How Trauma Changes the Brain
Trauma can impact a person in many different ways. It can change your behavior and the way you think about the world and yourself. The brain can change due to trauma as well. It has an impact on brain chemistry and structure. The parts of the brain most affected by trauma are the amygdala, the hippocampus, the insula, and the prefrontal cortex.
The amygdala is the part of the brain that is responsible for fear and assessing for threats. It is the alarm or fear center of the brain. This is the area of the brain that activates the fight/flight/freeze response. The amygdala is responsible for using all of the senses to detect threats, so when this area of the brain is activated, we feel fear, and hyper-awareness, and can be overly reactive. Brain scans have shown that those who have been exposed to trauma have an enlarged amygdala. When someone experiences trauma, the amygdala becomes more active than normal. Research has shown that in people with PTSD, the activity in the amygdala is increased in response to things that remind them of their trauma. As a result of these changes in the amygdala, people with PTSD also have greater fear responses, nightmares, or flashbacks.
The hippocampus is mostly responsible for memory and learning. When someone with PTSD is exposed to stimuli that remind them of their trauma, they display decreased function in the hippocampus on brain scans. Depending on the severity of the trauma, the structure of the hippocampus may change as well. The hippocampus also helps you regulate stress. Chronic trauma, anxiety, or stress can make the hippocampus under-active, which can lead to memory challenges and emotional dysregulation.
The prefrontal cortex is the thinking center of the brain or the area of the brain that is responsible for executive functioning, rational thought, planning, and decision-making. When exposed to trauma reminders, people with PTSD have been found to have decreased activation of the prefrontal cortex. The decreased activity in the prefrontal cortex can lead to difficulty concentrating or thinking clearly.
The anterior cingulate cortex is the emotion center of the brain. It is responsible for regulating and managing emotions. It works with the prefrontal cortex. When one is exposed to trauma, this part of the brain is under-activated. This can lead to feelings of depression, panic, or an inability to calm down.
The insula is the part of the brain that helps you tune into your internal bodily experiences, such as your heart racing, being cold, or being hungry. In those who have experienced trauma, the insula can become under-activated, which can lead to emotional numbing and feeling disconnecting from the body.
Fortunately, therapy can help reverse some of these changes. The brain is capable of changing through a process called neuroplasticity. Because of neuroplasticity, you can guide your brain toward health and greater happiness. Some helpful practices that can have an impact on these changes to your brain are meditation, yoga, breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, sensory grounding techniques, and mindfulness. Please seek out a licensed mental health professional to discuss therapy options that can help you heal from past trauma. Healing is possible and you deserve it.
