What Now? Workshops Present…
April is National Alcohol Awareness Month and as burn survivors, some may face different and unique challenges such as physical pain, emotional trauma and social isolation. Burn injuries may result in chronic pain that often requires pain management. Some burn survivors may self-medicate developing dependencies on pain medication or turn to alcohol as a way of “managing” or escaping from the discomfort.
If we add the psychological impact of a burn injury and the possible emotional challenges of PTSD, anxiety, depression, and body image, the overwhelmed emotions may lead burn survivors to misuse substances as a coping mechanism. Isolation is another challenge that survivors face; it is hard to reintegrate into society and feel accepted for some of them, and that is why isolation and loneliness are high risk of substance abuse.
Burn survivors can address these challenges by using a combination of preventing strategies, identifying risk factor, having strong family connections, openly communicate about substance abuse and by connecting with individuals and mentors that can provide guidance. Let us not forget about comprehensive pain management, peer support, support groups, therapy services and our What Now Workshop that will focus on Substance Abuse this month. Join us on April 17, 2025 at 7:00pm Pacific time. For more information, please reach out to Martha Banks at [email protected].
