Remembering Traumatic Events (Your Brain and PTSD)

PTSD manifests in many different ways and in all ages and genders. There is no full, concrete understanding of PTSD, but research has found that there are physical changes in the brain that cause the reactions a person experiences.

The Brain

The way in which a person with PTSD processes thoughts and experiences is immensely different from how a person without PTSD would. When a person has PTSD, something simple, like a large object falling over, can trigger an adrenaline surge, but only startle a person without PTSD. Since people with PTSD are likely to have a higher level of fear, the slightest trigger can cause an uncontrollable fight or flight response. PTSD affects different parts of the brain, so every case is different.

Research shows that PTSD changes the biology of the brain and the way memories are stored; the trauma “rewires” a person’s brain. Currently, researchers do not know if the changes to the brain are reversable. The changes are thought to be caused by an increased exposure to cortisol, a steroid hormone that is released by the body in response to stress.

Two regions of the brain are affected by PTSD – the hippocampus and the amygdala. The hippocampus is responsible for transferring information into autobiographical memory (memories about personal experiences or events experienced). The amygdala contains some of a person’s most primal instincts, including the fight or flight response.

In a study conducted by the US Department of Veterans Affairs, it was found that the hippocampus and the amygdala are slightly shrunken in those who were diagnosed with PTSD. The smaller hippocampus can result in an inability to form new memories and the smaller amygdala can cause a higher sense of fear.

It is theorized that an individual not already suffering from PTSD is more susceptible to it if they have a smaller amygdala, but there’s no definitive proof at this time.

Who it Effects

Children between 5 and 12 who have PTSD don’t normally have flashbacks or difficulty remembering parts of the trauma, but instead they may put the events in the wrong order when they recall the trauma. A child may also think that there were signs that the trauma was going to happen, and may think that if they pay close attention in the future, they can avoid another traumatic event. Children may also exhibit signs of PTSD in their play by repeating the trauma. It should be noted that this play does not ease their worry or make their pain go away.

Symptoms in teens are similar to symptoms in adults but are more likely to show impulsive or aggressive behavior. Some symptoms you may see in teens and adults are re-living the events in the form of nightmares and flashbacks, avoidance of people or places that may trigger a flashback, and hyperarousal, such as always being on the alert for danger.

Since PTSD is relatively new in terms of a “trauma and stress related disorder,” it is often overlooked in the elderly. Some may associate the symptoms with the aging process or current issues in their lives, and not to the events that happened in their past. Some symptoms of PTSD in the elderly if the trauma was earlier in life are more physical complaints, like sleep or memory problems, and fewer emotional problems like depression, hostility, and guilt. If the trauma was later in life, some symptoms may be avoidance, sleep problems, and hyperarousal.

PTSD can also affect people with developmental and intellectual disabilities, but it’s more difficult to diagnose because of communication and intellectual deficits. That being said, people with developmental and intellectual disabilities who suffer from PTSD and have the ability to self-report say that they experience similar symptoms as those who do not have a developmental or intellectual disability.

So, the responsibility of “self”-reporting falls upon the caregiver. It can be confusing, however, because while increased anxiety, hyperarousal, and aggressive behaviors are signs of PTSD, they can also be signs of other mood disorders.

Research is being conducted to better understand how memories are affected by treatment, how to prevent the development of PTSD shortly after a traumatic experience, and how to develop better-targeted treatments to reduce the symptoms. If you or someone you know is suffering from PTSD, be informed and remember that with time and treatment, it can get better.