Understand Trauma and the Nervous System

Trauma, whether it is the result of a car accident, sexual assault, physical attack or other event, can have a major impact on all aspects of our lives.

Trauma is often associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but you may also be dealing with trauma even if you don’t realise it.

Traumatic events can cause changes in your nervous system that may not be obvious at first glance but have profound effects on how we function as humans. The nervous system is a complex web of neural pathways that connect our brain and spinal cord to every cell in our body.

So, when we experience a traumatic situation, this can damage this delicate network, causing a host of symptoms that range from mild to severe.

If you or a loved one have experienced trauma and feel as though your nervous system may be impacted, stick around. We’re going to provide some valuable insight on this phenomenon and provide a light at the end of the tunnel.

How Does The Nervous System Work?

In order to dive into trauma and its impact on the nervous system, we must have a basic understanding on how it works.

The nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord, as well as nerves that connect these two parts. Nerves carry electrical signals from your brain to other parts of your body, like when you’re feeling pain or heat.

These electrical signals are carried along by special cells called neurons. Neurons are like wires connecting your brain to different parts of your body so it can tell them what to do (like move an arm).

There are two types of neurons: sensory neurons and motor neurons.

Sensory neurons send information about what’s happening around us back up into our brains; motor neurons carry instructions down through our bodies so we can react appropriately (run away from danger).

How Trauma Affects The Nervous System:

The Sympathetic Nervous System:

Trauma can have a significant impact on the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for our “fight or flight” response.

When a person experiences trauma, the sympathetic nervous system is activated, releasing stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones increase our heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration rate – all in preparation for the body to either fight or flee from a perceived threat.

However, when trauma is ongoing or repeated, the sympathetic nervous system can kick into overdrive and lead to chronic stress and hyperarousal – doing the body and mind much more harm than good.

This can result in symptoms such as:

Anxiety
Irritability
Hypervigilance
Difficulty sleeping

The Parasympathetic Nervous System:

Additionally, trauma can impact the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for rest and relaxation.

Chronic activation of the sympathetic nervous system can interfere with the parasympathetic nervous system’s ability to restore the body back to a calm state of balance.

The Brain:

Trauma can also alter the structure and function of the brain – specifically the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex. All of these areas are involved in emotional regulation, memory, and decision making. These changes can lead to symptoms like:

Flashbacks
Avoidance behaviours
Difficulty with emotional regulation

Overall, trauma can have a distinct impact on the nervous system leading to a wide range of physical and psychological symptoms. It is incredibly important to seek support from a mental health professional if you have experienced trauma to help manage these symptoms and promote healing.

Why Is It So Difficult To Heal From Trauma?

Trauma is a difficult experience to heal from because the nervous system is designed to protect us first and foremost. The brain and nervous system are like a computer that runs on electricity, but they also have their own internal programming that controls how they function. Trauma can cause this programming to go haywire, which makes healing more difficult than it should be.

The brain and nervous system work together constantly to protect us from danger by pushing us into fight-or-flight mode when faced with an emergency situation or threat of harm.

This response allows us to react quickly when faced with something dangerous, but it also means that the body does not have time for rational thought processes during times of immediate danger (such as if someone were attacking you).

This means your body may respond in ways that aren’t necessarily helpful–for example: running away from home after your father dies suddenly; pulling away from friends after experiencing sexual assault; avoiding talking about what happened because talking about it would make them feel worse than ignoring everything altogether…

Therapies That Help Trauma Survivors Heal Their Nervous Systems:

Trauma survivors often experience symptoms such as flashbacks (where they feel like what happened yesterday), nightmares (where they experience terrifying events while sleeping), anxiety (feeling unsafe/uncomfortable), and depression (feeling hopeless).

Unfortunately, this makes sense given what we know about our brains’ innate need for safety above all else.

So, what can you do about it? Thankfully, there are a few therapies and practices that can help you get started on your path to healing.

Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: In trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy, a therapist helps you to recognize how your thoughts and beliefs affect your feelings and behaviour. You’ll learn how to change negative patterns of thinking that keep you stuck in the past as well as learn techniques such as relaxation to further promote healing.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): This therapy involves focusing on your trauma while moving your eyes back and forth, or following the therapist’s finger with your eyes. It has been shown to be helpful for trauma survivors who have had trouble processing traumatic events in their pasts.

Mindfulness-based Interventions: Meditation, breathing exercises, physical exercise, massage and yoga are also effective at calming down both mind and body after experiencing a traumatic event.

Massage can help release tension from muscles that have been held tight from fear or anxiety.

Yoga can relax tense muscles by stretching them into new positions while providing respite from mental stress.

Art therapy is also another way people deal with their emotions after experiencing trauma as it allows them freedom of expression without having words get in between what they’re trying to say with their art piece.

Understanding How Your Nervous System Works Can Help You Heal From Trauma:

Understanding how your nervous system works can be an important part of healing from trauma.

You Can Identify Your Symptoms:

Traumatic experiences can dysregulate the nervous system, leading to symptoms like hypervigilance, anxiety, and flashbacks. When you understand how trauma impacts your nervous system, you can begin to identify and respond to these symptoms in ways that promote healing and regulation.

For example, when you experience symptoms of hyperarousal (such as increased heart rate, rapid breathing or sweating), you may recognize that these symptoms are a normal response to trauma rather than a sign of weakness or danger. You can then use techniques like deep breathing, muscle relaxation, or meditation to help regulate your nervous system and bring your body back to a calm state.

You Can Develop More Self Compassion:

Understanding how trauma impacts your nervous system can also help you develop greater self compassion and self care. You may recognize that your symptoms are a sign your body and mind have been through a difficult experience and that it is important to take care of yourself in order to heal.

You Can Begin Feeling More Empowered:

Finally, understanding how your nervous system works can help you feel more empowered in your healing journey. When you understand that trauma has impacted your nervous system, you can take an active role in your healing by seeking out therapies and practices that are specifically designed to regulate the nervous system.

In conclusion, understanding how your nervous system works can help you develop greater self awareness, self compassion, and agency in your healing journey from trauma.

Private Mental Healthcare at Orchestrate Health

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We are committed to ensuring patients receive the highest standards of care available.

Contact us today to start your recovery journey with Orchestrate Health.