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In this article:
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and associated trauma commonly reside in the amygdala, where emotion and fear dwell.
- The memory of the trauma takes residence in the body, acting as a protective mechanism, all while preventing the trauma from being completed and processed.
- In addition to the body storing the trauma, the mind takes advantage of the ability to dissociate, the way the mind copes with an overwhelming amount of stress.
The human brain is virtually inconceivable making the full effects of trauma difficult to assess. Made up of 86 billion neurons, the organ is constantly processing and organizing information at a rapid speed. Electrical impulses and chemical signals travel through the brain and into the rest of the nervous system. These neurons broadcast messages to the rest of the body, letting each system know crucial information.
As extraordinary and rapid as the brain is, it is not always capable of processing the information fed into our bodies and consciousness in a swift manner. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and associated trauma commonly reside in the amygdala, where emotion and fear dwell. The amygdala and the surrounding areas of the brain have the potential to be overwhelmed and trauma can oftentimes exceed the amount of perceived danger our brains can handle.
The Brain’s Place in Processing Trauma
The sense of override in the brain then can cause the unprocessed trauma to be stored in the fascia, a thin connective tissue that encases every organ, muscle, nerve fiber, bone, and blood vessel in the body. The memory of the trauma takes residence in the body, acting as a protective mechanism, all while preventing the trauma from being completed and processed. This is not only because the brain has a cap on how much trauma our nervous system can handle before overflowing, but also because our cells store trauma and pain before the brain can process the event(s).
Trauma deregulates the nervous system, causing the body to remain in the pattern of fight, flight, or freeze. This can not only put stress and pressure on your body but can also keep the body in a state of hypo or hyperarousal.
Hyperarousal involves being in a constant state of high alert. Whether there is a specific reason to be on edge or not, people in a state of hyperarousal will experience constant stress and feel the need to be ready to protect themselves, even if the threat is not there.
Hypoarousal, contrastingly, is a state of despair, apathy, or feeling shut down and disconnected from life.
The Manifestation of Trauma in the Body
Trauma is a psychological condition meaning that it is usually not seen on the surface. Trauma, however, can manifest in a myriad of ways, including neck, shoulder, and hip pain. The storage of trauma in the fascia, creates stagnation, limiting the body from processing the trauma and starting the healing process. The brain disconnects from certain parts of the body, making it unable to heal both physically and mentally. This can then lead to degeneration and therefore disease, which can cause stroke, heart attack, diabetes, cancer, and chronic weight fluctuations.
In addition to the body storing the trauma, the mind takes advantage of the ability to dissociate, the way the mind copes with an overwhelming amount of stress. Dissociation can look like many different things including mood swings, forgetfulness, substance abuse, altered identities, and panic attacks. As harmful as these reactions sound, it is the body’s way of protecting the mind from the trauma that has occurred.
Memory and the Storage of Trauma
Memories of trauma are usually considered to fall under implicit memory rather than explicit memory. Implicit memory involves the unintentional retrieval of and influence of past memories on present behavior. This is because trauma overflows the brain with the stress hormone cortisol and shuts down the parts of the brain that handles making memories explicit or able to be consciously revived.
We use implicit memory every second of every day in some shape or form. It is the automatic ability to act, like brushing your teeth, driving a car, or knowing the words to a popular song. It’s functioning on autopilot, as your brain and body know what to do without the individual even thinking about how to complete the task.
These acts are also referred to as procedural memories, knowing how to complete an activity or task, since you are not purposely or consciously retrieving the knowledge required to complete the task. Trauma has the ability to change procedural memory patterns, such as causing the body to tense up, creating pain and interfering with tasks.
Emotional memory also falls under implicit memory and is the remembrance of the emotions you felt at the time of the given trauma. Trauma can however cause people to get triggered and therefore experience the emotions associated with the trauma without a specific trigger. This affects the amygdala, which functions as a support for emotional experiences.
Explicit memory on the other hand is the link between intentional retrieval of memories and the consciousness then remembering prior experiences. Explicit memory is also used rapidly throughout our days, but in an intentional manner rather than the unintentional unconscious act of implicit memory. This may be remembering birthdays, dates of milestones, or memories of specific events or learned information.
There are two types of explicit memory: episodic and semantic.
Episodic memory involves your long-term memories such as what you ate for breakfast or how you celebrated your 21st birthday. It’s similar to storing episodes of your life. Things that are personal to you or subjective. This includes knowing the who, what, and where of an event. Trauma can cause a fragmentation of the sequence of events by shutting down episodic memory. The hippocampus is the key center of episodic memory.
Semantic memory is the memory of learned facts or general knowledge, such as knowing where certain states or countries are on a map or using the Pythagorean Theory. It is the long-term, conscious, conceptualized, information we learn or are exposed to.
Trauma can restrict the brain from grasping information from other parts of the brain and making it into a semantic memory. The temporal lobe and inferior parietal lobe are two key areas in creating semantic memories.
These types of explicit memory are also called declarative memory.
Both of these types of memories are mainly stored in the hippocampus, a structure deep in our temporal lobe. It acts as a memory and learning tool and therefore is affected by psychological disorders, many of which come from developed trauma.
When our levels of stress change and people experience PTSD, three things happen to your brain. Our source of memory and emotion, the hippocampus, shrinks. Our free-thought and creativity functions increase in the amygdala. And activity decreases in our planning and self-development area, in the prefrontal lobe.
These changes are impacted by stress hormones, or increased cortisol levels. This can then alter pain and discomfort sensations.
Releasing Trauma Within the Mind and Body
As complex as PTSD and its effect on the brain is, the solution to releasing pent-up trauma seems simple enough. A holistic response seems to be the most effective. Treatments may include yoga, meditation, and talk therapy. Creating a space for the trauma to be released is essential.
Whether the space is created through therapy, meditation, or movement, it is imperative to ensure there’s a safe space to process, discuss, and heal. When you do so, your brain can reconnect to the parts of the body that were previously disconnected, such as your hips or neck.
Trauma-sensitive yoga is also something affected patients can try. This approach is becoming more common and is a type of mediation, exercise, and therapy that combines healing the physical and emotional body.
It is important to tackle PTSD and trauma in a multifaceted manner, using cognitive-based healing as well as physical healing. Though one practice may help more than others, it is essential to have a holistic approach, supporting the mind, body, and emotional state as effectively as possible. This approach will then create a space for the affected to process trauma and have a release both physically and mentally.
The human body is a spectacular result of the universe. We are innovators, creators, artists, and healers. Regardless of all factors, anyone can experience trauma or PTSD. And it is vital to everyone’s healing to connect with each other and approach our healing together. Community is essential, and the possibility to heal both individually and together is a crucial thing to remember when you or a loved one are in the trauma recovery process.
Thank you for taking the time to read this piece and learn more about how the brain copes with trauma. If you or a loved one are struggling, you can access the trauma portion of the National Institute of Mental Health website or look for resources within your area.
