Recently, I presented this information to the members of the DBSA IL Valley support group regarding trauma and how it stunts development of neuronal networks and rewires the activity of the brain - hardwiring us for a chronic physical cycle of the stress response. I will share some of that info with my blog-readers as well.
Disclaimer: None of this research is my own - I have just compiled some information that I have read and taken an interest in for the last couple of years!
For a basic introduction, please watch the video below. It is less than 5 minutes long:
It is more important than ever to diagnose and treat depression proactively because it can been summarized (and is scientifically proven) that "helplessness" causes our brains to chemically react and trigger a survival instinct - "fight or flight" response - and when experienced chronically, will change our long-term brain chemistry and function. According to Dr. Bremner, "Brain areas implicated in the stress response include the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex. Traumatic stress can be associated with lasting changes in these brain areas. Traumatic stress is associated with increased cortisol and norepinephrine responses to subsequent stressors. Antidepressants have effects on the hippocampus that counteract the effects of stress... Antidepressant treatments have been shown to block the effects of stress and/or promote neurogenesis" (Traumatic stress: effects on the brain, National Center for Biotechnology Information 2006). For a more elaborate explanation of the stress/helplessness response, please view the video below. It is about 15 minutes long:
The hippocampus (memory center) and amygdala (fear center) - 2 parts of the limbic system in the brain - play large roles in the stress response. Hormones called glucocorticoids are responsible for shrinking the hippocampus. When the hippocampus shrinks, it makes learning very challenging and somewhat impossible. Memories developed during this period of hippocampus inactivity are only stored short-term and elicit a strong emotional response upon recall. Normally, the hippocampus and amygdala work in syncrhony, producing effective long-term memories. When one of these is not functioning appropriately, the other is jump-started into a hyper-reactive state. For example, the shrunken hippocampus triggers the amygdala (fear center) to become over-reactive to stimuli (subconscious feeling of being threatened), firing excessively (survival mode), initiating/perpetuating the stress response.
One glucocorticoid, Cortisol, known as the "stress hormone," is released by the adrenal gland (which sits on top of the kidneys much like a hat). The release of cortisol is maintained by the HPA-axis (hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis), marking the beginning of a vicious feedback cycle that we call the "stress response." In essence, the hypothalamus tells the adrenal gland when to secrete cortisol and when it is released, it raises blood sugar levels, weakens the immune system, halts digestion but increases gastric acid formation, results in water retention, prevents access to previously stored memories, increases blood pressure, causes a spike in adrenaline, and shuts down the reproductive system... among many other things! These responses coupled with changes in neurotransmitter levels, blood chemistry, and pH levels perpetuate the stress response further with the additional release of cortisol and the production of epinephrine and adrenaline.
Why is the stress response important in regards to trauma?
Chronic stress alters brain chemistry and "prunes" neuronal pathways in the brain, resulting in memory loss, inability to attain proper brain function, and emotional dysregulation as well as the loss of executive functions. An adult with a history of trauma may be unable to attain emotional intelligence, have behavioral problems, respond inappropriately to social cues, exhibit learning difficulties, present with signs and symptoms of ADHD, and have difficulty building and/or maintaining relationships. As more research becomes available, perhaps doctors will forego diagnosing individuals with a myriad of mental illnesses and begin to treat the initial trauma that caused the cascade of brain dysfunction. Even now, researchers are coining the term "brain disorder" as an alternative to "mental illness." They have come to realize that many characteristics of mental illness arise from pathology related to experienced trauma (or "helplessness") as opposed to genetic predispositions at birth. This is a HUGE move forward in the mental health realm!
While no one form of therapy works for all individuals, there are a few that have shown great promise in the healing of trauma. One we discussed at the group meeting is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), developed by Francine Shapiro, which addresses the unresolved traumatic memories of events. Many people who suffer from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) avoid any recollection of traumatic events and further avoid anything that is known to trigger a flashback of such events and/or memories. In contrast, EMDR requires an individual to recall these painful memories while being stimulated visually with rapid eye movements, usually in a back and forth motion. This eye movement elicits a response in the optic nerve, and the individual is then asked to elicit a positive memory or thought. As the eyes move laterally, this movement activates the hippocampus, allowing memories to be "overwritten" in a sense, gradually de-intensifying the negative memory and replacing it with a stronger, positive one.
EMDR is known to be helpful for individuals living with PTSD, eating disorders, addictions, panic attacks, anxiety, and severe depression. Read here for more information about EMDR or click here to find an EMDR-trained therapist near you.
Mindfulness has also been found extremely helpful when dealing with trauma. Read my blog post about mindfulness here.
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