Trauma is more common than we once thought. It turns out that practically everyone has some experience with trauma. Trauma can be big experiences like losing a loved one or experiencing abuse. It can also be more nuanced, daily experiences such as being teased at school, having a coach make negative comments, or having family members who are often critical of you. These little traumas can accumulate over time to have similar negative effects on your sense of self, and as more neuroscience research has become available it has been demonstrated how trauma affects the brain.
Trauma is more common than we once thought. It turns out that practically everyone has some experience with trauma. Trauma can be big experiences like losing a loved one or experiencing abuse. It can also be more nuanced, daily experiences such as being teased at school, having a coach make negative comments, or having family members who are often critical of you. These little traumas can accumulate over time to have similar negative effects on your sense of self, and as more neuroscience research has become available it has been demonstrated how trauma affects the brain.
The research is showing that trauma causes changes in the functioning and structure of our brains. By understanding these changes, we can better understand ourselves, how trauma affects us, and what we can do to help resolve some of the impact of trauma. Here are some important findings from how trauma affects the brain:
- Amygdala dysregulation: The amygdala is responsible for processing emotions, particularly fear and threat responses. Trauma can lead to increased activation of the amygdala so we are often hyper alert to potential dangers in our environment. We may experience more intense emotional reactions and have difficulty distinguishing between real and perceived threats.
- Hippocampus impairment: The hippocampus is involved in memory formation and consolidation. Trauma can cause shrinkage of the hippocampus and impair its function, leading to difficulties in forming and retrieving memories.
- Prefrontal cortex dysfunction: The prefrontal cortex is responsible for executive functions such as decision-making, impulse control, and emotion regulation. Trauma can lead to a decrease in prefrontal cortex activity. This can contribute to difficulties in regulating emotions, engaging in logical thinking, and making good decisions.
It’s important to note that the brain’s response to trauma can vary among individuals, and not everyone who experiences trauma will develop long-lasting effects. Factors like the intensity and duration of the trauma, age at the time of the trauma, and available support systems can influence how the brain responds to traumatic experiences.
It is also important to note that because of neuroplasticity, our brains can change and recover from the impact of trauma. At Brain Mind Wellness, I specialize in a type of therapy called EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) that has been shown to create improvements within the brain to help with trauma resolution. EMDR works great on its own but when paired with Neurofeedback, clients often see improvements quickly.
To learn more about how EMDR and Neurofeedback can help with recovering from trauma, schedule a consultation at Brain Mind Wellness today.
