Traumatic events are becoming more prevalent and frequently in our society. Unfortunately, with today’s 24-hour news cycle, our exposure to those traumatic events is continuous and persistent. Whether it’s an overseas attack or a school shooting, the violence we face every day, it’s no surprise that many individuals are struggling with the negative impacts of traumatic experiences. Emotional, physical, and developmental trauma and PTSD do not have to prevent you from living your life. You can mitigate adverse reactions to traumatic and related stimuli and train your brain toward recovery with the right tools and resources.

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What Is Trauma?

Trauma, much like other mental health struggles, looks different for everyone. In many cases, the manifestation is heavily informed by the specific experience or experiences that preceded the adverse reactions to stimuli. For example, a car crash survivor’s trauma will likely present very differently than the trauma experienced by a first-responder.

PTSD and other forms of trauma are triggered by experiencing a traumatic event, whether that was a direct experience, something you witnessed, something you heard about, or repeated exposure to someone else’s traumatic experience. These abnormal events can lead to a variety of symptoms.

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Symptoms Of Trauma And PTSD

Trauma and PTSD are unique types of mental illness because the symptoms you experience are entirely normal due to an abnormal event or experience. Just because these symptoms are normal does not necessarily mean they are not debilitating. Symptoms of trauma may include:

• Confusion, difficulty concentrating

• Anger, irritability, mood swings

• Anxiety and fear

• Guilt, shame, and self-blame

• Withdrawal from loved ones

• Feelings of depression

• Feelings of disconnection or numbness

• Insomnia, nightmares

• Fatigue

• Feeling easily startled

• Racing heartbeat

• Edginess, agitation

• Pain, achiness, muscle tension

The symptoms of trauma and PTSD and an inability to cope with those symptoms can infiltrate every aspect of your life and prevent you from achieving your goals and leading a healthy and happy life.

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What Trauma And PTSD Does To The Brain

When you experience a traumatic event or are regularly exposed to traumatic experiences, your brain triggers a severe stress response. This stress response leads to dramatic changes in the physical structure of the brain itself. Specifically, we see trauma affect the amygdala, which is responsible for your emotional memory; the hippocampus, responsible for long-term memory; and the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for modulating emotion. When these core structures in the brain are affected, your brainwave function is negatively impacted.

PTSD And First Responders

As many as 30% of first responders will develop behavioral health conditions, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. First responders are repeatedly exposed to potentially traumatic events as a result of the emergencies, death, and tragedies they face on a daily basis. Here at Neuroplastree Centers, we understand that trauma can lead to structural changes within your brain. Over the last few years, we've had the honor of working with many first responders to help them overcome their trauma and improve their mental health. Our clinicians will work with you to gain an in-depth understanding of the symptoms you're experiencing and create a personalized treatment plan to address your PTSD so you can start feeling like your usual self again.