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’m pleased that you acknowledge the body because so much of your area of practice and, of course, our culture is brain- and intellect-focused. What do you know about the soul in terms of trauma? Have you worked with energy practitioners to learn about the energy of trauma and how the soul reacts to trauma? Remember, many scientific practices are recognizing the contribution of traditional wisdoms, practices and medicines. Are you including this area in your research? And, if not, what is your work for the soul consist of? I’m looking for alignment, understanding because I fully believe that we can remove the lines between modalities and practices to better, more fully assist a growing population of drug, alcohol, lifestyle addicts who are reacting to traumas. This, of course, undermines affected people from engaging in parenting, contributing to their personal growth and functionality and this breaks down social mores. This is a huge concern for the world today, as I know you agree. How can we come from more than one corner to surround people in need?
I hear you. As a sufferer it is a transendental experience the moment you realise that you are loveable! Alternative therapies were the key to my healing. I could not have healed so completly without them.
Foster little Sotho girl from 10 mnths. Mum left her when she was two weeks old. Spend all these months in hospital. Hands tied up and tied together. No bottel, no clothes no attention. Waiting for heart operation. She is six now and has extreme anger issues. Throwing stuff at me hitting kicking screaming. WHAT CAN I DO??? NEED HELP PLEASE
thank you for your very accurate information. I recognized myself easily.
I’ve had two serious M.V.A. where I almost died on both occasions. In both occasions, I had cerebral concussions. Unfortunately, the last time I was on the job. Here in British Columbia, the insurance co. that takes care of employees accidents doesn’t help them. It’s been over 16 years since I’ve had the last car accident.
I was lucky that I had a partner who helped financially but I cannot work for long periods of time as I get overwhelmed easily. I also have difficulties with concentration.
The psychologist who wrote my condition didn’t have much interest in helping me as he knew that no one can fight this kind of working insurance co,.
I studied nutrition to increase my energy and my concentration. I also stay active physically to the best of my ability.
Is the trauma of enslavement generational?
WOW. This is a very relevant body of work you are exploring as thousands of comments below attest. There is no doubt that “silent and civil wars” in our own “normal” North American lives can sometimes qualify as trauma-inducing, leaving shock waves of insecurity, physical discomfort, panic in sorting one crisis from the next. Even in PEACEFUL fimes we need all the back up we can get to negotiate the best direction to turn after prayer….
“Barred” approach, Duncan’s running shoes strategies;
jurisprudence involving acme but also efficiency!
I would like to have more information about self calming tools that clients can use effectively for anxiety and panic.
I say I have to agree. I have been coping with PTSD after a very tragic event 32 yrs ago. Life worked itself out but I have gone through difficulties after my divorce and uprooting of my home etc. i
I feel retraumatizec. I get it and his key it’s make tons of sense
Books that would help clients to unveil trauma.
Im curious on, what does Mourning loss do for the brain. And besides Exposure therapy being most sorted after therapy to treat PTSD in australia. What therapy would be as effective in treating PTSD.
I’ve had two craniotomies. How does brain surgery and trauma co-relate? Thanks, Andrew
I’ve had two craniotomies. How does brain surgery and trauma co-relate?
I work in the FASD field and wonder how you approach working with co-occurring neurodevelopmental conditions and post-birth trauma.
How does trauma affect the manner in which a person experiences and deals with conflict? I am thinking in particular of those with PTSD from combat, especially those Seals and other elite units who are trained to enter very dangerous situations and kill if needed to succeed in their mission. As a mediator I’ve handled family cases in which the returning service member created chaos in sessions, jumping from one topic to another.
I want to experience what works in my own life to help my neurological and psychological trauma experiences and learn to offer these for others. I currently work as a body worker with opportunity to release and heal trauma and wish to add and combine talk therapy in order to work with Trauma in the future. My own process is the journey. Besides emdr what else do we have available to heal?
Traditional shamanism deals directly with trauma. You might be interested in looking into it.
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Is physiological trauma included in these views? I refer to traumatic birth, and in particular induced violent birth as was inflicted on many babies in the fifties. This does not leave PTSD with blunted self-perception, but sharp & refined internal perceptions (including to pressure such as water or oxygen pressure gradients, gravity, and tissue damage).
It also leaves an altered oxytocin/Adh-Avp production in the hypothalamus.
Do you know of any phsyiological interventions to restore this small hypothalamic nucleus? (psycho-physical, brain, and behavioural methods only allow to ‘manage’ this, to ‘live with it’, not restore.
How do I get my children & family & friends to understand & be able to support me instead of being frustrated & angry….blaming me for not working hard enough to get better & writing me off as irrational & crazy. I can’t get better without their understanding, patience & love….most of the time I have to isolate myself & try to see them for short amounts of time so I can hold the anxiety & fear in just hoping they don’t trigger me (I think I may trigger their own pain & frustrations)…most people who loved me now just avoid me instead of helping me then it seems I attract & am prey to the predators who can see/feel my vulnerablitilies when I try to be positive & reach out to someone as more trauma & betrayal occur…makes me worse & the cycle continues, mostly when I think or feel I am getting better, feeling stronger & ready to face the world. I do work on myself, I have seen many psychologists over the years (limited by money), attended seminars, I research stuff, I try to be present & aware, I walk, breath & do positive affirmations, I allow myself to cry & release tensions, I eat healthy, I rarely drink or drug, I am around animals for affection & love…I try to do yoga & get massages for human touch but feel so unloved & misunderstood…I feel my main barrier to healing is financial as I have no where to live & settle (transient as no one wants me to stay too long & I can’t find affordable housing…I am proud & do not want to be a taker or bludger), I find it difficult to find or maintain work….no one gets it so I they persecute me further for not being able to earn an income & get my life together so I feel worse & isolate further until I feel strong enough to venture out & try again….this has been going on for about 10 years or so….my memory is terrible most of the time & my communication & explanations for my behaviour become desperate rambling & scrambled hysteria at times…I just don’t know or understand why help & support is so expensive & if it even works!!!
An interesting video thank you. I am most interested to know of any self help tools that help return the brain to normal function after trauma…
I would like to know more about treatments options for treating PTSD. I’d also like to know more about reframing the one with PTSD when they have been triggered and are in fear or angry or focusing on themselses.
I’ve been through trama, I’m working to clear it but if I even have to talk or text the person involved my panic rushes back. How can I cut all emotional connection and feel nothing but calm when I have to deal with this person?
After trauma in your opinion is it bestto allow a client to close down and hind away for a little while from the world or would the best course of action be talking and sensory work for example emdr.?
I fully affirm the model articulated in your article – that is, the need to support patients to transition and learn to self-regulate from hyper-aroused states to equilibrium and relaxed alertness; however, what is not articulated in this paper (which is emphasized in the attachment literature, infant-mother research literature, and relational and emotion processing literatures) is that, traumatized people people need a sense of human connection, belonging, emotional attunement, and comfort, in order to recover for trauma. And thus, overtly attending to human connection, face to face responsiveness is a part of the brain – sense of self – recovery process. Once a trauma survivor experiences forms of good enough attunement with a therapist, they can begin to seek out people in their every day lives who are able to provide such relational qualities, and they can learn to help shape their relationships to become more mutually attuned; which is a crucial part of healing from trauma.
I am eager to have the public more fully educated, and able to access adequately trained therapists, who can provide – along with the brain processing work you’ve emphasized – this crucial added dimension to their therapeutic work of attempting to help traumatized people heal and grow.
Thank you for your consideration of these thoughts/perspectives. i am eager to dialogue with colleagues who are integrating these attachment- relational attunement dimensions into trauma therapy work.
I found this so helpful in understanding my partner’s reactions when I accidentally ” push his buttons” and trigger him. I’d like to know how I can halt his angry feelings towards me in that moment? How can I help
Soothe him, calm him so that it doesn’t escalate or turn into a disagreement with out being his ” mother” or demasculating him, or minimize his feelings since they are so real to him in the moment. Often this comes up when we are on the telephone . We have a long distance relationship and most of the time these situations arise when we are not physically together. How do I avoid walking into the mine field and how do I protect myself once I land there? His verbal assaults hurt my feelings even though I know they are not really about me. He always apologizes and feels badly about himself afterwards. How do I protect myself and not make him feel worse in the process. He also has big abandonment issues related to his childhood ptsd, so I am very conscious of not “disappearing” when he starts going off.
How can you help a person out of the brain responses described? It seems people get into a pattern of reaction which makes it difficult for them to live their day to day lives (sleep a full night, work, focus on academics, enjoy being alive) and also to progress to a new way of responding to the traumatic event and move forward in a positive direction.
I also want to see if you offer any courses (in person or online) to provide tools to work with our own trauma. Something that’s in depth, interactive and ongoing.
My questions are 1) how would I find a trustworthy and capable trauma therapist and community locally and 2) I want to echo the questions about how people with PTSD can help heal themselves in various and palatable ways.
This short videos are great for jump starting my day. Specifically as a trauma specialist I am aware of patients tendencies to back off the trauma work at times. When we consider the defense mechanisms in the brain of a trauma patient that is an expected response as they grow the phobia. Thanks so much for these little reminders as the difficult work gets done.
Childbirth is the ultimate experience of brain and body–and unfortunately a frequent experience of physical and psychological trauma. I am conducting qualitative research on the experience of traumatic childbirth with 487 women. I am interested in learning more about the specific plasticity of the maternal brain during the stages of labor, birth, and postpartum. I am also looking for literature regarding the morphology of the maternal brain and trauma in the first year postpartum, and over the lifespan (there are subjects in my study who experienced trauma over a decade prior to participating in study). I can’t find anything in the literature, and any help would be much appreciated!
What are some self help tools for dealing with trauma ? I ask specifically because someone I know cannot afford treatment.
How can I get healed of PTSD?
So what may I do to change or program my brain back to before the trauma after it is passed and I am safe?
I’d love a transcript of great information like this. I took notes, but had to stop and start the video several times so I could capture all of it. I appreciate that it would take time to conduct this additional service, but I think it would help a lot. Thank you for your kind consideration!
I want to know what actions a PTSD sufferer can take themselves to forge new neural pathways, thereby creating change in the brain?
My son was stabbed , he had 5 surgeries in 3 days ad 58 units of blood and blood products. When the entubation tube was removed he cried and said someone stabbed me why. Very vulnerable. He has not cryed again and emotions seem contained. He is oversee protective of his children now . I can see some of the changes you spoke of in his behavior. Plus he developed RA auto immune disease that could be helped with reconnection to self I think.
I had a year and a half of CBT after I witnessed in person the betrayal of my husband and developed PTSD. I had 4 years of marriage counseling, but additional actions continued to retraumatize me. I separated from my husband, and now I’m in EMDR therapy and group therapy. Do you have any suggestions for me?
I think that people underestimate the trauma that is associated with loss and bereavement particularly with children.
I am so sorry that happened to you. One thing that is fabulous is by Rhonda Byrnes, entitled, The Power. Check it out, to this day it is by far the best.
I experienced sexual molestation verbally, with penetration, with threats, when I was preverbal and in diapers. Through hypnosis and relaxation I have some memories of that time, which lasted somewhere between weeks and perhaps 6-9 months. This has led to other difficult, painful and dangerous behaviors in my adult life, including multiple serious and not-so-serious suicide attempts. Knowing the circumstances that have set up these behaviors in my life has been helpful in reducing the guilt, blame and shame, but I still feel that I am merely ‘managing’ things, not actually healing and transforming. I am having physical sensation flashbacks–not of the event itself, but of what my genital area felt like afterwards. I believe I have to go through this pain consciously to get to the other side. I have survived by numbing myself and thus numbing my life. I don’t feel like I can go through this process alone, and I am currently looking for some kind of healer to help me through. I haven’t found anyone yet. I am wondering if you have dealt with some similar kind of situation.
What are the best resources for male rape victims?
After 2 failed abusive marriages, I believe they are just part of the puzzle that explains my anxiety disorder. Other trauma’s such as death’s in the family have also affected me. There have been more stresses in my life that have accumulated over the years that developed into an anxiety disorder. I believe a good support system can help people experiencing extreme stress. For it is part of the brain controlled by the autonomic nervous system. Not having that support system can make all the difference between life long anxiety issues and knowing how to control the stress. I am a licensed nurse, 61, not working due to health conditions. Fighting for social security disability. I cannot afford therapy and take a small dosage of meds. I am glad I understand this condition. And do practice relaxation techniques. People that do not understand this condition surely think they are going crazy sometimes. It can affect all aspects of life. I wish there were more professional resources for folks dealing with this condition.
Please send me the the names of the
Very very best PTSD psychiatrist/s in Florida. I have just been diagnosed with 100%
PTSD from extended childhood and adulthood traumas.
I am wholly committed to healing and I know
“The Body Keeps the Score”
Thank you,
I can also see someone in Boston if need be because I have a second home in Wareham;
And may be acquiring a base in Atlanta.
Thank you extremely for all you do
Anne B
Thank you for this opportunity to have a voice 🙂 Long term Severe PTSD sufferer .. since May 1989 age 26 yrs. Unbeknowns to me I was suffering from PTSD. First symptoms extreme shock (catatonic) then unstoppable fear. Years with a violent husband who violently committed suicide and nearly took me with him. My father was a RAAF pilot who until just before he died, the family was unaware of his PTSD sufferings .. he managed for many years to keep them hidden. I managed to string somethings together when I asked him “Dad, Im just like you aren’t I ?” He said “yes chicken, but not quite the same”. I have 2 siblings neither or them are PTSD sufferers. I was only diagnosed in 2008!! Long term chronic tiredness and inflammation in my joints not allowing me to walk anymore beggining in 2001 now accompanied the never ending fear .. and numerous (atleast 40 other weird symptoms and illnesses just kept occuring and had been doing so for numerous years before 2001. 2003 I went into a major re- stimulation of which I have never identified a trigger. Having had enough … I finally just went into a Mental Health Hospital and “gave myself up .. defeated” I thought that I would be locked away in an insane Assylum. Nope .. diagnosed long term PTSD and very psychic. It would appear that the re- wiring of my brain (trauma) had not only made me suffer from the heightenend fright fear recurring in your face, never going away flashbacks … but had also rewired my brain so that I was sooo psychic .. it was frightening ( Not to be confused with voice hearing from diagnosed schizophrenic patients!!!) Predominantly clairvoyant. I have done the trainings, mindfulness etc had the anti depressents and psuedo opioids for long term chronic pain for the myriad of diseases I now have. I too as a lady above has stated .. am at my wits end!! I am now 53. I am alone… unable to bond with another due to PTSD so no children.. Also many many sad and tragic losses in my lifetime .. incessantly really. And am now at the point of .. what to do from here!! Can we truly ever heal ???
Trauma is like a death; or is it? Does one ever get back to pre-trauma state or do you just learn to live with it? Second, are meds the only answer – does EMDR really work?
I have had multiple traumas mainly to do with tragic deaths and enormous losses, including trauma from a workplace injury that has left me permanently handicapped not only physically, but also mentally and emotionally – and now traumatized. Third, in treatment, do you pick one or group the traumas to attempt healing?
Thank you,
Jacquie
Thank you for explaining the 3 different core changes in individuals suffers with PTSD.
In my practice I come across individuals who are unable to enjoy relationships and connection. My question is what approaches do you take to reverse the dampening or shut down of all sensory pleasures such as enjoyment of company, love, sex and connection.
Thanks.
as a result of my trauma(s) i am afraid of these types of things happening again and every small event that occurs in my life that is even in the smallest way related to them sends me into a spin of anxiety and worry and my body feels ILL. What can do to stop relating the smallest of events to the major traumas? i am so tired and worn out form fighting the thoughts of worry and anxiety. i wake up every morning in fear. and fear of what? I am not sure sometimes.
How do we help the brain return to its pre traumatised state?
I go to counselling .I have bipolar 1 but i manage it pretty good. I take my meds and have relized drugs or drinking will make me get sick.
I do not feel the counscelling is enough for me. It helps but is there something else I can use in the mental health system here in Victoria bc Canada. I belong to Victoria Island Mental Health and have a psychiatrist. They do not have a lot of time so they are just ask medication questions some little other questions and that is it. I have been sexual abuse for 6 years by my sister, my mother has BP, but drank with it and had very scary men in are lives. one in which burnt our house down and took a hand gun to my mom s head and brothers. He beat us black and blue so many times that I do not even know what was going on. anyhow. with all these issues I have anxiety, major fear, a little bit of PDSD. and our afraid of men until I get to know them. I have worked on my self alot but really at a loss of how to get more help. I just feel there s always that suffering there. I can’t relax nor can I be in the moment. so most of my life is passing me by. Just like the doctor said, I have all of that. so what else should I read or who can help me in Victoria Bc. I am on disability for my mental state. Thanks for listening. I thought if I didn’t tell you all this you would know who to direct me too?
Have a great day! Thanks for reading
How then do we facilitate change in those parts of the brain back to a state of normalcy.
My trauma resulted from emotional abandonment after 34 yrs of a very good marriage.
I want to know how I can overcome the overwhelming sense that I must never allow myself to be so badly injured again.
The marriage continues, seemingly better than before if you view the observable interaction.
But my pain is ongoing. The perpetrator is still my husband and unable to engage on an emotional level.
There is no point in talking it out, he will never “get” it. I’ve chosen to stay in the relationship because it’s where I want to be, regardless. But the damage is there and I must deal with it alone. I feel like I’ll never be really happy again.
Susan, Sometimes we hold onto the familiar even if it continues to damage us because we fear the change that leaving will make. It is challenging to begin to heal from damage when a perpetrator continues to feature. I hope that you can find strength to be free. In my experience, there follows a period of days/weeks of adjustment, but thereafter a feeling of immense relief grows inside. Freedom from tyranny or the emotional slights that have ruled your daily life. It brings with it an opportunity to experience friends and rediscover oneself. Do not be afraid to start from the beginning. A fresh start take guts, but regardless of your age, you an still Persue dreams. With the right application, we can all e what ever we wish to be.
I spent my life putting one foot in front of the other until I left a traumatic and abusive marriage. Only when I recognised the abuse did I see the trauma of the marriage and other areas of my life. At 9 I was sent to school and never went home again. We moved country and. My parents divorced. I have no memories before being 9. Then I was able to recognise other traumas in my life. It is as if there has been a ladder of events culminating in one where I was forced to topple from the top of the ladder and find a way to heal. It is like a permanent diet now of sustained care for myself.