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.