What is the possible path?
By: Gina-Marie Cheeseman
Tags: Trauma, Trauma Recovery, Childhood Trauma, Self Improvement, PTSD

What is the possible path? Let’s look at the words “possible” and “path” to answer that question. The word possible is defined as “being within the limits of ability, capacity, or realization,” while the word path is defined as “a trodden way.” Put the two meanings together and you get a way that is within the ability, capacity, and realization of childhood trauma survivors to experience.

Not everyone will tread down the possible path. Some will refuse out of fear of the unknown while others will cling to their identity as victims. But there are those of us who stubbornly refuse to leave the way of recovery from childhood trauma. We are sick and tired of being sick and tired. We shun victim mentality whenever we find it within ourselves and strive to rewire our brains.

Childhood trauma and the brain

The aftereffects of childhood trauma are profound. According to a literature review of studies, childhood trauma “has detrimental consequences on the biological stress systems, and cognitive and brain development.” The extreme stress that trauma brings “can impair the development of the brain and nervous system,” as the National Child Traumatic Stress Network states.

A study released in 2021 by University of Alberta researchers shows that childhood trauma leads to changes in specific regions of the brain called the amygdala and the hippocampus. Researchers looked at 35 participants in the study with major depressive disorder. Researchers found that participants with major depressive disorder and a history of childhood trauma, “had significant negative associations” in the amygdala and hippocampus. Researchers concluded that the study provides evidence of a link between childhood trauma and changes in the brain of those with major depressive disorder.

PTSD as an aftereffect of childhood trauma

The American Psychological Association (APA) defines trauma as “an emotional response to a terrible event,” and PTSD as “an anxiety problem that develops in some people after extremely traumatic events.” PTSD is a disorder and listed in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).

There are three main areas of the brain impacted by trauma: the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex (PFC). Located in the brain’s limbic system, the amygdala controls emotions. It helps determine if a threat exists and if there is one, it starts the fight-or-flight response and then helps determine if the threat still exists. The amygdala in a person who has experienced trauma is fine-tuned to seek out threats even if one is safe and activates the fight-or-flight response. The brain of a person who has PTSD gets trapped into a fight-or-flight response loop because the amygdala is constantly looking for and perceiving threats everywhere.

The hippocampus is the part of the brain that plays a role in memory function. It interacts constantly with the amygdala. Brain scans reveal that people with PTSD have smaller hippocampi. Memory becomes fragmented in someone experiencing PTSD, and that causes the hippocampus to struggle to piece together memory and integrate the memory of experiences and the feelings those memories cause with facts. Flashbacks result which triggers the amygdala.

The PFC is the region of the brain that regulates behaviors, impulses, emotions, and fear responses. The PFC is less active in those with PTSD and unable to override the hippocampus when it produces flashbacks or sends a signal to the amygdala that the danger is not real.

Childhood trauma and neuroplasticity

Healing from PTSD is possible because rewiring the brain is possible. The process of rewiring the brain is called neuroplasticity. There are several ways you can rewire your brain that are proven to lessen PTSD symptoms. We will look at the ways you can rewire your brain in the coming weeks. For now, let the hope of rewiring your brain take deep root within you.

Did anything trigger you? Take a deep breath and pray this simple prayer:

Oh Lord, I surrender to You. I know that You are the One who created me and created my brain. I lift my brain to you and ask that You heal it of any damage caused by childhood trauma. I also ask that You empower me to do what I can do to rewire my brain.