Trauma and the Developing Brain - College of Education & Human ...

Handout for Trauma, The Developing Brain, Healing and Emotional Regulation Seminars
Karina A. Forrest-­‐Perkins MHR LADC, 2011
serious injury, or sexual or other physical assault. They can be one-­‐time occurrences, such as a
natural disaster, house fire, violent crime, or airplane accident, or they can be ongoing,
repeated, and relentless, as is often the case in combat or war. Child abuse and neglect, and
other forms of domestic violence are additional examples of this. Most often trauma is
accompanied by many losses. Unfortunately, traumatic events are quite common.
Reactions to traumatic events vary considerably, ranging from relatively mild, creating minor
disruptions in the person's life, to severe and debilitating. It is very common for people to
experience anxiety, terror, shock, and upset, as well as emotional numbness and personal or
social disconnection. People often cannot remember significant parts of what happened, yet
may be plagued by parts of memories that return in physical and psychological flashbacks.
Nightmares of the traumatic event are common, as are depression, irritability, sleep
disturbance, dissociation, and feeling jumpy.
Some of the problems people encounter after traumatic events are part of the diagnosis of
acute stress disorder (ASD). ASD describes experiences of dissociation (e.g., feelings of unreality
or disconnection), intrusive thoughts and images, efforts to avoid reminders of the traumatic
experiences, and anxiety that may occur in the month following the end of the events. When
these experiences last more than a month after traumatic experiences have stopped, they are
described by the diagnosis of post-­‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Other equally uncomfortable problems or symptoms may exist with or instead of PTSD. For
example, a traumatic event often challenges the person's sense of personal safety and control,
leaving him or her feeling less secure and more vulnerable. Physical health may suffer as well,
and individuals may notice increased feelings of fatigue, headaches, and other physical
symptoms. Many people traumatized in childhood also experience revictimization (being
harmed again) or aggression, identity disturbance (a feeling that you don't know who you are),
bodily problems such as illnesses or aches and pains without detectable physical cause
(somatization), difficulty staying on an even keel emotionally, and relationship problems.
What can be helpful after trauma?
It can be helpful to stay connected to natural support systems, whether they are friends,
coworkers, family, neighbors, other familiar groups, personal beliefs, or community. Taking care
of basic needs is important after trauma. This includes trying to get enough sleep, eating well,
exercising, drinking enough water and juice, and avoiding alcohol and caffeine. Keeping to
routines and activities if possible, and finding ways to assist someone else, can be helpful for
many. And it is particularly important to know you can ask for help.
How to decide whether you need help
People who have had traumatic life experiences cope the best way they can with their
memories and painful effects. For many people, reactions gradually diminish. Some find it
helpful to talk about what happened and their feelings, to get support from people who can be
trusted, or to be involved in other activities that help them to reconnect with people and find
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