Trauma effects on the brain

Key words to know:

Amygdala: located near the hippocampus in the temporal lobe and is in control of processing emotions (especially fear and anxiety).

Hippocampus: located in the temporal lobe and is in control of processing memory

Prefrontal cortex: located in the front of the brain and is in control of thinking and decision making

Stress response system: involves different parts of the endocrine system such as the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, adrenal gland, and amygdala

Hypothalamus: a small region in the brain that regulates two key functions: the release of stress hormones and body temperature

Social Withdrawal: the act of withdrawing from social interactions, often as a response to trauma or stress

Triggers: specific stimuli that trigger distressing memories from traumatic experiences and may cause an individual to feel as though they are reliving the experience

Definition of trauma: 

Trauma is an emotional response to a stressful or upsetting experience that can have long-lasting effects, often making it hard to cope with. It can manifest in various forms, including physical trauma (injury or harm to the body), emotional trauma (affects an individual’s emotional wellbeing), and psychological trauma (which influences psychological processing). Examples of trauma include broken trust in relationships, which can lead to feelings of betrayal and insecurity; dying from a sickness, which causes physical suffering but also brings emotional and psychological distress; and various forms of abuse. The severity of traumas can vary from relatively manageable to severely overwhelming. The impact of trauma can present itself in multiple ways, including severe anxiety, depression, hypersensitivity to rejection etc.

Types of trauma: 

Acute trauma: an intense but short traumatic experience that has immediate effects but can be short-term (i.e., a car crash) 

Chronic trauma: a traumatic experience that has occurred  for a long period of time (i.e., dying from a sickness, or child abuse)

Complex trauma: seen as the most severe form of trauma because it involves multiple traumatic experiences, either of the same type or different types, that can have long-lasting effects on the person and can significantly impact an individual’s view of themselves and the world around them. Complex traumas often occur in situations that are supposed to provide a sense of safety. These experiences normally involve relationships with friends or romantic partners, as well as environments like school. However, it's important to note that complex trauma can come from different sources, including a combination of chronic and acute traumas. For example, experiencing the loss of multiple friendships, mistreatment from teachers, bullying or exclusion are factors that contribute to chronic trauma. Although complex trauma is seen as the most severe form of trauma, it is crucial to note that the severity of trauma cannot be determined by the kind of trauma you experience. Instead, it is influenced by how the experience affects an individual in the long term and the psychological effects it leaves behind.

Brain responses to trauma: 

When you experience a traumatic experience, your brain registers it as a threat to protect you from future harm. If something reminds you of that trauma, your brain activates its protective mechanisms. When the brain detects danger, it sends the signal to the amygdala, which then activates the brain's "alarm system" (Cleveland Clinic, 2023). Simultaneously, the hippocampus evaluates the situation, comparing it to past experiences to determine an appropriate response (Cleveland Clinic, 2024). After the situation has been analyzed, the amygdala (the part of your brain that controls feeling specifically anxiety and fear) and the hippocampus (the part of the brain that controls memory processing) send a signal to the hypothalamus (the part of the brain that regulates stress hormones and body temperature), which then initiates the release of stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol through the sympathetic nervous system. These hormones result in physical changes in the body (i.e., increased heart rate, rapid breathing), which then triggers the fight or flight response ( a survival technique developed in cavemen's times "fight" meaning approach the situation and "flight" meaning to leave the situation) (National Library of Medicine, 2006). After the response has been triggered, the hippocampus continues to process the experience, forming memories to prepare for future stress responses. Once the perceived threat is eliminated, the hypothalamus triggers the parasympathetic nervous system, helping the body return to its original state. When the fight or flight response is not an option, the body may become immobilized. This occurs because the amygdala struggles to decide whether to fight or flee, leading to the reduced activity in the hippocampus, disabling the person's ability to think or move. In summary, when you undergo a traumatic experience, your brain registers it as a threat that requires protection. Once triggered, your body goes into a state of fight or flight because it's deciding how to protect you from the perceived danger.

How can trauma affect someone's daily life and ability to perform daily tasks? 

Extreme trauma can lead individuals to develop severe psychological conditions such as depression, anxiety, and chronic stress. These outcomes could arise from several psychological and social factors, as well as changes in brain function. This is due to alterations in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, key regions in regulating mood regulation, can occur. Trauma may result in severe trust issues, specifically if the trauma involves betrayal by others, making it difficult to and sometimes impossible to trust people.

Depression can stem from trauma due to neurochemical changes, including imbalanced neurotransmitters, such as serotonin (in charge of maintaining homeostasis and is often associated with well-being and happiness), dopamine (the reward chemical linked to pleasure, happiness, and movement), and norepinephrine (plays an important role in the "fight-or-flight" response by increasing alertness, enhancing memory, and controlling focus and attention). These are important for emotional regulation, and their imbalance is often linked to depression(Martin et al., 2013). Additionally, changes in the prefrontal cortex (responsible for thinking and decision-making) and hippocampus (controls memory) can further contribute to depression.

Additionally, trauma can lead to cognitive changes in an individual’s thought patterns. They may internalize negative beliefs from their past , feeling as if they are not good enough or have no purpose. This can then cause them to feel significantly depressed and have a tendency to isolate themselves from people, causing them to feel more emotional distress, and can develop into a difficult cycle to break. If a  person has endured traumatic relationships, they may be fearful of forming new connections and to  let new people in their lives, believing that others will hurt them.

• Anxiety can arise from trauma due to impaired emotional regulation associated with the prefrontal cortex, which plays a key role in emotional regulation (Harms & Pollak, 2023) Similar to depression, the disruption of balance in neurotransmitters such as serotonin and norepinephrine can lead to anxiety symptoms (Martin et al., 2013). For example, individuals may be too vigilant so they are constantly looking out for danger in terms of getting hurt again. This high state of alertness can lead to individuals being easily triggered in various situations. 

Trauma can cause the body's stress release system to become hyperactive causing the person to constantly feel alert and tense. When this happens, the amygdala may become hypersensitive, often sensing danger even in safe environments (Cleveland Clinic, 2023). Traumatic experiences can change an individual's perception of what a potential threat is, causing them to be more likely to perceive most situations as a threat. This can lead to trauma-based avoidance behaviors, where an individual avoids a situation based on a traumatic experience they encountered in the past. This can increase the level of anxiety because the person's brain may create situations based on their previous experience to try and stop  risking themselves from getting hurt again.

• Trust issues are caused by traumatic experiences involving relationships, stemming from a fear of being hurt again, creating barriers to forming new connections. Severe trust issues can significantly impact an individual’s everyday life as they may be constantly evaluating if they are in danger or at risk of getting hurt (National Library of Medicine, 2006). This can  lead to anxiety, rejection sensitivity, and chronic stress as someone may constantly feel as if they need to keep their guard up and look out for any signs of potential harm.

Coping strategies: 

People usually lean towards unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as social withdrawal, binge eating, or in more severe cases, addiction and self-harm. Although these strategies are easy and can help short term, they are not sustainable and can result in negative long-lasting effects.

If you or anyone you know is struggling with trauma and is unsure how to cope, here are some healthier alternatives:

• If possible try removing yourself from the situation, giving yourself and break and time to calm down
  
  

• Listen to positive or calming music (National Library of Medicine, 2006)
  
  

• Interact with a pet ( can help foster a sense of connection trigger your brain to release dopamine, resulting in a happier mood) (Cleveland Clinic, 2023)
  
  

• Talk to a friend or someone you trust (Martin et al., 2013).
  
  

• Try taking care of yourself (this could be a skin routine or practicing self-love, as long as you do something healthy and good for self-improvement) (Yassa, 2024)
  
  

• Try exercising (can help people replace negative habits with healthy ones as exercise releases dopamine and boosts your mood) (Harms & Pollak, 2023)

*It's important to note that these are only a few coping strategies that could help and they don't work for everyone*

Healing from trauma can be challenging,  usually requiring a significant amount of time for recovery. But as long as you or someone you know who is struggling, remember not to lose hope, everything will be better in the long run. To anyone reading this, no matter what has happened in your life or what anyone has said or made you feel, please know that you still matter and the world is better that you are here.

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