The brain is a beautiful powerhouse that controls every facet of day-to-day operation. It’s the mastermind behind your personality and social interactions. It allows you to problem-solve every adulting task you may face in a day. On the most basic level, it controls anything from your every physical movement to your breathing.
Experiences are turned into memories. Your brain guides you toward happy emotions, places, and moments. It attempts to deter you away from negative things—your own built-in defense mechanism.
When it comes to trauma, your brain serves one very specific purpose: to keep you safe or to get you through a situation to safety. The processing happens without you even realizing the work your brain does in the background.
The Brain’s Response To Trauma
When trauma occurs, your brain will turn off nonessential functioning. All energy needs to go to the necessary systems. The sympathetic nervous system becomes activated, and stress hormones are released. Your body enters a survival mode of sorts.
After a traumatic event, your parasympathetic nervous system turns on, and normal functioning resumes. The brain, however, goes through a change. The severity of the trauma will dictate the level of change that will occur.
The three areas most affected by a trauma experience are the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex. They all work together to manage the situation, therefore, are all impacted.
1. The Amygdala
The amygdala is a tiny part of the brain that controls emotions and instincts. It’s the control center for your fight or flight response. As soon as the danger is perceived, it kicks into gear.
When you experience trauma and have something triggering, your brain can’t differentiate old “danger” from new “danger.” With that being said, anything can set your brain off much easier and make you feel like you are experiencing it for the first time all over again.
Your brain enters fight or flight, and then your body will follow. You may feel on high alert, anxious, stressed, or on edge more often than you would like.
2. The Hippocampus
The hippocampus is the part of your brain responsible for memory and learning. After any type of trauma, medical scans have shown that your hippocampus actually decreases in size. With it comes an inability to distinguish between old trauma memories and an actual trauma experience. Sound a little familiar?
Anything that triggers an old memory of trauma is perceived incorrectly. Your brain then causes your body to live in this state of hyper-vigilance. It also makes it harder for you to problem-solve and remember outside factors in your day-to-day life.
3. The Prefrontal Cortex
The prefrontal cortex is responsible for your decision-making and overall executive functioning. Think higher level problem solving, ability to follow multiple step tasks, goal setting, planning your day, or even having self-control. This area helps you do things like homework, work tasks, paying bills, keeping a calendar, and so many other parts of your day. It is also the part of your brain that maintains your ability to act rationally.
After experiencing trauma, scans have also shown that this area in your brain becomes less active. The result is reduced function, a decreased ability for new learning/memory to happen, and difficulty controlling your fear from that trauma event. Changes in this area can also aid in a heightened fight or flight response because your brain can’t override it properly.
What Happens Now?
This information may make it seem like your brain underwent irreversible changes following a traumatic experience. Thankfully, the brain is very adaptable due to neuroplasticity, a way to rewire new connections and establish new growth.
Processing and overcoming trauma and whatever after-effects you are experiencing may not be easy, but it is entirely possible. Healing is possible. Schedule a consultation with us today to learn how. Read more about Trauma Therapy and counseling at In View.