Chemistry Connections
Chemistry Connections
Embedded Files
Background
Background
Studies on trauma have identified changes in brain structure and chemistry that can lead to substance abuse and metal disorders which often result in homelessness. These include:
Studies on trauma have identified changes in brain structure and chemistry that can lead to substance abuse and metal disorders which often result in homelessness. These include:
Overstimulated amygdala: The amygdala is responsible for threat identification and tagging memories with emotion. After trauma the amygdala can get caught in a highly alert loop in which it looks for and perceives threats everywhere (1).
Overstimulated amygdala: The amygdala is responsible for threat identification and tagging memories with emotion. After trauma the amygdala can get caught in a highly alert loop in which it looks for and perceives threats everywhere (1).
Underactive hippocampus: Research has shown that people with trauma have smaller hippocampi. Because the hippocampus is crucial to storing/retrieving memories and distinguishing between past and present memories, traumatized persons can lose the ability to discriminate between past and present, resulting in flashbacks that seem real (2).
Underactive hippocampus: Research has shown that people with trauma have smaller hippocampi. Because the hippocampus is crucial to storing/retrieving memories and distinguishing between past and present memories, traumatized persons can lose the ability to discriminate between past and present, resulting in flashbacks that seem real (2).
Shrinkage of the Ventralmedial PreFrontal Cortex (VmPFC): Due to this brain region shrinking, the ability to regulate emotions is reduced in people experiencing trauma. The smaller size results in fear, anxiety, and extreme stress responses when the brain is triggered - even by things not connected to the original trauma (3)
Shrinkage of the Ventralmedial PreFrontal Cortex (VmPFC): Due to this brain region shrinking, the ability to regulate emotions is reduced in people experiencing trauma. The smaller size results in fear, anxiety, and extreme stress responses when the brain is triggered - even by things not connected to the original trauma (3)
Ineffective Hormonal Regulation: With traumatic stress, hormone feedback loops can sometime fail and interfere with a body's ability to regulate itself. In particular, excessive Corticotropin-Releasing-Hormone (CRH) may overstimulate the adrenal gland and sympathetic nervous system resulting in fatigue of the brain and other body systems (4).
Ineffective Hormonal Regulation: With traumatic stress, hormone feedback loops can sometime fail and interfere with a body's ability to regulate itself. In particular, excessive Corticotropin-Releasing-Hormone (CRH) may overstimulate the adrenal gland and sympathetic nervous system resulting in fatigue of the brain and other body systems (4).
Supporting Efforts to Find Lasting Solutions to Homelessness
Supporting Efforts to Find Lasting Solutions to Homelessness
11th Grade SABE students will analyze efforts to combat homelessness to see if they include therapies that have been shown to reverse trauma-related changes in brain structures and chemistry. For example, "housing first" programs such as Humble Design and Habitat for Humanity provide long term housing intended to meet the aesthetic and privacy needs of their clients. The inclusion of social support programs designed to treat emotional trauma and related substance abuse disorders could also contribute to the success of these programs in preventing return to homelessness (5).
11th Grade SABE students will analyze efforts to combat homelessness to see if they include therapies that have been shown to reverse trauma-related changes in brain structures and chemistry. For example, "housing first" programs such as Humble Design and Habitat for Humanity provide long term housing intended to meet the aesthetic and privacy needs of their clients. The inclusion of social support programs designed to treat emotional trauma and related substance abuse disorders could also contribute to the success of these programs in preventing return to homelessness (5).
(1) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2840837/
(2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20600466
(3) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2907136/
(4) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3182008/
(5) https://www.coalitionforthehomeless.org/ending-homelessness/proven-solutions/
Report abuse