What Happens to the Human Brain During Trauma?
What happens to the human brain during a traumatic event? When a person experiences trauma, whether that be acute, chronic, or complex, the chemistry inside the brain is altered and the brain begins to function differently. This is a protective mechanism that we all have that quickly kicks in when we are threatened or in harm’s way—this is our brain’s way of insulating and protecting itself. Understanding this brain shift helps victims who have been affected by trauma better understand their experiences and the emotional aftermath of those events.
How Does the Brain Respond to Trauma?
There are chemical reactions that happen inside the body during trauma. If the trauma is prolonged over time (such as abuse), these chemical reactions can potentially alter the brain’s ability to function and severely distort the line between reality and perceived threat. When a person constantly lives in fight or flight mode, their brain gets washed in toxic neurotoxins that alter the neural pathways. Physically, the heart and immune system then go into high alert leading to hyperarousal feelings such as panic, anxiety, and fear. On the other end of the spectrum, the body can potentially move into hypo-arousal leading to lethargy, fatigue, and depression.
This may sound terribly dire, as if it is an insurmountable hill to climb, but all hope is not lost for the traumatized heart. Healing is always possible. It takes time and work and a dedication to the process, but with the right tools and network of support, a body can move out of those trauma-responses and into a healthier pattern of behavior and thought. Growth won’t be linear, and it won’t look the same for each individual, but you can grow into healthier thought patterns, behaviors, relationships, and lifestyles.
Five Indicators of Growth After Trauma
So, what about you? How do you know if you’re making progress in your healing journey? To evaluate whether and to what extent someone has experienced growth after trauma, psychologists look for positive responses in five areas:
Appreciation of life: How does a person who has walked through trauma view their own life and the world around them? Do they perceive the good things in life or are they stuck focusing on negative narratives? Seeing the good and appreciating life is a positive sign of post-traumatic growth.
Relationships with Others: How is a person able to relate to the people closest to them? Have they developed healthy friendships and relationships with the people in their immediate circles? Have they developed a healthy network of support? All of these are signs of positive growth after trauma.
New Possibilities in Life: Sometimes, a person who has walked through trauma needs to make a life change. They must reevaluate where they are and what they’re doing, and perhaps find a new path. Seeing and appreciating new possibilities for the future is a positive area of growth.
Personal Strength: Is an individual who has walked through trauma stronger emotionally? Are they able to face the challenges of life with a renewed sense of strength? A trauma therapist will look for signs that their client exhibits showing a renewed personal strength.
Spiritual Change: Seeking a deeper understanding of God is a way that those who have experienced trauma can find peace and hope. At Christian Counseling of South Tampa, we believe in helping our clients find healing through a relationship with God. This, being the ultimate Hope, allows traumatized individuals to find purpose after trauma.
Can trauma change you for the better?
Absolutely. There is plenty of data to support the potential for positive growth and renewed strength on the other side of a traumatic experience. Trauma does not define you or your life negatively forever. Your experiences can serve to make you stronger moving forward, and also possibly allow you to walk alongside others who have experienced similar traumas.
Finding Support for Your Healing Journey
It is important to remember that the trauma you experienced does not define who you are, and you don’t have to navigate your emotional healing alone. Just as we need physical doctors for physical ailments, so the right therapist will help you navigate the emotional waters of a traumatic event. You don’t have to figure it all out on your own.
At Christian Counseling of Tampa, we believe in a trauma-informed healing approach, and we walk our clients step by step through each phase of emotional healing using a faith-based approach. We truly believe that emotional healing is possible given time, space, and the right tools. We are passionate about helping our clients see beyond their trauma into the potentials of all that could be. For more information, please reach out to us and we can connect you with the therapist who will best fit your unique needs and situation.
Read more about trauma, in our trauma blog series!