02/11/2024
When we experience trauma, our brain shifts into "survival mode" to keep us safe. This shift, meant to protect us in dangerous situations, can become the brain’s default mode in people with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Let’s explore what that survival brain looks like and how it shapes behavior.
In trauma, our brain is wired to respond with fight, flight, or freeze to protect us from perceived danger. This response can be life-saving during the trauma, but when it becomes constant, as in PTSD, it deeply affects behavior and thinking. In PTSD, the brain may remain on high alert, scanning the environment for potential threats, even in safe situations.
How it reflects in daily life:
1. Hypervigilance and Overreactivity: People with PTSD often feel on edge, anticipating danger at any moment. This "always-on" mode can make it hard to relax, feel safe, or focus on everyday activities.
2. Emotional Triggers and Flashbacks: Memories related to the trauma can resurface unexpectedly, leading to intense feelings, flashbacks, or emotional numbness. Everyday sounds, smells, or images can become triggers, bringing past trauma into the present moment.
3. Difficulty with Memory and Concentration: Trauma can make it difficult to remember information or keep attention on tasks. This can be frustrating for people with PTSD, impacting work, school, or personal relationships.
4. Impulsivity and Emotional Outbursts: With survival brain in control, emotional regulation becomes challenging. People might feel out of control with anger, sadness, or fear, or find themselves reacting impulsively to perceived threats.
5. Exhaustion and Physical Health Issues: Survival brain keeps stress hormones high, which can lead to fatigue, sleep problems, headaches, and other health issues. Long-term stress affects both mental and physical well-being.
With trauma-focused therapies, mindfulness, and self-regulation practices, it’s possible to retrain the brain, calming the survival responses. Over time, the brain learns to feel safe again, helping people with PTSD regain control over their lives and emotions.
Survival brain is an adaptive tool for life-threatening moments. But in the context of PTSD, understanding it can help guide us toward resilience and healing.
Illustration credit: Hairy Plish
