How Does PTSD Affect the Brain?
When someone experiences a trauma, it tends to be something that sticks around.
No matter how hard someone may try to block out any thoughts, feelings, or associations with the trauma, trauma will find its way back into the present moment.
After a traumatic event, both the body and brain tend to hold onto the defense mechanisms that were put in place, causing a person to experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The body and mind fail to recognize if and when the perceived threat has passed.
Let’s learn more about how PTSD affects the brain.
The Amygdala
The amygdala is the part of the brain that senses danger. When the amygdala senses a perceived threat, it can kick your body and brain into fight-or-flight mode. When trauma occurs, the amygdala has a hard time recognizing the difference between a current threat and a past threat.
That means that when reminders of a past trauma occur, the amygdala kicks into fight-or-flight mode as if you’re experiencing the trauma again. When this happens, stress hormones like cortisol are released. This means that the body and brain are operating in a heightened state, which can put someone on edge, on high alert, with high stress and high anxiety.
The Hippocampus
The hippocampus is the part of the brain that is also known as the learning center. In individuals who have experienced a past trauma, their hippocampus tends to be smaller in size compared to individuals who haven’t experienced a traumatic event.
A smaller hippocampus can also be less active. This means that an individual who experiences a traumatic event can have problems with memory and problem-solving abilities. Trauma may also make it hard for individuals to recognize if a situation is current or from the past. This means they’ll always be on edge, emotional, and in defense mode.
The Nervous System
The nervous system is on high alert when a trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder is present. This overactivity can affect someone’s stress tolerance levels to the point where they feel like their stress levels can no longer be controlled. This means that even small situations or events that may not have mattered to someone in the past will make them blow up or respond in a negative way.
The Prefrontal Cortex
The prefrontal cortex is the part of the brain responsible for making logical and reasonable decisions. This area tends to be less active in people who have experienced trauma, which means that absorbing new information can become harder. The changes in the prefrontal cortex, as well as the other areas of the brain, can make it extremely difficult to stop or break free from the fight, flight, freeze, or fawn responses.
Next Steps
Not everyone is affected by trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Typically, trauma is something that someone goes through at least once throughout their lifetime. The ones who are affected are highly encouraged to seek additional support. There are certain lifestyle changes that you can implement, but there isn’t a true replacement for working with a professional. Treatment for PTSD can be unique to each individual. Since there are many different causes of trauma, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to overcoming it. Trauma can be overwhelming, but overcoming your past trauma is possible.
Working with a licensed and trained mental health professional can help you get to the root cause of your trauma, work through any signs or symptoms you may be struggling with, and help you towards the path of healing. I’m here to help you when you’re ready. Reach out to me today to set up a free consultation at JoyFeel Therapy.