Unlocking the Secrets of Trauma
Understanding the Biological Impact of Emotional Trauma
Have you considered the hidden depths of trauma’s effects on the body, mind, and spirit? Ready to uncover the keys to unlocking healing and resilience?
Trauma is not just an emotional experience; it leaves a lasting imprint on our biology.
- Understanding trauma’s reach
- Changes in your brain
- Nervous system
- Immune system
- Endocrine system
- Digestive system
- Genetics
Exploring the Extent of Trauma's Impact
Traumatic events trigger physiological responses, that can reshape our brains, alter our immune systems, and even influence our genes.
Trauma refers to an experience that is highly stressful or distressing that is beyond our ability to manage or control. It can be a one-time event or an ongoing occurrence that lasts for an extended period. It’s safe to say that everyone goes through a traumatic event at some point in their lives. Yet, we won’t all be affected the same way.
When you face a traumatic event, your body naturally responds by releasing stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones prepare you to fight, flee, freeze, or fawn. And this is meant to keep you safe.
In cases of unresolved trauma, repeatedly experiencing the traumatic event can dysregulate your stress response system, leading to a range of issues.
Impact of trauma on your brain
The amygdala, responsible for processing emotions like fear and stress, may enlarge due to increased activity. This can cause you to become more sensitive and perceive threats even when none are present.
On the other hand, the hippocampus, which plays a crucial role in memory and learning, may decrease in size due to chronic stress and elevated cortisol levels. This can affect your ability to remember details or form new memories.
Impact of trauma on your nervous system
The nervous system facilitates communication between different body parts.
The nervous system consists of two main parts: the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The CNS includes the brain and spinal cord, while the PNS comprises the nerves that extend throughout the body.
Trauma can dysregulate the autonomic nervous system, causing overactivation of the sympathetic branch (stress response) and underactivation of the parasympathetic (calm response) branch.
A healthy nervous system can experience stress and return to normal once the threat is gone—commonly known as the “window of tolerance.” The window of tolerance is the zone where you can experience intense emotions and still process them in a healthy way. You can increase your capacity for handling stress and challenging situations with the proper healing tools.
Traumatic events push the nervous system outside its ability to regulate itself.
When someone gets stuck in the “on” position, you can easily be overstimulated and anxious. This physical state of hyperarousal is stressful for every system in the body. Your body can also get stuck in the “off” position, resulting in depression, disconnection, fatigue, and lethargy. You can alternate between these highs and lows.
Impact of trauma on your immune system
The immune system protects the body from infection while preserving its own cells.
Chronic stress can weaken your immune system, making it less effective in fighting infections and diseases. This suppression occurs because of prolonged exposure to stress hormones disrupt the balance of immune cells in the body, leading to decreased production of certain immune cells and impairing their ability to function properly.
Chronic stress also creates inflammation in the body. Inflammation is linked to a wide range of health problems, including autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular disease, and chronic pain conditions.
Impact of trauma on your endocrine system
The endocrine system is a network of glands & organs that produce & release hormones
Trauma can radically affect the endocrine system, which is responsible for hormone production and maintains physiological balance in the body.
When you experience trauma, your body’s stress response system, known as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, becomes activated. This activation releases stress hormones, primarily cortisol, and adrenaline, from the adrenal glands.
In the short term, cortisol helps regulate metabolism, blood sugar levels, and immune function, while adrenaline increases heart rate and boosts energy levels to prepare for “fight or flight” responses.
However, chronic or repeated exposure to trauma dysregulates the HPA axis, which can lead to many issues.
Chronic stress resulting from trauma can cause adrenal fatigue and hormonal imbalances. This can lead to issues with thyroid, insulin, and reproductive hormones. Furthermore, it can impact metabolism and energy, which can elevate your risk of developing obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes.
Impact of trauma on your digestive system
The digestive system turns food into nutrients for the body to use.
One significant effect of trauma on the digestive system is activating the sympathetic nervous system, also known as the “fight or flight” response. This response redirects blood flow away from the digestive organs and towards the muscles and brain to prepare the body for immediate action.
That means digestive functions such as saliva production, stomach acid secretion, and intestinal motility are disrupted, and when this happens over long periods of time, it leads to indigestion and bowel issues.
Even more alarming, childhood trauma can lead to a state of inflammation in the body and lower levels of cortisol during adulthood. Stress has a significant impact on the gut microbiota and the function of the gut barrier. And during early life, the gut microbiome plays a vital role in shaping your immune system and nervous system functions. Therefore, this period is particularly vulnerable and can have a lasting impact on your health.
Impact of trauma on your genetics
Genes are sections of DNA that contains instructions for how our body operates.
Epigenetics refers to changes in gene expression that occur without alterations to the underlying DNA sequence. Various factors, including environmental exposures and life experiences, such as trauma, can influence changes.
Specifically, childhood trauma has been linked to changes in genetic patterns in human sperm, which is believed to have intergenerational effects.
Trauma could also lead to alterations in the expression of genes involved in producing and regulating stress hormones like cortisol, impacting how the body responds to future stressors.
Recognizing trauma’s biological legacy helps us better develop targeted interventions and support systems to promote healing and resilience across generations.
What does this mean for trauma healing?
Hope and more effective healing
Since trauma affects all aspects of you, it is essential to adopt a comprehensive healing approach.
A holistic approach to trauma healing acknowledges the interconnectedness of biology, psychology, and social context, providing the tools and support you need to reclaim your life and cultivate lasting well-being.
By understanding the biological impacts of trauma, we can develop more effective healing strategies to end years of struggle, offering hope and resilience.
Western medicine is missing the mark
Western medicine, while highly effective in acute diseases, falls short of adequately addressing trauma healing for several reasons.
Western medicine prioritizes the treatment of physical symptoms and biological markers of disease, which overlooks the complex connection between physical health, mental health, and social factors in healing.
Western medicine prioritizes symptom management over addressing underlying causes. It is common to be prescribed medications to alleviate symptoms of different health issues, including anxiety, depression, stomach pain, allergies, back pain, hormone imbalances, and more.
However, if we do not address the psychological or social factors that contribute to these health issues, we are missing opportunities for long-term healing and resilience.
If we fail to address the underlying issue of trauma, health problems can worsen over time. Eventually, your medication may become ineffective, or your doctor may inform you that they have exhausted all available treatment options. This can lead to feelings of confusion and frustration.