“Why can’t you just get over it?’

“Let it go, already!”

“You’re STILL talking about that?!”

If you have suffered through trauma, you very likely have heard comments just like the ones above. You might even be asking yourself these same questions. The truth is when you suffer trauma, your whole body is affected. Trauma isn’t a mood event, it’s a biological change that occurs due to an event or experience outside an individual’s control.

What exactly happens to the brain when trauma occurs? Traumatic stress results in a neurochemical response that increases cortisol and norepinephrine in the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus regions of the brain.

Some of the long term symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, are associated with these chemical changes in the brain. Flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, memory problems, nightmares, and personality changes can be linked back to the biochemical response to trauma that occurs in the brain.

The amygdala is the region of the brain responsible for your fight or flight response. In addition to being part of the body’s fear and stress response, the amygdala is also essential to memory function. When you experience something that triggers a strong emotional response, your brain will encode (remember) that experience more deeply. This is especially true of traumatic or painful/difficult experiences.

The prefrontal cortex region is primarily responsible for your intellect and cognitive (thinking) functions that impact behavior. Specifically, this is the area where your emotional regulation, working memory, and decision-making capabilities reside.

The hippocampus region of the brain is responsible for learning and memory. This region of the brain plays an active role in multiple mental illnesses and is easily impacted by stimuli, and plays an active role in remembering past experiences. In addition to memory, the hippocampus is also responsible for emotional behavior and can be altered when exposed to stressful or traumatic events or even long-term chronic stress.

The good news is that our brains are very resilient and capable of healing. You can literally “rewire your brain” to recover and heal after trauma. This is referred to as “neuroplasticity”. Your brain is constantly changing in response to your environment, experiences, and relationships. Trauma-focused treatment is designed to positively impact the very same regions of the brain that were affected by the trauma.

You can do things for yourself after experiencing trauma, such as identifying safe environments for when you are feeling overwhelmed or overstimulated. Knowing who you can trust or talk to about your feelings and experiences can go a long way in providing reassurance, comfort, and feelings of being safe and accepted.

Create a plan for those moments when you are feeling triggered due to reminders of the traumatic event. A safety plan might include deep breathing, grounding exercises, calling a trusted individual for support.

While you might not be able to control the experiences you encounter or the trauma you have experienced, you can recover and heal from these events. When seeking professional supports, don’t be afraid to ask potential therapists about their understanding and approach to trauma treatment. Finding good trauma-informed care is the first step to the road to recovery. You can have a life that feels good after trauma. 

Learn more About Me and the Services I offer.

Tonya Molnar, PhD, LMHC, MHP specializes in insomnia and sleep health, trauma, and chronic pain and illness therapy with additional training in CBT-i for insomnia and CBT for chronic pain and illness management. As she completes her PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision, it is her honor to serve clients in Washington State using a telemental health approach at this time.