In previous articles, we have had a look at the effects of complex trauma and how it can be treated. But in order to fully understand how complex trauma works, we need to understand how it affects the brain and why it causes deeply ingrained effects on a person. Just like an engraver, engraves words into metal, so does trauma engrave harmful effects on a person’s brain and psyche. Have you ever wondered how trauma affects the brain? If you have, keep reading for an insightful article into the human mind.
As you can imagine rape. Childhood neglect, sexual abuse, warfare, physical violence, and assault, can only cause major emotional damage. These events are incredibly traumatic and cause lifelong pain and emotional scarring. People who suffer from complex trauma may suffer from depression, anxiety and personality disorders for the rest of their lives. Often times these individuals also struggle to maintain lasting relationships people can’t just “snap” out of it. These significant traumatic events alter the brain’s functionality and even the structure of the brain.
What happens to a person’s brain during and after traumatic events?
I am sure you have heard of soldiers who suffer from flashbacks or continuous nightmares of the warfare that they experienced. Many soldiers during World War 2 couldn’t even begin to speak about the horrors they experienced and suffered shell shock. Often times, people who have been through severe traumatic experiences keep reliving the events in their minds. These people might always seem to be on edge. People who have suffered trauma try to avoid people, places and any kind of triggers that might make them think back to those traumatic times. This sadly prevents people from living their lives to the fullest. They often struggle to have meaningful lives. Their past trauma affects them to such an extent that they feel paralyzed. Some people might even develop a “split personality” in order for them to cope. They use this mechanism to block out the horrors that they have experienced. There have been many studies on the brain of individuals who have suffered from post-traumatic stress. Neuroimaging studies show how the brain of someone who has experienced ongoing trauma differs from people who have not experienced trauma. Parts of the brain are the hippocampus, amygdala and ventromedial prefrontal cortex. These parts of the brain are greatly affected during complex trauma and impact the way people handle stress. This effect can even last long after the trauma has stopped. Let us see how trauma affects each part of the brain that I have mentioned.
- Effects of trauma on the hippocampus
It is interesting to see that the most significant impact that trauma has on the hippocampus. People who have suffered from severe complex trauma have a smaller hippocampus than those who have not suffered trauma. The reduction in the volume of this part of the brain is most noticeable on neuroimaging scans. The hippocampus is responsible for memories. It helps a person save new memories and recall past memories. The hippocampus helps a person see the difference between past and present memories. Those who suffer from trauma lose the ability to differentiate between past and present experiences. They also struggle to interpret new environmental stimuli. Which means that they might struggle to react normally to new fear responses. Those who struggle have experienced trauma may also struggle to recall their traumatic events and this is due to the effect that the trauma has had on the hippocampus. Or another person could be affected differently in the sense that their memories are vivid and constant. Severe stress could also damage the hippocampus or destroy cells therein.
Another interesting point that researchers have thought about is why is it that some people who have suffered from trauma do not develop PTSD? Some researchers suggest that some people are born with a smaller hippocampus and this in turn could determine how their brain would react to severe stress. If a person was born with a smaller hippocampus they might be at greater risk for developing severe PTSD after complex trauma. Studies are still ongoing though in this regard but what we can be sure of, is that complex trauma definitely changes the way the hippocampus works, therefore affecting an individual.
- Effects of Trauma on the amygdala
Neurological imaging has shown that trauma increases activity in the amygdala. This part of the brain helps us respond to emotion as well as fear. When presented with images of people who have experienced similar trauma or images of their trauma, these individuals amygdalas show hyperactivity. They also exhibit fear, anxiety, and panic. Because of hyperactivity in the amygdala, people who have been exposed to trauma may struggle to regulate their emotions and react to triggers, especially emotional ones. They might also experience emotional extremes. This is especially true of children who have survived things such as abuse, rape or severe neglect.
- Effects of trauma on the prefrontal cortex
Sadly, severe stress or trauma can have a lasting effect on the prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal cortex is located at the front of the outermost layer of the brain. Those who have suffered from extreme stress have a smaller prefrontal cortex. This part of the brain helps regulate emotions triggered by the amygdala. The Prefrontal cortex regulates emotions such as fear. Because the volume of the prefrontal cortex is smaller than those of healthy people, people who have suffered from trauma struggle to regulate their emotions. That is why people who have experienced trauma may seem to exhibit fear, anxiety, and depression when confronted with external stimuli that remind them of their trauma. They could even exhibit these emotions with regards to something that is not even related to their trauma. Due to severe stress lesions can occur in the prefrontal cortex which impairs the ability to focus or concentrate. It can also weaken impulse control and lead to reckless behavior. The same type of damage can also lead to severe irritability, impaired decision making and a lack of insight.
On a final note
So if someone has suffered from complex trauma, they can’t just “snap” out of it. They don’t want to feel the way that they do. Nobody chooses to be depressed on purpose. We need to break the stigma of depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders. These emotions are a real result of trauma to the brain from ongoing emotional stress. The brain develops differently at different periods in a person’s life. So depending on when the trauma happened, your brain could have lasting negative effects from the result of the trauma. That is why it is so important to not judge or get irritated with someone who has depression. It is not a choice but an illness that has developed over time due to severe emotional distress. As mentioned before brain functionality and even the size of parts of the brain are affected. This is why researchers also believe that severe trauma can cause personality and mood disorders. Severe stress alters brain chemistry, that is why we need to understand this so that we can sympathize with our friends or loved ones who are survivors of trauma. But even though these findings seem grim, the brain is an amazing thing. It also has the power to re-wire itself. With the right kind of therapy, support and love, a person can heal from the trauma of their past.