Burnout in Churches and Christian Faith-Based Organisations

Below is a closer examination of the Triune Model and how stress and trauma affects brain
functionality.
1. The Neo-cortex - also referred to as the executive part of the brain. It is responsible for all
higher-order conscious activity, such as reason, self-awareness, language, decision making, and
holds thoughts and memories such as talking, writing, and learning.
2. The limbic system – also known as the emotional brain. This part is responsible for regulating
emotions and has a connection with the rational part of the brain that can manage difficult
thoughts and emotions without being overwhelmed. Terms such as amygdala and the
hypothalamus are commonly used when talking about stress and trauma. These areas of the
brain are designed to keep us safe. For example, the amygdala is known as an early warning
system that highlights that something is unsafe and forms a fast reaction in response. It is
called a “smoke alarm” indicating there is a fire/threat somewhere. It might not always be
accurate, but it responds quickly to a threat. The hippocampus also plays an important role in
encoding events as it is responsible for the ability to store and retrieve memories.
3. Reptilian brain- this is the most primitive part of the brain which keeps us alive, including
breathing, balance, feeding and regulating heartrate. A key element of the reptilian brain is
that it is instinctive and involuntary.
A classic example indicating how all three elements link is explained using a lion. If we come faceto-face
with a lion in a jungle, our automatic response to enable survival would be to run from the
lion, fight the lion or play dead and freeze. The stress response hormone is activated to aid quick and
instinctive reflexes to enable survival. Yet, what happens if we sensed a perceived threat which is less
obvious than being confronted by immediate danger, such as seeing a lion footprint? It would not be
helpful if the person saw the footprints and became curious and started asking rational questions
such as what type of lion is this? How close is the lion? Is it a dangerous lion? At this point, using
the rational part of the brain would slow down a lifesaving response. As a result, the neo-cortex part
of the brain shuts down, and the reptilian brain takes precedence over any other brain function as it
is designed to do. The limbic system interprets the emotional significance of this event and stores it
as visual and sensory memories. Levine (1997) notes that once the threat is over, the body and brain
system needs to calm, soothe and release the stress energy so normal brain and body activity resumes,
which includes the rational part of the brain being switched back on again.
Levine (1997) believes that humans have never found it easy to resolve the dilemma of the fight/
flight/freeze mode. When confronted with a life-threatening situation, our rational brains may become
confused and override our instinctive impulses. Though this overriding may be done for a good reason,
the confusion that accompanies according to Levine (1997) leads to trauma.
Whilst the Triune Model has been foundational in understanding our natural responses when
confronted with explicit danger, how is it relevant in today’s world as we do not live in a jungle? The
work of Porges (2003) has been ground-breaking in answering this question. He develops a more
sophisticated model that goes beyond the primitive root of the effects of the fight and flight response
and puts social relationships at the forefront of trauma. He argues that our survival depends on our
ability to connect socially. Perceived threats are picked up by cues from tone of voice and facial
expressions which can activate our nervous system and cause emotional dysregulation when we feel
unsafe. Relationships, connection, and attachment are vital in healthy human functioning and survival
and while relationships have the power to damage us, positive, kind, calm and loving relationships
also have the power to heal us.
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