Types Of Trauma and Their Effects
Have you ever considered the impact of trauma on the brain? Trauma is when something terrible occurs and you experience extreme fear or sadness. Numerous changes to the brain can result from trauma. You may struggle to remember, learn, feel, and act as a result. Your brain’s growth can also be slowed or stopped by trauma. Trauma can cause you trouble or pain later in life. However, you can recover from trauma with the assistance of responsible adults. In this article, you will learn how trauma changes your brain parts and brain growth. You will also learn how to know if you have trauma and how to get better from it.
How Trauma Changes Your Brain Parts
The various parts of your brain each perform a different function. The hippocampus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex are a few of the areas that aid in feeling and memory. As a result of trauma, these components can alter.
The hippocampus aids in memory function. It informs you of what occurred and your location. The amygdala helps you feel emotions such as fear and anger. It assists in keeping you safe from harm. The prefrontal cortex aids in behavior control, planning, and decision-making. You become more composed and inclined to act morally.
These organs may become smaller, weaker, or slower as a result of trauma. Additionally, it may alter how well they get along with one another. Your brain may produce more stress hormones or fewer happy hormones as a result. Your brain may struggle to effectively use memory, emotion, and reason as a result of these changes. Additionally, they may increase stress and reduce your brain’s ability to cope.
How Trauma Changes Your Brain Growth
As a child, your brain expands significantly. By forming new networks and connections, your brain expands. By removing outdated connections and networks, your brain also changes. These things aid in learning and adapting in the brain.
Trauma can halt or slow down your brain’s growth. As a result, creating new networks and connections in your brain may be difficult. As a result, your brain may find it difficult to eliminate obsolete connections and networks. Your brain may be less able to learn and adapt as a result of these factors.
Trauma can also speed up brain aging or make you more susceptible to illness. Your risk of developing mental health issues like depression, anxiety, PTSD, substance abuse, and suicide may rise as a result.
How to Get Better from Trauma
If you have trauma, you can get better with the help of adults who care about you. Your parents, caregivers, teachers, and other adults can help you cope with and heal from trauma.
Here are some ways they can help you:
- Make you feel secure. They can stay calm and keep a routine for eating, playing, and sleeping. They are able to predict what will occur next and why. You can express your emotions to them. In addition to speaking their feelings, they can also listen. They can assure you of their protection and that you are not alone.
- Aid in expressing your emotions. They can provide you with opportunities to express your emotions through words, images, stories, games, or other enjoyable activities. They may compliment your actions and words. You can use them to identify and comprehend your feelings. They can teach you healthy ways to deal with hard feelings, like breathing, relaxing, exercising, or doing things you like.
- assist you in regaining control. Things that are important to you can be left up to you to decide. They may ask for your participation in making plans or establishing objectives. They may complement what you are capable of doing and have accomplished. You can pick up coping and problem-solving skills from them. They may persuade you to participate in groups or activities that make you feel good and confident.
You may require assistance from a doctor or therapist who is familiar with trauma in children if you are experiencing significant difficulty or pain as a result of your trauma. Therapy is a place where you can talk about your trauma and learn skills to get better. Therapy can help your brain change for the better.
Conclusion
Trauma is a significant issue that may have an impact on both your life and your brain. Trauma may alter your brain’s structure and development in a variety of ways. You may find it challenging to effectively employ memory, emotion, and reason after trauma. Trauma can also reduce your brain’s capacity for growth and adaptation. You may have indications of discomfort or difficulty as a result of trauma. However, you may recover from trauma with the assistance of responsible people. They can assist you in regaining control, feeling protected, comprehending what occurred, and expressing your emotions. You can talk about your trauma and acquire coping mechanisms in therapy. Your brain may change for the better with therapy. After trauma, recovery requires time and persistence. You may, however, overcome trauma and develop if you have the love, support, and direction of loving adults.