How Trauma and PTSD Change the Brain

Trauma and PTSD isn't just "all in your head" it's literally in your head. Trauma and PTSD change the brain in four very specific ways. Traumatic experiences like abuse, assault, or witnessing violence or tragedy can leave people feeling constantly on edge. PTSD can impact your emotions, your stability, your relationships. And trauma can have an impact on your physical and mental health. These are really common experiences for many, and they are in part due to four ways that your brain changes after experiencing trauma. But the good news is that when you understand how trauma impacts the brain, these symptoms can often be reversed. You can learn to heal.

When trapped in a constant trauma response people with PTSD experience four types of difficult PTSD symptoms including:
1. Painful thoughts
2. Intense emotions
3. Bodily changes
4. Behavioral changes

These “symptoms” show up because after experiencing trauma, your brain changes on a physical level. This isn’t simply “damage” as people would perhaps think, but it’s your brain adapting to the experience that the world isn’t safe, and in my opinion, taking measures to help you avoid future dangers. So essentially it makes you more danger avoidant. Your brain is super moldable, and it adapts and shapes due to what we experience and how we use it. So when we experience trauma, here are four ways the brain changes, or adapts, after experiencing trauma:

Therapy in a Nutshell and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health.
In therapy I use a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, positive psychology, and a bio-psycho-social approach to treating mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas from my videos are frequently adapted from multiple sources. Many of them come from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, especially the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection derive from the work of Stephen Porges (the Polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose our life's direction.

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[jordanlewis]

it's been so long that i genuinely can't remember myself without anxiety or depression. it consumes me and controls every aspect of my life. i'm so tired.

[aubreysnyder]

Healing is a never ending process. Just like learning.

[carolyncard]

I've had PTSD anxiety and depression for 27years I also have amnesia from a head injury. I wish everyone out there struggling all the best.

[truman.]

Reoccurring trauma is unimaginably debilitatingly horrendous to deal with.

[Jessica-ldbs]

I used to be smart. Fifteen years of business ownership, constant stress and nonstop interruptions have demolished my brain, my ability to concentrate, my imagination -- I nearly cried at the notion that this might not be permanent. Thank you so much, it's what I needed to hear.

[MarySchipke]

40 years with PTSD and I am still waiting to heal. Waiting, waiting,

[DLynn-kmso]

I have had CPTSD much of my life. Traumatic things kept happening to me before I had any chance to recover from the last one. I tried talk therapy many times, but didn't get much out of it. THEN I read about TRAUMA THERAPY and EMDR. After over a year working at it, I can go long periods feeling normal and enjoying life. I pray none of you give up until you work with a trauma therapist and find your way out of the nightmare.

[carolebeaulne]

What sucks is who caused it aren't living with this at all. They're fine.

[FLLadyRiverRat]

I have come to a point where When I get to those fight/flight/freeze emotions, I stop, place my hand on my heart, close my eyes, and tell myself "This is Not an Emergency. I Am safe. Nothing bad is happening."
Thank you for explaining this to us.🥰

[SouLahtheLegend]

This made me cry. I'm so messed up! It feels so hopeless

[juliebrady]

I was traumatized and emotionally neglected as a child. As I didn't understand this until I had therapy as an adult I was trapped inside myself for most of my life. Nothing I have experienced has convinced me that the world is safe and anyone trust worthy. The last two years have caused even more anxiety and distrust.

[ScuitarRects]

I am fully healed. I fell onto concrete from 10 feet and landed on my face in a freak accident. I woke up paralyzed from the neck down. Noons was around. I was laying there and couldn’t move. I manifested getting up and finding help. It took 8 years to heal the TBI concussion, bleeding brain, spinal cord trauma, occipital neuralgia, thoracic outlet syndrome, PTSD, and other conditions all while being tortured by a hateful person. Banging pots and pans. Antagonizing, instigating arguments, fear mongering, false accusations. Denying my injuries exist even after 1000 medical records diagnosis. 10 surgeries including facial reconstruction 250 stitches 2 broken cheeks and my nose turned to dust. Crazy making to block my healing. Sabotaged every court case for any SS then stole the only insurance settlement kids and house with evil lawyer tactics. Leaving out all information that I was in the background energetically depleted fighting for my life while this person was steadily trying to have me imprisoned for being completely innocent. It’s sick and twisted, but I survived and am living my best life in peace and happiness. I am extremely lucky and grateful that the lessons are over, thank you🌸

[heyjude]

I'm a proud SURVIVOR with CPTSD that I've learned to manage through years of therapy. I hope and pray each of you continue to seek out a therapist (I'm on SSDI so Medicare and Medicaid helped pay). Treat yourself with kindness and don't let anyone treat you unkindly.

[keepitsimple]

I took a horribly hard blow to the back of my head at age 12, which went untreated. All my life I've been a slow learner, and can't compete with smart people. I'm amazed at how smart some people are. If I try to remember 3 things, I'll remember 2, but can't remember the 3rd.

[harryknickerbocker]

I served with the Marines in Vietnam and I've had PTSD for over fifty years. I tried different medications with limited success. The memories of combat are so strong they literally take over your mind and force you to relieve the traumatic event. I began Zen meditation in 2004 and I've finally attained control of my own mind. When the memories occur I simple change the channel by following my breath. It's so simple. To treat PTSD you have to learn to live in the moment.

[dannydoughboy]

Boy does this lady explain my life! 76 years old now, and still stuck in the past! Life sucks!

[boyfmbalcatta]

As a infant I had TB, moved to an infant hospice and early death. I somehow survived. Mother had cancer and father had ptsd from ww2. I missed normal infancy, adopted at three. Now in my 60's I still suffer startle reflex, self loathing (only a little), guilt (my sibling grew up in an orphanage). I was repeatedly told by a few a school I was not worthy to be adopted etc. I was however, lucky to have good parents who did there best to help me through. The notion of change was their mantra, helping others not to go through what you went through. I have practised this as long as I can remember and this has been my therapy.

[Jessica-gtid]

Watching this and the tears just started pouring.
I’ve never heard it put this way and it all makes sense.

[genkihealthymamainjapan]

Hi form Japan💛. You have no idea how much you are pushing and helping me to live heftier life. Both mentally and physically. I know that watching videos is just part of the healing process, but you are making them in such an effective and focused way that they became a significant part of my PTSD healing proces after my childhood with narcissistic mother and sexually abusive father. Arigatou gozaimasu!

[CC]

I wish someone had explained this to me 36 years ago. It’s only now in my late 40’s that I am dealing with my early trauma, and knowing all of this would have been so helpful - to me and my family. Always being told I was “too emotional” and over-stressed, was never helpful, and I didn’t know that my brain had actually changed from what I went through…so it all makes sense. Thank you for getting this information out there. The way you presented it made it very easy to understand. 👍