Why are we talking about the brain? Trauma is stored in the brain and in the body. Trauma often isn’t stored in a way that allows us to give words to trauma, though. It can be helpful to know a little bit about what is going on in your brain and body to give us context. The brain is more complex than what I am describing below, but it can help clarify actions we might take after experiencing trauma.
PARTS OF THE BRAIN
- Prefrontal cortex: thinking, decision-making, learning
- Limbic System: controls fight/flight/freeze. Compares current situations with past situations. and is made up (in part) by the-
- Amygdala: “threat system”, emotions especially fear, aggression and rage
- Hippocampus: part of memory system; tags memories in place, time, and date.
- Cerebellum: Motor functions and plays role in integration of emotions
EFFECTS OF TRAUMA ON THE BRAIN:
Effects of trauma on the amygdala: Trauma has been shown to increase activity in the amygdala region in response to stimuli that are somehow connected to your traumatic experiences . When we have PTSD, our amygdala often thinks there is danger where there is not. So it gets ‘excited’ and sets off the ‘alarm’ system. But because it’s not the ‘thinking’ part of the brain, it can’t discern between what’s real in the now and what’s a trauma-related memory, so we often feel and react AS IF there is real danger when there isn’t and we experience stress, anxiety and fear.
Effects of trauma on the hippocampus: The hippocampus is responsible for recording new memories and retrieving memories. The hippocampus also helps us distinguish between the present and past memories. The hippocampus is the “date stamp” of your memory system (tags the day/time). So when there’s something in your environment that may be a trauma trigger (smell, a person who looks you’re your perpetrator, loud noise, crowds) your hippocampus yanks your trauma memory up front and center and thinks there is danger where there is none. So the feelings that come up from the amygdala can be just as intense and raw as when they occurred originally and you can also experience the memory as a flashback.
Effects of trauma on the prefrontal cortex: Exposure to stress can impair the executive functions of prefrontal cortex—the “thinking” part of our brain. This part of the brain helps us think rationally, behave appropriately and helps us focus and concentrate. This part of the brain can become overwhelmed with the emotions and memories and it can “shut down” or go “off-line” or get hijacked by the alarm center of our brain. When this happens, you can have trouble focusing at work or in this class because you are focusing on the memory or the environment that you are scanning for danger. When our ability to reality-test is impaired, it contributes to flashbacks. And when we can’t distinguish between current, real danger and feelings from memories, we may take actions that are impulsive and lend to a feeling of being out of control.
The good news is that the human brain can be re-wired. By thinking new thoughts and taking new actions, we can rewire our brain and build new networks. The more our brain travels a certain a pathway the stronger the wiring gets. Right now, your brain may be wired to constantly be on the look out for danger which results in anxiety, isolation, depression, difficulty trusting others, and low self-esteem, but with therapy your brain can rewire so that the alarm only goes off when there’s actual danger and your brain can learn to live beyond the fight, flight, freeze response and be able to enjoy the moment and enjoy your life again.
