THUNAI“Trauma creates the change you didn't choose. Healing creates the change you choose” - Michelle Rosenthal
Child and adult trauma survivors may present a variety of symptoms - from extreme emotions such as fear and anger, self destructive behaviours and memory problems (including dissociation). These are natural responses to a traumatic event. If the survivor is not supported adequately and treated, it is natural for them to behave as if the trauma is recurring in the present.
Why do we need to understand the Neurobiology of Trauma?
This is the first step that could help us in not judging the survivor or labelling them as unreasonable and difficult. Instead, guide us in providing a supportive environment so necessary for healing. This also helps us understand ourselves when we find ourselves in difficult circumstances.
Trauma is an extreme event that overwhelms our stress-response system. It can rewire the brain, alter the brain chemistry and affect how different brain regions work together.
Let's look at the basic areas of the brain that would help us understand the trauma response of the brain.
The brainstem is our brain’s Survival Center and does the important job of detecting a threat to our survival and keeps us safe. It stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, raises our heart rate and respiration and keeps our body ready for fight or flight from the situation.
Our amygdala and Hippocampus form part of our Emotion Regulation Center. Remember, emotions are also important for our survival by making us take some action.
Our pre-frontal cortex (PFC, behind our forehead and part of the neo-cortex) is our Thinking Center. The PFC drives our rational decision making.
In a person without trauma, these parts of the brain work well together. A threat is detected, fear rises and the body is primed for a fight or running away. Then the PFC might say it is not a major threat, we can relax now.
In a trauma affected brain, the Survival center is overactive and the Emotion center is unregulated. The person feels constantly threatened and subject to big unregulated emotions in an attempt to gain some control over their life. The PFC does not activate and rational decision making (such as coping with the emotion in a healthy way) is compromised. The person is constantly living under a sense of threat and fear. Click here to understand the neurological impact of trauma in the brain
To know more about what happens in the brain here is a video by Dr.Bessel Van Der Kolk
Bessel van der kolk video on “Three ways trauma can change the brain”. Here he also talks about another brain area that is responsible for our self identity and how that is affected.
How trauma affects the brain function?
It reduces the executive functioning of neocortex
It reduces the the ability to create sequential memory
It reduces the ability to see differences or distinctions (reality checking)
It Restricts access to the impulse control center
It reduces the Hippocampal activity
Learning gets affected
Attention and memory gets distorted
Body gets dysregulated
Ability to trust or build relationships gets affected
Here is a simple video that shows the common range of symptoms presented by the survivor of trauma. PTSD and Complex Trauma are direct after effects of trauma while Major Depressive Disorder, BPD, NPD are some of the diagnoses that may overlap with or be a result of untreated trauma. Please read this blog here that explains the various psychological disorders that overlap trauma diagnosis.
Neuroplasticity:
Neuroplasticity is the ability of the brain to form new connections and pathways and change how its circuits are wired- Bergand 2017
Our brain is extremely adaptable, it has the ability to form new connections and reverse the damaging effects of trauma. Neuroplasticity is the key to healing and recovery from Trauma. Brain is like a muscle that can be trained through practices like mindful exercises such as listening to music, breathing and yoga which generates more neurons and more connections are formed. Please click here and here to know more it.
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