How to Heal the Brain After Trauma

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While many of us think of trauma as the lasting emotional impact of a highly stressful experience, we sometimes overlook the fact that trauma also impacts the brain itself on a physical level.

When we experience traumatic stress, the chemistry and makeup of our brain actually changes, leaving a lasting impact on our behavior and the way we experience the world. Luckily, with proper care and attention, this impact can be lessened over time.

This article will explore how trauma changes the brain, what those changes mean for our everyday lives, and how proper treatment can help heal the impact of trauma on the brain.

How Does Trauma Affect the Brain

When we experience a traumatic event, our brain chemistry and functioning changes in response to the emotional and physical consequences of that event.

Traumatic events include a wide range of experiences, including:

There is no standard definition of a traumatic experience for everyone, and each of these experiences takes a unique toll on us as individuals. While all of us experience traumatic stress in different ways, our brains process stress in mostly predictable patterns. In general, there are three major areas of our brain that are shaped by stressful experiences. These are:

In conditions of chronic traumatic stress, such as an abusive household or a region in conflict, these responses to stress begin to alter the way the brain works, creating a cycle of anxiety and fear that can greatly impact an individual’s quality of life long after the trauma has ended.

Post Trauma Behavior and the Brain

Because the brains of people struggling with traumatic stress or post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have physically changed, they may exhibit an overactive stress response in their everyday lives even when there is no direct stressor present.

This means that they may have difficulty feeling comfortable, struggle with intrusive thoughts or memories, or turn to addictive substances to cope with past trauma.

These stress responses can include:

Continual stress can impact the body, too, as organs like the heart and lungs gradually wear down from recurring traumatic responses.

Physical impacts of traumatic stress can include:

Ultimately, traumatic stress not only reshapes the brain but also reshapes daily life for millions of Americans throughout their lifetimes.

Can a Brain Scan Show Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?

Brain ScanThere is currently no brain scan that can detect and diagnose post traumatic stress on its own. Instead, doctors and clinicians use tools like brain mapping and other brain scanning technology to inform their diagnoses and plan out appropriate treatments. This typically takes place as a part of a comprehensive assessment process that includes a medical evaluation and a series of questions designed to help diagnose post-traumatic stress.

Brain scanning technology can help doctors and therapists see the physical impact of trauma on the brain and can help confirm a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis. Researchers often use brain scanning technology like magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, to see how an individual’s brain has been altered by stress.

For example, in one 2011 study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry, researchers conducted MRI scans on Iraq War veterans who had been diagnosed with PTSD. They found changes present within the amygdala region of their brains that were not present in a group of veterans who had not been diagnosed with PTSD. These changes may have led to “an exaggerated, pervasive state of arousal that exists outside the presence of an overt actual threat,” as the researchers wrote.

In another study of survivors of a 2008 earthquake in China, researchers found that they could identify 91% of the survivors with post-traumatic stress disorder based on clear changes to the gray and white matter in their brains that showed up in brain scans.

While brain scanning can provide useful insights into the way the brain has been changed by post-traumatic stress, mental health providers typically rely on a mix of in-person assessments, questioning tools, and neurological information to make a diagnosis. This allows a provider to have a clearer picture of the impact that post-traumatic stress has had on an individual and those around them.

Often when an individual seeks help for post-traumatic stress, mental health providers will also look for related conditions, or dual diagnoses, that may be worsening or impacting the individual’s mental health. These conditions can include a substance use disorder, depression, or even an injury to the brain caused by physical trauma. They may also explore the causes behind the post-traumatic stress, as well as how the stress has shaped the individual’s everyday life. Providers may also ask an individual if they have ever thought about or attempted suicide, or if post-traumatic stress has led them to engage in risk-taking behaviors like driving while intoxicated.

Together with insights from brain scans and other tools, a medical provider can then provide an accurate diagnosis of post-traumatic stress and help individuals access the help they need to recover.

Proper Treatment for Post Traumatic Stress

Treatment for traumatic stress is possible. While reaching sufferers as soon after the trauma occurs is preferable, that’s not always possible for individuals who are struggling with trauma from early childhood incidents or post traumatic stress from combat or other experiences.

Luckily, physicians and psychotherapists continue to develop new techniques for managing and processing traumatic stress. These typically include a combination of psychotherapy and medical intervention.

Often, a typical trauma treatment plan will include elements of the following therapeutic techniques:

Trauma treatment may also include other components, such as:

What Happens if Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Goes Untreated?

While post traumatic stress has become more visible and discussed in recent years, especially in the aftermath of the Iraq War, thousands of people still struggle with undiagnosed and untreated post-traumatic stress disorder.

The consequences of untreated post traumatic stress disorder can be severe and can impact an individual’s mental, emotional, behavioral, and physical health. The risks of untreated post-traumatic stress disorder include:

Ongoing stress and anxiety

Difficulty managing personal and professional relationships

Health complications

Dual diagnosis risks

Greater health care needs

Seeking Professional Help

Luckily, there is a growing awareness among physicians and mental health professionals about the long-term impact of post-traumatic stress. If you or a loved one are concerned about coping with a traumatic event (or series of events) that you have experienced, please seek out support from a medical or mental health professional.

While many people in treatment continue to experience some elements of post-traumatic stress throughout their lives, proper treatment can help individuals learn coping mechanisms and better understand and manage their mental health. There is no shame in seeking help. Avoid long-term risks to your health and the health of others by seeking care.

It may feel like traumatic stress will be a part of your life forever. But with proper treatment and care, you can heal and learn healthier behavior patterns for a more fulfilling life.

At StoneRidge Centers, we work closely with our patients to develop personalized treatment plans that focus on mental and physical health. Our brain-focused approach combines evidence-based therapy with innovative brain science to heal your mind and body. We’re here to help when you’re ready to heal.

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Innovative, Evidence-Based Therapies

Because mental health and addiction concerns are so often interconnected, we utilize research-based approaches with evidence-based outcomes that promote overall healing and recovery.

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Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
This low-impact magnetic stimulation activates neurons inside the brain, relieving symptoms associated with depression and anxiety.

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qEEG/Brain Mapping
Using brain scanning and readings, we create a map of our patients’ brains, helping us develop more targeted and effective treatments.

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Neurofeedback
This process assists patients in visualizing their own brain functionality through continuous EEG readings.

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Spravato Therapy
We use carefully monitored doses of Spravato to help patients struggling with complex mental health disorders, including severe depression.

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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Patients use this practice to help reframe intrusive or negative thought patterns and develop coping techniques for long-term recovery.

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Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
This practice helps patients learn to regulate emotions, communicate more effectively, and process their own thoughts and feelings..

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Eye Movement Desensitization (EMDR)
Licensed and trained therapists guide patients through this technique for managing stress and anxiety on an ongoing basis.

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Individual Therapy
Patients experience one-on-one therapy sessions with a licensed therapist to provide a safe and private place to recover and heal.

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Group/Family Therapy
Patients can practice the skills and techniques they have learned in treatment with others in a safe, therapist-guided space. .

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Contact StoneRidge Centers

5940 E. Copper Hill Dr. Ste B & E, Prescott Valley, AZ. 86314
928-583-7799

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Stoneridge logoWe exercise progressive, leading brain science in our treatment approach for patients in our community and across the country who are struggling with mental health and addiction challenges.

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