Notes on Trauma and Brain Function in Trauma Responses

Understanding Trauma

  • Definition of Trauma: Trauma occurs when individuals are overwhelmed by events beyond their control, triggering the survival brain to take over the rational functioning of the brain.
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Symptoms of PTSD last at least one month and can manifest in various ways, including re-experiencing the trauma and heightened arousal.

The Human Brain and Its Functions

  • Parts of the Brain:

  • Reptilian Brain: Manages basic bodily functions and instincts.

  • Limbic System: Deals with emotions, instincts of fear and pleasure (e.g., a dog wagging its tail when petted).

  • Neocortex: Responsible for higher-order thinking, logic, planning, and control, but operates slower compared to the older brain structures.

  • Key Structures:

  • Amygdala: Senses danger and activates survival responses.

  • Hippocampus: Typically stores and retrieves memories but halts memory filing during danger, instead releasing cortisol to manage immediate survival needs.

Survival Responses

  • Responses to Danger:

  • Fight: Confronting the threat.

  • Flight: Escaping the situation.

  • Freeze: Inability to act, often occurring in trauma situations.

  • Cortisol Function: Helps block pain and focuses on survival, making individuals less perceptive to injuries or emotional distress.

  • Example of Cortisol: A person who sustains an injury but continues to function despite the pain, illustrating this evolutionary mechanism.

Examples of Traumatic Events

  • Triggers of Trauma:

  • Events like war, sexual assault, car accidents can cause acute trauma.

  • Secondary trauma can occur for those who work with victims of significant trauma (e.g., emergency responders).

  • Complex PTSD: Result of repeated trauma leading to a more intricate set of symptoms, such as those seen in domestic abuse or prolonged sexual abuse.

Indicators and Symptoms of Trauma

  • Common Indicators:

  • Emotional Responses: Depression, crying, numbness, shame, guilt.

  • Physical Symptoms: Nightmares, flashbacks, sickness.

  • Behavioral Indicators: Alcohol/drug use, self-harm, dissociation.

  • Specific Symptoms: Certain experiences (like dental visits) may trigger debilitating reactions in trauma survivors.

  • Behavioral Changes:

  • Hypervigilance and startle responses in everyday situations.

  • Memory issues, including fragmented or jumbled memories.

Practical Application in Trauma Response

  • Conducting Interviews with Trauma Victims:

  • Understand that the brain’s protective state can hinder coherence in the victim's narrative.

  • Interview Techniques:

    • Begin with sensory experiences: Ask non-intrusive questions (e.g., about physical sensations or non-threatening thoughts) to ground the victim.
    • Acknowledge that trauma responses may not follow a logical pattern.
    • Focus on gathering sensory details before attempting to get a linear account of events.

  • Key Takeaways for Professionals:

  • Embrace survival responses as normal; adapt techniques accordingly.

  • Recognize the impact of repeated trauma and the importance of adaptive responses in interviews.

  • Maintain awareness of the vulnerability of oneself and the individuals you are working with due to trauma exposure.