How Trauma Shapes Your Nervous System

Disclaimer: The neuroscience articles on this website were written by students studying psychology and neuroscience. They are intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice from a licensed psychologist or neuroscientist. For personalized advice and treatment, please consult with a qualified healthcare professional.

The Brain’s Role:

The brain has many important parts that work to function and process information with other systems of the body like the nervous system. The brain and the nervous system can be widely affected by trauma in ways that can change one’s thinking, processing, reacting and living. Specifically, trauma primarily affects three critical parts of the brain within the nervous system: the amygdala, prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus. 

Amygdala

The amygdala is a small, almond shaped part of the brain that regulates emotional responses like fear, sadness and anxiety. When traumatic events occur to people, the amygdala becomes hyperactive to perceived threats which can lead to the individual becoming less responsive to emotional distress of others. An example of this can be if a parent who had been abused as a child, struggles to comfort their child when the child cries or is upset about something. The lack of sincere comfort can be presented as numbness, indifference and flat responses with no emotional depth or words of comfort

Prefrontal Cortex

The prefrontal cortex is another main part of the brain that is responsible for deciding how to react when the amygdala sends it alarming signals. A normal prefrontal cortex  helps view problems as less threatening. However, someone that has experienced trauma can categorize something as dangerous even though it might not be. For example, an individual who has been physically or sexually abused might feel that a hug from a loved one is dangerous, leading to intense reactions like flinching and urges to escape. 

Hippocampus

The hippocampus is the brain’s center mainly for memory management, and curves into an S-shape. When a traumatic event occurs, many victims of abuse of any kind develop PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. This condition is known to shrink the hippocampus and cause the individual to lose memory because of the trauma that was inflicted on them. 

Here’s What it May Mean for You

Overall this means that a person’s brain and body can be negatively impacted by traumatic experiences affecting their day-to-day life. Recognizing this impact can help clarify some of your behaviors. This is what it might mean for you and your history:

• Sensitivity to Stress

-This means your nervous system is constantly on high alert and scanning for threats and as a result you might experience anxiety attacks, avoidance of places or things that remind you of trauma and restlessness in your daily life.

• Emotional Dysregulation

-Trauma can damage the brain’s activity to regulate emotions and react appropriately, this can show up in your daily life when you find it difficult to control your emotions, reacting with outbursts of anger, deep sadness and numbness that could lead to issues with relationships.

•  Memory Issues

-Trauma can affect your hippocampus, the part of the brain that is responsible for memory and concentration. Trauma can make it harder for you to remember past events and can show up in your daily life as forgetfulness, difficulty learning and negatively influence your performance in work or school.

• Relationship Difficulties

-Trauma can cause difficulty in forming new relationships with others due to the fear of being hurt all over again, this can show up in your daily life as feelings of loneliness and fear of opening up which can cause relationships to break apart.

Maryam, Neuroscience and Trauma intern, explains the impact of trauma on the nervous system

Edited by TN