How trauma affects the brain
Experiencing distressing or stressful events can cause traumatic stress in the brain. While we experience something distressing or incredibly stressful, our brain aims all available energy at the trauma until there is no longer an immediate threat. The initial response to trauma goes away eventually, but sometimes it lingers, making it harder to cope with everyday life normally.
Experiencing lingering and excessive responses to trauma can cause post-traumatic stress in an individual. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health illness that can surface after a traumatic event. After a trauma, struggling with anxiety, fear, anger, or sadness can be common and for most people, those feelings eventually fade. If you are suffering from PTSD, those feelings can feel permanent and overwhelming. It is important to understand that while the patterns of trauma response may seem permanent, they can be helped with treatment.
Trauma affects the way our brain reacts. It can change the way we feel, think, or act. This can manifest as nightmares, flashbacks, or intrusive thoughts and can continue for a long period of time after the initial event has occurred. It can also provoke feelings of anger, uneasiness… Those responses to trauma are normal, but often, they can linger and require additional help to make them go away.
PTSD causes your brain to react as though you are in danger even when the danger is no longer imminent. You brain sends signals to your body that can trigger the “fight or flight” response and releases adrenaline or norepinephrine, stress hormones, that can give you energy. It can cause your heart to beat at a faster pace, abnormal breathing, and the ability to accomplish normal tasks.
PTSD symptoms are different for everyone but typically the symptom categories are experienced by each individual after the traumatic event has occurred.
Intrusion. Flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, or nightmares can all occur and can make an individual feel as though they are re-experiencing the traumatic event.
Avoidance. It is common to not want to remember or think about the traumatic event. Avoiding places, people, and objects that could potentially trigger the memory out is a common symptom. It is also common to avoid talking about the traumatic event completely.
Cognitive and mood changes. It can be difficult to remember specific details of the traumatic event when suffering from PTSD. Negative feelings can become dominant and it will be difficult to identify distorted thoughts. There may also be less interest in enjoyable activities and a distinctive lack of positive emotions or feelings.
Reactivity and arousal shifts. Reactive and arousal symptoms may manifest as bursts of anger, irritability, destructive behavior, or difficulty sleeping.
PTSD is a mental health illness that can occur any time after experiencing a traumatic event. It can manifest as avoidance, a change in mood or behavior, negative or intrusive thoughts, or sudden bursts of anger or irritation. PTSD is treatable and symptoms can be managed with continued treatment. Several treatment options are available, and it is essential to reach out to a certified medical professional or clinician for a diagnosis and information on appropriate and effective treatments.
