Emotional Trauma and Its Effect on the Brain

The human body is a miraculous and complex structure. It’s resilient in the face of trauma and stress. At the center of that is our main control center, our brain. 

Our brain helps us adapt to any situation and works overtime to protect us and keep us alive. It allows us to interact with the world around us.  While these skills are something to be in awe of, trauma can also have a lasting impact on the brain. Here’s a deeper look. 

Structural Changes in the Brain

 The Amygdala

The amygdala is an area of the brain that controls emotional regulation and your fear responses. When you experience an emotional trauma, this is the part responsible for that fight-or-flight response. It guides your brain in protecting yourself when it perceives a threatening situation.

After a trauma, the amygdala can become hyperactive. It may have a hard time correctly perceiving a true threat from a minor inconvenience, thus leaving you in a hypervigilant state. Other negative effects include avoidant behaviors, anxiety, panic attacks, and PTSD. 

The Hippocampus

This area of the brain plays a key role in memory formation and learning. After emotional trauma exposure, medical imaging has actually indicated a shrinkage in size for survivors. A decreased hippocampus can impact short-term and long-term memories. Combine that with an overactive amygdala and your hippocampus functioning becomes further impaired.

Memories may not be stored in the appropriate places nor as the correct type. Instead, memories are stored as fragments, making the ability to process your trauma more difficult. Memory impairments, or stuck memories, are what causes you to become triggered and have flashbacks. Decreased functioning of the hippocampus can also lead to autoimmune disorders, depression, diabetes, heart issues, and a weakened immune system. 

The Prefrontal Cortex

Finally, there’s the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for executive functioning, decision making, self expression, social interactions, and speech and language. Under normal circumstances, it helps regulate the amygdala functioning and your stress responses. With emotional trauma, it has the possibility to weaken and operate less effectively.  When the prefrontal cortex is impacted, you may see things like ADHD, impulsivity, learning difficulties, attention issues, and poor decision making. 

Neurotransmitter Changes

Cortisol

During periods of stress, your brain enters self protection mode and prepares your system by focusing on necessary functions. Certain hormones are released to drive this process, one of which is cortisol production. It plays a vital role in your body’s stress responses and is often called the stress hormone.  Trauma can lead to higher levels of cortisol production and sustains this process with each time you’re triggered or experience a flashback. Chronic high levels of cortisol are often associated with anxiety, depression, and poor mental health. It can also lead to cognitive decline, impairing memory and learning. 

High cortisol levels can cause sleep disruptions. While cortisol will fluctuate throughout your day, it should peak in the morning and level off in the evening. After trauma, the chronic stress and elevated cortisol levels can throw off the natural pattern, resulting in insomnia and poor sleep quality. 

Serotonin

An emotional trauma can affect your production of serotonin, often resulting in a decreased baseline level. When your brain undergoes structural changes, it can affect how your brain’s serotonin receptors work. Less production and altered receptor function can cause mood disorders and increased anxiety.  Lower serotonin can also result in difficulty regulating emotions, coping with stress, and recovering or bouncing back after a trauma.

Physical Impact

With all the structural changes in your brain and the alteration of hormone production, you may experience certain physical symptoms. Digestive issues are common. You may notice a weakened immune system resulting in more frequent illnesses or periods of feeling under the weather. You might also experience surface changes, like skin irritation or hair loss. 

Recovering from trauma and restoring your system to a neutral state is possible. Connect with us to learn more. 

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