratom on a regular basis, you can develop a dependency on the drug. Your brain gets used to the steady supply of dopamine kratom provides when consumed. Consequently you begin to desire kratom more and more. Your brain’s chemistry gets modified to develop a tolerance for kratom. And  eventually you need to take more of it at higher frequencies to get the same dopamine effects. This can lead you to becoming addicted to kratom. At this point, if you try to stop using the drug, you may experience kratom addiction withdrawal symptoms that keep you from quitting. 

Knowing the Kratom Addiction Signs

What should you do if you know someone who uses kratom all the time (even if that person is you)? There are often telltale signs that indicate someone is addicted to kratom. It’s best to learn these kratom addiction signs so you can help your loved one change before their struggles get worse. Common kratom addiction symptoms and signs include:

• Experiencing symptoms of withdrawal when you aren’t using kratom
• Cravings or urges to use kratom
• Facing difficulties when trying to quit or reduce kratom usage
• Upping your amount and frequency of kratom to get the same effects
• Persisting in kratom use despite negative consequences
• Choosing to use kratom over family, work, or personal responsibilities
• Encountering financial trouble associated with kratom usage
• Skipping out on favorite activities to use kratom
• Making risky choices to sustain your kratom intake

Kratom Addiction Help in Tennessee

Are you concerned that you may be addicted to kratom? You may struggle to know what to do about it, but the best course of action is to seek professional help as soon as possible. Otherwise, your kratom dependence can lead you to developing a cross addiction to more harmful substances. 

At Integrative Life Center in Nashville, Tennessee, our comprehensive treatment programs help people like you overcome a variety of substance abuse challenges, including kratom addiction. Utilizing a holistic treatment approach with both evidence-based and experiential therapies, our drug addiction treatment program addresses the root causes of your struggles so you can achieve lasting sobriety. To start your journey with kratom addiction treatment, call us now. 

The post Understanding Kratom Addiction appeared first on Integrative Life Center.

source https://integrativelifecenter.com/substance-abuse/understanding-kratom-addiction/

Vicarious Trauma for Professionals: Signs and Treatment

Helping professionals dedicate their lives to supporting others through pain, crisis, and recovery. Therapists, healthcare workers, first responders, and addiction treatment providers often enter their fields with a deep sense of purpose. 

Yet over time, continuous exposure to trauma can take a hidden toll. Vicarious trauma happens when professionals take on the emotional pain of others. This can change their inner world in strong but subtle ways.

Unlike burnout, which often stems from workload or organizational stress, vicarious trauma arises from empathy. It reflects the cost of caring deeply. Without proper support, this form of trauma can affect emotional health, relationships, and long-term professional sustainability. At Integrative Life Center, we understand that vicarious trauma is a common response to prolonged stress. It is not a personal weakness.

Understanding Vicarious Trauma and Related Conditions

What Is Vicarious Trauma?

Vicarious trauma occurs when repeated exposure to others’ traumatic experiences alters a professional’s emotional and psychological well-being. Over time, this exposure can change how a person views safety, trust, and control. Many helping professionals report feeling less optimistic, more guarded, or emotionally disconnected.

This experience is closely linked to secondary trauma, vicarious traumatization, and compassion fatigue. These terms are a bit different, but they all describe the emotional stress that can come from connecting with trauma survivors.

How Vicarious Trauma Differs from Burnout

Burnout typically improves with rest or time away from work. Vicarious trauma, however, often persists even after breaks or vacations. The distress feels deeper and more personal. Many professionals notice emotional reactions that seem disproportionate or difficult to explain. 

This distinction matters because trauma-based symptoms require trauma-informed care.

Who Is Most Vulnerable to Vicarious Trauma?

Helping professionals face unique risks due to the emotional demands of their roles. Individuals most affected by vicarious trauma often include:

• Therapists and counselors
• Healthcare workers and nurses
• First responders and emergency personnel
• Social workers and case managers
• Addiction treatment providers

Many high-achieving professionals also experience high-functioning anxiety, which can mask distress. Productivity may remain high even as emotional exhaustion grows. This often delays help-seeking until symptoms escalate.

Common Signs and Symptoms of Vicarious Trauma

Emotional and Psychological Indicators

The signs of vicarious trauma often develop gradually. Professionals may normalize symptoms as “part of the job.” Common emotional indicators include:

• Emotional numbness or detachment
• Heightened irritability or sadness
• Persistent worry or dread
• Reduced empathy or cynicism
• Difficulty experiencing joy

These symptoms frequently overlap with the early anxiety recovery stages, which can make diagnosis challenging without proper assessment.

Cognitive and Behavioral Changes

Professionals experiencing vicarious trauma may notice:

• Difficulty concentrating
• Mental fog or indecision
• Intrusive thoughts related to clients’ stories
• Avoidance of emotionally charged situations
• Increased isolation

Some individuals also report trauma memory loss, where emotional responses feel fragmented or disconnected from conscious memory.

The Impact of Vicarious Trauma on Mental Health

When left unaddressed, vicarious trauma can contribute to anxiety disorders, depression, and substance use. Many professionals rely on coping strategies that once worked but no longer provide relief. Emotional suppression, overworking, or self-medicating may become habitual.

At this stage, structured mental health treatment becomes essential. Trauma-informed care helps professionals understand how repeated exposure has shaped their nervous system responses. Healing focuses on restoring emotional regulation rather than pushing through distress.

Effective Treatment Approaches for Vicarious Trauma

Trauma-Focused Therapies

Evidence-based modalities such as EMDR therapy play a critical role in treating vicarious trauma. EMDR helps the brain reprocess traumatic material that has been absorbed indirectly. This reduces emotional reactivity and intrusive imagery while restoring a sense of safety.

Mind-Body Regulation

Trauma lives in the body as much as the mind. Practices like trauma informed yoga support nervous system regulation by reconnecting individuals with physical sensations in a safe way. These practices help release chronic tension and improve emotional awareness.

Mindfulness and Emotional Grounding

Regular mindfulness and meditation practices support present-moment awareness and emotional regulation. These tools help professionals recognize stress responses early, preventing escalation into chronic distress.

A Holistic Approach to Healing

A holistic approach addresses the full impact of trauma. Treatment integrates emotional processing, physical restoration, and lifestyle support. This comprehensive model recognizes that healing requires more than symptom management.

Recognizing Risk Factors Through Self-Assessment

Helping professionals often struggle to recognize when they need support. Tools such as a Childhood trauma test can provide insight into earlier experiences that may amplify current stress responses. Unresolved trauma can increase vulnerability to vicarious trauma, especially in emotionally demanding roles.

Similarly, increased reliance on substances may signal deeper distress. A confidential Alcohol use disorder quiz can help individuals assess patterns without shame or judgment.

Why Professional Support Is Essential

Self-care strategies alone rarely resolve vicarious trauma. Professional support provides structure, containment, and trauma-specific interventions. Effective treatment offers:

• Emotional safety and validation
• Trauma-informed therapeutic frameworks
• Support for nervous system regulation
• Sustainable coping strategies
  

With appropriate care, professionals can reconnect with meaning and purpose while protecting their mental health.

Reclaiming Balance and Professional Sustainability in Nashville, TN

Healing from vicarious trauma does not require abandoning one’s career or compassion. It requires intentional care. Trauma-informed mental health treatment allows professionals to process accumulated emotional stress while strengthening resilience.

At Integrative Life Center in Nashville, we provide confidential, specialized care for helping professionals navigating trauma, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion. Our programs honor professional identity while addressing the deeper roots of distress.

For many helping professionals, acknowledging the impact of vicarious trauma can feel uncomfortable. There is often an expectation to remain strong, capable, and endlessly resilient. 

Over time, however, unaddressed emotional strain erodes both personal well-being and professional effectiveness. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It is a strategic investment in long-term health, career sustainability, and quality of life. 

With the right combination of trauma-informed therapies, mind-body healing, and compassionate care, professionals can restore balance, deepen self-awareness, and reconnect with the passion that drew them to their work. Healing strengthens leadership, sharpens clinical presence, and protects against future burnout. Most importantly, it allows professionals to continue serving others without sacrificing themselves in the process.

Caring for others should not require sacrificing your own well-being. Call (615) 891-2226 to speak confidentially with our admissions team and learn how support can restore balance.

The post Vicarious Trauma for Professionals: Signs and Treatment appeared first on Integrative Life Center.

source https://integrativelifecenter.com/mental-health-treatment/vicarious-trauma-for-professionals-signs-and-treatment/