How does trauma affect the brain?

Some people deny that marijuana, alcohol, nicotine, or even caffeine are not gateway drugs. Traumatic events such as accidents, childhood abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse are the real gateways to bigger problems such as violent behavior, substance abuse, hypersexuality, depression, and self-harm. According to neuroengineering expert Dr. Curtis Cripe, there is some truth to this.

Trauma can impair certain brain functions for threat detection and response, as well as emotion regulation. One example of trauma-induced neurological disorder is post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. This condition involves irregularities in threat perception, threat sensitivity, self-image, and emotional functions. It can cause certain phobias, sleep disorders, anxiety attacks, and difficulties in concentration.

According to experts, PTSD affects areas of the brain such as the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex. The amygdala is designed to detect environmental threats which trigger our fight or flight response. It also helps us deal with a threat and helps us store new emotional or threat-related memories. The prefrontal cortex controls attention and awareness, decision making, voluntary behavior, determine the emotional value of events, regulate emotions, and correct dysfunctional reactions.

Neurological damage due to trauma can manifest itself in many ways, according to Dr. Curtis Cripe. Some brain dysfunctions induced by trauma includes hyperarousal, increased fear and anger, decreased positive energy, impulsivity, and reactive anger. All these dysfunctions make a person less in charge of their emotions and how they are triggered.

Dr. Curtis Cripe Ph.D. has behind him a diverse professional and academic background spanning several disciplines. As an aerospace engineer, he was a senior systems engineer at JPL, participating in several deep space research missions throughout the latter half of the 1970s and a project supervisory role at TRW, Inc., heading several software development teams for a number of Department of Defense projects. More reads on neurological disorders here.