Understanding the Definition of Trauma: How It Affects Your Brain and Body
What is Trauma?
As the word trauma has made its way into everyday language, chances are you may be confused about what trauma is and what exactly qualifies as traumatic. The definition of trauma, from a neurophysiological perspective, is an event that overwhelms the nervous system’s capacity to operate normally. This means that what may be traumatic for one person may not necessarily be traumatic for another. Trauma isn’t about the event; it’s about the disrupted way someone’s nervous system responds to it.
The Normal Processing of Experience
To understand what happens during trauma, we first need to understand how our interactions and life experiences shape our memories, allowing us to learn and adjust in an ever-changing world.
The Role of the Hippocampus
The hippocampus is the region of the brain involved in forming and retrieving memories, providing context for our experiences.
The Role of the Amygdala
The amygdala is often referred to as the emotional fire alarm because it evaluates emotional responses, especially fear.
The Role of the Prefrontal Cortex
The prefrontal cortex integrates information from both the hippocampus and amygdala, enabling us to reflect on our experiences.
Understanding Traumatic Processing
During traumatic experiences this delicate interplay between these regions of the brain can become disrupted in the following ways:
The amygdala often becomes overactive, leading to heightened fear responses.
The prefrontal cortex may become underactive, hampering the ability to think critically about experiences and impair emotional responses. This can result in impulsive actions or difficulty concentrating.
The hippocampus often becomes underactive, meaning memory formation and retrieval is impaired, leading to difficulties in distinguishing between past traumas and present situations. This can cause flashbacks or dissociation.
Why Trauma Requires Specialized Therapy
Because this process happens quickly, it can feel impossible to change. When it comes to trauma, traditional talk therapy often isn’t enough. Trauma requires trauma-informed therapy, which addresses physiological responses stored in the nervous system.
EMDR Therapy: A Solution for Trauma Recovery
EMDR therapy is widely recognized as one of the most effective treatments for trauma and PTSD. If you’re looking for a faster, proven approach to trauma recovery, EMDR might be the right fit for you.
TL;DR
Trauma isn’t just about the event—it’s about how the brain and body respond afterward, often leaving lasting effects. Healing trauma requires specialized approaches that work with the body and brain.
References
van der Kolk, B. A. (2016). "The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma." Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 8(1), 48-51.
Mccrory, E. J., & Viding, E. (2015). "The Neurobiology of Childhood Trauma: A Review of the Literature." Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 56(3), 237-244.
Hopper, J. W., & Frewen, P. A. (2019). "Neurobiological Mechanisms of Trauma: Implications for Treatment." Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 20(1), 51-69.
If you’re ready to address the deeper roots of trauma and begin your recovery journey, trauma-informed therapy like EMDR can help. Contact us today to learn how we can support you in reclaiming peace and balance in your life.
