Trauma and the Brain

Trauma can affect the brain in many different ways. It’s important to remember that all of the brain’s responses to trauma are normal, and there is no right way to react to a traumatic event.

 
 

Memories

The way the brain encodes memories during a traumatic experience is different than how it regularly encodes memories. During trauma, memories have a higher likelihood to be fragmented— meaning only parts of the experience are remembered. It also might take a few days to remember the experience in greater detail. Not remembering certain details of a traumatic even does not mean the event did not happen; in fact, this is a very normal occurrence.

 

Fight, Flight, Freeze

When people experience an event that causes the brain to experience fear, there are 3 natural responses. These are categorized into the fight response, the flight response, or the freeze response. Flight causes someone to run away or flee from a situation, fight causes someone to confront the situation, and freeze is when someone’s body tenses up and can’t seem to move or scream. These 3 responses are what your brain deems safest at the moment, and there is no correct response. Many folks who experience sexual or domestic assault experience the freeze response. This is normal; it means that’s what your brain felt was safest in the moment.

 

PTSD

PTSD stands for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and is a very common side effect of experience a traumatic event. PTSD can cause people to have flashbacks of the traumatic experience or be triggered by certain things that remind them of the event. PTSD can also cause changes in mood and interfere in your daily life. Certain medications or therapy can potentially help minimize the effects of PTSD.


Coping

There are many different ways people cope after experiencing a traumatic event.

Just to list a few:

  • Feeling depressed

  • Using substances

  • Feeling numb

  • Shutting off

  • Feeling manic

Remember, you are not alone in your coping. However you are managing, it is OK and normal. If you feel like you can’t cope, it is ok to seek help. Resilience looks different for everyone, and don’t compare how you are doing to others in your life.