By Maya Chandy
Over half the American population will experience trauma at some point during their lives, and
the vast majority of people who’ve endured trauma will face mental health problems as a result.
While it would be best if these statistics decreased, understanding the causes, symptoms, and
implications of trauma can help us better manage unfortunate circumstances.
What is Trauma?
Trauma refers to your response to a deeply distressing event or series of events. Contrary to popular
belief, trauma doesn’t just stem from one major, violent incident. Ongoing adverse experiences such
as poverty, childhood neglect or abuse, and social injustice can have an equally serious impact.
There are three primary types of trauma:
(1) Acute trauma is the outcome of a single, disturbing event such as a rape or natural
disaster.
(2) Chronic trauma comes from long-term situations like a lingering illness, persistent
bullying, or recurrent sexual abuse.
(3) Complex trauma involves multiple—usually interpersonal and offensive—incidents,
including intense family disputes and emotional abuse.
Symptoms of Trauma
Trauma often shows up as symptoms rather than memories. If you’ve experienced trauma,
depression, anxiety, or chronic pain may feel too familiar. In spite of your best efforts, perhaps you
haven’t been able to stop using substances, food, or self-harm as coping mechanisms. Maybe you still
hold negative beliefs about yourself, have intrusive thoughts, or repeatedly end up in toxic
relationships. This is understandable given that trauma alters emotions, thoughts, and behaviors,
therefore interfering with your functional, social, psychological, and physical well-being. Most
importantly, the effects of trauma are by no means indicative of weakness or an inability to cope
with hardships. Rather, trauma symptoms are natural responses to abnormal situations. In fact, the
majority of people who’ve experienced trauma, will experience at least some of the following
symptoms:
Depression
Anxiety
Mood Swings
PTSD
Substance Abuse
Rage
Overbearing guilt or shame
Chronic Pain
Nausea
Fatigue
Trauma and the Brain
You might be wondering why trauma has such a strong impact on so many people; this is the case
because trauma directly affects brain chemistry and structure, primarily in the amygdala,
hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex.
(1) Trauma and the Amygdala
The amygdala is the emotional activation hub in the brain as it recognizes and responds to
environmental danger. Following trauma, the amygdala can easily become overactive, triggering a
flight, fright, or freeze response to non-threatening stimuli. In other words, the brain isn’t able to
distinguish between a past threat and present safety, leaving you constantly feeling shut-down,
fearful, or reactive.
(2) Trauma and the Hippocampus
The hippocampus is your memory hot spot that helps you acquire and recall information. In the
face of trauma, the hippocampus can have trouble bringing forth memories that are either directly
connected to the trauma or that occurred around the same time. On the other hand, the
hippocampus can store memories which are too vivid and overly accessible to a point that you might
feel as though you’re re-living the trauma, re-experiencing the physical and emotional sensations
associated with the initial event. If you experience flashbacks, this likely sounds very familiar.
(3) Trauma and the Prefrontal Cortex
The prefrontal cortex is your main thinking center. It allows you to problem solve, rationalize, and
regulate feelings. Those with trauma histories tend to have decreased activation in the pre-frontal
cortex especially when exposed to triggers. Basically, the rationale part of the brain turns off under
stress, meaning that, when overwhelmed, you might find yourself leaving your window of tolerance
or the mental space where you’re able to avoid intense emotional distress, think clearly, feel, and
remain socially connected to others. When you leave this zone, you are more prone to outbursts,
numbness, or disassociation.
Trauma and the Body
Because the brain and body are connected, your mental state has physical implications as well. If
you’ve ever felt your palms sweat or heart pound while nervous, you’re probably aware of this.
Following trauma, however, the relationship between your psychological and physical state becomes
more complex as trauma not only leaves mental scars behind but also physical ones. Consequently,
your body can hold trauma related tension, typically causing persistent pain in your head, joints, or
muscles. Then your body might be under or over reactive. For example, if you tend to freeze under
pressure, you might feel as though you have stiff, hard-to-move muscles or inexplicable fatigue.
Conversely, if you’re inclined towards a fight or flight response, an elevated heart rate, anxiety-
induced nausea, insomnia, restless muscles, and cold sweats could be the norm. These are all
examples of how the body stores trauma in the form of tension, impulses, and pain.
Healing after Trauma
Trauma doesn’t have to plague your day-to-day existence, nor should it stop you from living the life
you want to live. The brain and body are surprisingly flexible. With guidance from a mental health
professional, by treating your trauma, you can actually combat structural changes, alleviate
emotional and physical discomfort, and facilitate behavioral growth.
Fortunately, the therapists at HavenMHC are well versed in an array of evidence-based trauma
therapies. We take a holistic approach that focuses on the brain and body by offering traditional talk
therapy in addition to EMDR and somatic therapy, both of which combine psychotherapeutic and
body-oriented techniques to specifically target physiological symptoms.
Finally, we prioritize providing you with a safe, judgment free space to process the past through
whichever modalities fit you best. We would truly be grateful for the opportunity to support your
recovery. Reach out for a free consultation if you’d like to learn more about our trauma services.
References
Zlotnick, C., Johnson, J., Kohn, R., Vicente, B., Rioseco, P., and Saldivia, S. (2008). Childhood
Trauma, Trauma in Adulthood, and Psychiatric Diagnoses: Results from a Community Sample.
Comprehensive Psychiatry, 49(2), 163-9.
Bremner J. (2006). Traumatic Stress: Effects on the Brain. Dialogues Clinical Neuroscience,
8(4), 445-461.
Symptoms Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. (2022). NHS.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2014). Trauma-Informed Care in
Behavioral Health Services. Rockville, MD: HHS Publication.