​​​​​​​In the wake of traumatic experience, survivors tend to be overwhelmed by intense emotions and body sensations, loss of faith in the universe, and unrelenting punitive introspection. Addictive craving and behavior seem to offer an ‘out,’ the promise of blessed relief from both the emotional and somatic overwhelm. The result is the frequent co-occurrence of addictive disorders that ultimately poses an equal or even greater threat to the patient as do the trauma symptoms.