Traumatic events can cause distinct behaviors in the brain, triggering a protective response. This response is designed to keep us alive but can lead to a state of threat and anxiety if not addressed. The brain reacts to psychological shockwaves similarly to physical injuries, aiming to restore balance.
Scientists are now studying this survival circuitry. Researchers found that people with PTSD exhibit different brain activity patterns when recalling traumatic memories compared to ordinary sad events. Trauma is not just remembered but re-experienced through the brain’s ancient systems.
There are two broad categories of trauma: adaptive and acute trauma. Adaptive trauma can lead to building coping mechanisms, while acute trauma can result in complex or lingering trauma. The key difference lies in how the brain responds after the event.
Trauma isn’t defined by the event itself but by the individual’s reaction. Biology, history, and context influence the threshold for stress, affecting how the brain processes emotions. People recover from trauma through natural recovery, body-based techniques, and connection with others.
Recovery involves recalibrating the nervous system to recognize danger has passed. Symptoms like hypervigilance and intrusive memories fade as the brain regains its ability to regulate emotion. Connection strengthens this process, and social support is a strong predictor of natural recovery.
The good news is that traumatic memories can be updated, allowing the brain to rewrite them with new information. This helps explain why therapies revisit painful memories or use novel approaches like psychedelics to support recovery. The goal isn’t to erase the past but to teach the brain that the threat is over.
Source: https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/a69620421/trauma-brain