The treatment of trauma can be some of the most complex work practitioners face.
And for years, this challenge was complicated by not having a clear picture of the impact that trauma has on the brain.
But scientific advances within just the past few years have opened the eyes of practitioners to what actually happens in the brain of someone who has experienced trauma.
And according to Bessel van der Kolk, MD, there are three major ways that the brain changes in response to trauma.
To find out what they are (and their impact on the body), take a look at the video below – it’s just 3 minutes.
Bessel is one of the world’s leading experts in trauma and PTSD. Because of his research, we have a deeper understanding of how trauma impacts both body and brain.
And this is crucial – it can help us target our interventions more effectively.
So now, we’d like to hear from you . . .
When it comes to the treatment of trauma, what do you want to know most? Please leave your comment below.
I fear everything now. I do not think I ever want to love, hold, or be with another man. I only leave the house if I need to. I am just waiting to die
I am an LMT ( massage Therapist) and I a keenly interested in the mind body connection and how body work can help people who are struggling to recuperate from trauma.
I want to know how school administrators can be educated about this, because we have students who make poor decisions, can’t judge what’s important, take action in ways that are destructive and which their forebrain would deny and these actions lead to punishment, because that’s how the school systems are set up. I am coming from a point of Non-violent communication and Embodiment Facilitation, where instead of punishment, people could learn to see other people’s feelings and needs, especially when there are deep-seated pains and fears in the body, prompting the responses to look like willfully destructive acts, the child or teenager is “destroying” him/ herself when this is not recognized. I am an educator in the UK and I have trained with Mark Walsh in Embodiment, longing for a way to change the minds of my colleagues. The establishment is overwhelming.
A client of mine clearly suffers from two of the dimensions of brain “damage” referred to by Dr. Van der Kolk in this brief video: the midline brain damage of blunted feeling and the upper frontal damage to the recognition of what is important now and what can be filtered out. I have two questions” What evidence is there for the physiological damage that has occurred (or is the evidence inferential) and what are the targeted treatments?
It would be interesting if you guys write a book with these valuable information in depths. It definitely will be a great source of information for those, like me, who are barely engaging into the psychology, psychiatric, and neurology field.
This is interesting and relates to my feeling of ‘it is not my brain reacting. It is my body’. For example if an ambulance comes by with sirens blaring I will talk myself into calm but as the ambulance passes right by me,I will literally jump out of my seat and the tears begin flowing. However, since it is not my cognitive part that is affected the response goes as quick as it came – leaving only a tired feeling in my body.
How do you overcome the fear of letting people close to you & enjoying intimacy instead of seeing it as a threat, or as possible abandonment & rejection?
How to best deal it.
My life is ‘normal’, I laugh, can have fun with people, listen to music, go to shows. I am quite healthy in my 85th year. I’m careful, I don’t see or fear danger in my home or the outside world. I like to talk to people in the street, and their children. I like people.
I work and write about our seriously mentally ill in Australia; particularly protesting the defunding that so often occurs in their psychiatric hospitals, affecting staff, patients and their care.
How can I change my brain to remove further years emptiness and loss? Today it is 14 years since Anne was admiitted to the psychiatric hospital where she was sent out and died, because of dereliction of duty of care.
What are alternatives to “tapping” when the trauma centers in the face/head causing tapping to be a trigger?
How can we balance trauma release for peace of mind with the body’s limited ability to handle the physiological insult of processing the trauma? In Dr. van der Kolk’s book, he mentions neurofeedback. I haven’t had the opportunity yet to experience that form of treatment, and am wondering if it may decrease the intensity of the physiological response.
I find that sharing the science helps people begin to listen to their bodies differently – ‘it’s not all in my head!’ Knowing that they have these heightened or dampened neural responses makes sense to most people. Now they are more willing to persist with the mindfulness, the ‘re-programming’ and the discomfort of creating new ways of responding. It is also a spritiually moving expereince for some people to understand that their most despairing moments are uber driven by the fear response, and that they do not need to believe in the words and images that arise in those moments – that ‘I wish I were dead’ need only be a signal of the depth of the response but not a command to act.
My mother used to call those my ‘Pearl White’ moments when I was a young person – and while ignoring or mocking someone’s declaration of despair is neither wise nor compassionate, I do find I can now with a gentle humour watch my thoughts of despair and know that my Mountie (me the adult) will inevitably arrive to untie me from my railroad tracks.
I work with adults who were traumatized, abused, neglected in their family of origin. Some have severe OCD rituals to cope with dangers they fear. I would like to know more specific coping mechanisms that I can teach so they can feel more control over the rituals. One client has had these rituals wine childhood and she is 46 now. She wants to learn these techniques, but fears losing the coping skills the rituals have provided. Thank you
When asking feedback from psychotherapy clients about their experience of therapy (what helped them most during therapy) most therapy clients (been treated for trauma experiences) reply that basic imaginary training to help them the most. That is imaginary exposure from safe “helicopter” perspective. I use that a lot combined to solution focused setting. Typically this folllows the therapy period of strenghtening clients recources first of course. The therapy process seems to change the “farmes” of the experience. It seems to help clients. My question is what do you see would be the most efficient method to help therapy clients, please? In practical level what do you recommend?
I had a happy childhood, then came a nursing career. I worked in peadiatrics and neurosurgery,
in Melbourne and NYC. I married an American and had 2 sons and 2 daughters. A happy family, we moved to Australia in 1973. We settled in well . My marriage ended after 25 years. My older daughter became ill and was diagnosed with schizophrenia. My life as carer revolved around her. A malevolent, intractable disease, I watched her talent, creativity, love of life and friends disappear. She tried to die by suicide twice and went into a rebound psychosis when 40. In a psych. unit for 37 days, she was discharged against my wishes, without a risk assessment. She died by suicide 30 hours later from that dereliction of duty of care. I have had help but can’t recover. On Feb. 3rd I relive her last 37 days. After 14 years I weep for her every day. My life is good, but I remain mourning. What can help?
I happened on your comment today; Feb 3. Thinking of you and your sorrow at the loss of your beloved daughter and sending thoughts and prayers to you! xo
Hi what happens when your nervous system blows out & normal neurological functioning is lost (movement & speech), yet the tests all show nothing wrong? Apparently it is called Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder. What is happening in my brain & is there anything I can do about it?
Thank you
Hi thanks for this.
As a school counselor I would like to know if there is an easy to understand way to describe the impact of trauma to both young children, teenagers and their parents? I like the video and would welcome some easy leaflets and such to give out.
Is trauma treatable without drug therapy?
Definitely. emofree.com pstec.org Marisa Peer: Ultimate Confidence
I work with pregnant women, and those with a history of trauma and abuse seem to have very low tolerance for discomforts of pregnancy, fetal movement, to say nothing of their tolerance for pain in labor. Is there any way to work with them to reduce these outsize sensations that plague them? I suspect that on some level, the 9 month long ‘invasion’ of their body by the fetus is perceived as an unremitting attack and a revisiting of their abuse when they had no control over what happened to their bodies. On the other hand, I can imagine that pregnancy might be a time ripe for healing some of those wounds, and the postpartum period of skin-to-skin, breastfeeding, and nurturing their baby could provide an opportunity for changing their relationship with their body.
Hi. Thanks for sharing this video. What is an intervention that works for persons with military PTSD who are no longer able to engage romantically and have no desire for physical touch? They otherwise have benefited from interventions such as cognitive therapy and seem to be coping. Additionally, sleep disruption and digestion issues like bloating continue to plague the individual. What other things can be done to improve quality of life.
My friend who has military PTSD for many years, yesterday woke with amnesia which lasted for around 15 hours. He had no idea who he or anybody else was for that matter. Could this be trauma related?
I have a question
I work with someone with PTSD who has been prescribed adderall (as well as Xanax ambien and lexapro)
The medication seems to intensify the fight/ flight response
She used cocaine to self medicate and was repeatedly sexually exploited while under the influence
It seems to me that cocaine mimics adderral which would keep her physically and emotionally charged
What do you think
I work with marginalised people from lower socio/economic experiences of life. they often have less resources in terms of education and family / friend support. Feeling and identities of failure as they do no meet perceived social expectations of ‘success’. Often feel the pressures of social security system that requires people to ‘be productive’ adds to their stress. What educational resources as well as small initial steps to managing their body reactions would be helpful as beginning discussions / interventions to start to experience some relief?
Well is there a way to get back to normal ?
thank you very much for posting this video, for I would like to learn more on how to re-set the mind after repeated and ongoing trauma from my (mother), and to stop attracting this in other areas of my life, that appears out of my control to stop. Thank you
Want to know more on how to target interventions and to know how trauma changes the body and brain.
Thank you.
What are the symptoms of PTSD? What are the best therapies for PTSD? Would a woman that experienced domestic abuse and alcohol addiction possibly have PTSD? What about the children that also were witnessing this how would that manifest in their lives? What help is available for the adult children that have gone on to become alcoholic as well?
I’d like to know if a series of traumatic events as opposed to one major one ( solder in war ) can lead to PTSD?
For example, moving,new job, new city, neglect, betrayal, denial of step son, infidelity, theft, divorce, bankruptcy, cancer diagnosis, mastectomy, barbaric chemo, reconstruction surgery, eviction etc…
Thank you,
DZ
What you are referring to is called complex trauma and can present similar and more complex symptoms.
Am going to share this with my psychotherapist….it was very helpful knowledge and makes personal sense to me….is there a way to view these changes via scans/mri or is this a deduction of another sort? Thanks so much for your informative help!
As a lifelong PTSD survivor, the message from Dr. van der Kolk is exactly what I need to hear. It reinforces my determination to be mindful of my emotions and my inner dialogue. It reminds me that my emergency response system is heightened, and that I can practice ways to calm myself. It reminds me that being present in the moment is a most desirable goal. So much of the time I have shut out the present while paying attention to the triggers on the fringes that non-PTSD suffered don’t even notice. And finally, he reminds me that, contrary to what I have been taught, the state of my limbic system may actually be more “important” to my mental health than the mind games I play at. Thank you, Dr. v d Kolk and thanks also for Dr. Buczynski and this sight. You are performing a worthwhile service!
Dear Ed,
All you say is true. If you haven’t purchased “The Body Keeps the Score”, by van der Kolk, I highly recommend it. The brain is very plastic. Recent neurological insights now confirm this. And…by attending, practicing new pathways and working with therapies that help the body diffuse or release the trauma triggers, we can gain increasing freedom over the trauma patterns.
All the best to you and your courageous approach.
If you are not trained in EMDR is using EFT a specific program or strategy that assists in re-wiring the brain? If yes, can you explain more about it? If no, what is a treatment strategy to follow?
I am having ah ha moments in listening to these sessions. It is like a spiral (or bad dream) that just keeps coming back. As I get more consciousness about what happened and the consequences, the more I understand various things in my personal life, relationships, reactions, and work situations. I was beaten as a baby. As an adult, I understand that my mother was probably dealing with a form of PTSD, possibly with other things (her personal past). She was a teenager in occupied Netherlands. She also became pregnant with me by my father who was from a different/higher social class. I do not hope for ‘an end’ to gaining more consciousness. I do hope to continue to clean out my own Pandora’s box. Perhaps my working at this can help me to help others. thank you for these enlightening sessions.
As a 62 year old who only realized I had been drugged and gang raped at 17 a few years ago
What I want to know is will I ever be able to have a physical relationship with a man and not immediately dissociate. Have been through 2
Trauma treatment programs (Washington Psychiatric in DC and EMDR with 2 practitioners)
But since the rape was 2nd trauma after a violent sex addicted alcoholic was in charge of raising me I remain something of a hot mess
Despite use of various meditation techniques (UM and Yoga Nidra) and other things like regular massages to be on better terms with my physical self
The other day i left a comment and i clicked on Post Comment and my comment was not there, what did i do wrong ? In a later email i will post as much of that comment as i remember, Don’t have the time now. Then i will talk about some of my life experiences of living with Doctors diagnose of “Severe PTSD” Thank You.
I have a feeling that I have PTSD but don’t know. I have never been able to afford good therapy. I have gone to many therapists but none have been able to really help me get to a level where I’m solvent enough to afford long term and alternative therapy. I am wondering, how do I go from here to there? It’s always been a challenge for me in my life just to get and keep a job, let alone get something that offers benefits or pays me enough so I can get therapy.
How can I make my brain work again? lol … it’s been 7 yrs, I’ve done a lot of healing, and still I feel like a zombie sometimes.
What modalities of therapy do you find the most effective in the treatment of trauma? What if the trauma happened when the adult was a child?
I would like to know how to change the brain back so it is healthy once again and those suffering from PTSD an have a joyful life.
As a professional, I understand that trauma recovery is a process. What are best practices in helping clients understand that trauma recovery is a process? Additionally, How are trauma recovery professionals encouraging clients to “stay instead of fleeing” trauma work?
I want to know how much Dr. van der Kolk’s interventions are applied you children in care of government systems, in particular to supporting them with their educational difficulties. Also if there are interventions, does it mend or fix the damage or would that person be considered to have a permanent cognitive disability?
I worked with teenagers who are experiencing homelessness, drug abuse and mental health issues. My focus is on daily living skills and providing a safe base for them to establish authentic, caring relationships and re-engage in work, school or training in order for them to make positive changes in their lives.
My main interest is in the most practical, behavioral approaches in working with young people who are recovering from traumatic background/histories, particularly the Mind/Body Connection. Any information on supporting their healing and learning how to regulate themselves – physically as well as mentally, is what I would be most interested in.
Thank you,
Eileen
What are strategies for growing the filter system? That is, learning how to better distinguish what is relevant and what can be dismissed. How can one tell she has focused on irrelevant stuff?
Top actions someone with PTSD can take to cope (without medication). Thanks!
My 22 year old son is suffering from PTSD. How can I help him? He cannot go out alone, or make phone calls. When I take him to the grocery store, or any other of his errands, he is hyper-vigilent, and becomes so overwhelmed that we need to leave. He is unable to enjoy himself as he never feels completely safe. He lives alone, and recently adopted a little dog, who he is very attached to.
Where can I begin?
I am working on these as we speak. My daughter and my therapist have had trauma too. Thanks.
I do not feel a lot any more. I feel blank and numb, and have felt this way since last December, 2014. I was a passionate, happy, engaged, very much alive person before all of this happened. I loved life and it took nothing at all to make me happy. I am trying to get myself back. I want to feel like me again instead of a person who goes through the motions of day to day life and just exists with no interest in living or experiencing life.
What treatment would you recommend for depression from trauma. I am a 70 yr old widow. I lost my husband and my 2 boys lost their father in a work related accident (drowning) 8 years ago. My younger son used to work with his father but was away at the time of the accident. At the time, he believed that he could have saved him. My son has become an alcoholic and a chronic drunk driver. He lives with me when he is not working (away in camp) and in October (anniversary of the death) he becomes very depressed and has a lot of anxiety and is not able to sleep. I have tried going thru detox with him but it was too scary; he has convulsions and I realized I was not trained to do this. He is back in camp now and I am trying to shake off my stress. I have relatives coming from Holland in 2 weeks; should I tell them what we have been going thru. It is their brother who passes away. Thks for this.
I would love advice on specific techniques to implement when working with individuals who have experienced extensive and repeated trauma and feel they are responsible for the trauma and for the longer term impacts of the trauma on their life. Any specific self-compassion focused techniques or other exercises to incorporate into the treatment process would be greatly appreciated!
I would like how to successfully help a client that suffers from PTSD, I know there is residue at physical level that is hard to get rid of, It is impregnated in the body, like an imprint. How to dissipate this memory from the physical body.
I know it is a slow process, but can we really get rid of the mark the scar that leaves in the physical body?
thanks
I am a counsellor with over 25 years experience working with multiple trauma survivors. I am also a board certified neurotherapist and a recently certified Moksha yoga teacher. I would like to know how best to offer these 3 treatment modalities to trauma survivors individually and in groups, in my counselling office and in the yoga studio. I look forward to hearing from you, Ellen Connell
That synopsis explains a lot about how and why people react the way they do. How can on intervene in this process in order to change the outcome? Also, is there a treatment currently that allows the panic to be halted or at least minimized without blunting the other emotions ?