Here’s why trauma can lead to addiction ⬆️ Coping mechanisms are intentional and conscious behaviours individuals use to manage the ongoing effects of a traumatic event. People may turn to addictive substances or behaviours to escape, numb, or self-medicate the emotional pain and distress arising from the trauma. One of the biggest impacts of childhood trauma is the development of coping strategies to survive the events. While these strategies may offer temporary relief, they do not address the