Experiencing trauma: How it can affect me

Imagine for a moment our brain operating similarly to a ‘factory’, processing and converting our life events into ‘memories’. The factory sorts through and ‘files’ our memories in order, and then moves them into storage, if you like, via a virtual ‘conveyor belt’, into our ‘hippocampus‘, a big word for what is basically the ‘warehouse’ for all of the memories within our brain. 

How the brain stores memories

Our memories remain accessible, and we can usually call on them again when we need them. For example, if we went on holiday abroad last year, then memories of going through the airport can be easily recalled, aiding our preparations for any similar trip that we might be planning. We will be able to easily remember where the airport is, how long it takes to get there, where the entrance is, where the baggage drop-off is, where the shops and cafes are… You get the picture. Our memories are important!

Once used, the memory returns again to storage, where it remains until we may need to recall it again. Most of our memories are routine, uneventful, and our brain, the ‘factory’, can process and place them in storage easily, ‘integrating’ them among all of our other memories. However, if we have experienced painful, ‘traumatic events’ in our lives, then our memories can be frightening, terrifying, and painful. These types of memories are not as easy for our brains to process as our other memories.

So, what is trauma?

Trauma is our emotional response, think of things like fear, anxiety, confusion, that we can experience following a distressing event/s in our lives. This can be a single disturbing event that we have been involved in, a road traffic accident, for example, or perhaps witnessing a road traffic accident. Or it could be a number of or multiple disturbing events, being bullied for a prolonged period at school or work, being subjected to repeated physical or sexual abuse, living through the break-up of our parents' relationship or witnessing incidents of domestic violence by one parent against another when we are young. These are just some examples. 

Severe emotional responses can include things like flashbacks, disturbing dreams, ‘zoning out’ or feeling disconnected from reality or ‘disassociation’, as well as development of harmful or unhelpful ‘defence mechanisms’ such as avoidance of people/places, self-harming, addictions.

What happens when trauma isn't processed?

Traumatic memories can become ‘stuck’ in our consciousness, and just as an oversized suitcase can cause the airport baggage conveyor belt to jam, causing chaos, we may be unable to process our memories as before, meaning they can’t be stored and ‘integrated’, alongside all of our other memories.

When this happens, we can feel anxious and remain on high alert. Our brain’s alarm system, our amygdala, is set to the default setting, activating at the slightest hint of a threat, just like a car alarm will constantly sound when a window has been left open, activated by even the slightest breeze. 

The role of triggers and the alarm system

Triggers can also cause us to experience traumatic reactions and can remind us of disturbing event(s). For example, using our earlier examples, the same make, model and colour of car that we were in when we were perhaps involved in the road traffic accident drives past us, or perhaps even years later, we see on the opposite side of the road the person/s who bullied us when we were at school.

Triggers can cause our brain to react almost as if the event were happening now in the present, posing a serious threat, and so our alarm is sounded even when the threat is not credible, and the event actually happened in the past.

Our amygdala, our internal alarm, which is located within our limbic system, activates our fight, flight, or freeze reactions in response to threats. It is primitive, influenced by conditioning and in response to trauma, actual or perceived, the alarm can sound continuously.

When it senses danger, it sends alerts throughout our body, via our central nervous system, resulting in the release of chemicals, hormones, serotonin, adrenaline, and melatonin, important in preparing our body should we need to run for our lives if facing a serious threat. These chemicals provide us with extra energy vital to help us escape, but if in reality there is no actual threat, then the chemicals do not get used and continue to circulate throughout our body.  

The physical impact of unresolved trauma

Continuous exposure can become harmful to us, contributing to physical illness. Think of things like ulcers, increased blood pressure, which can damage our heart, loss of sleep, impaired appetite, there are many others. This is no different to taking non-prescribed medications, which can also cause us harm.

Many people who are living with ‘unresolved trauma’ and its many impacts can be confused by how they feel and may think that they are very sick or broken.

How counselling can help 

Many children, young people and adults seek counselling support when they are becoming overwhelmed by trauma. When we participate in counselling, we are able to talk about our trauma in a safe space, in the strictest confidence, with non-judgement, and by facing carefully controlled exposure to what has happened to us in our lives, aided by a counsellor experienced in dealing with trauma, we are then finally able to ‘turn down our alarm system’ putting it on its proper setting for when we actually are facing a threat, and file away (integratethe traumatic memories, storing them in their proper place, allowing us to get on with the rest of our lives.

Counselling can change your life. If this is something that you think you might help, please reach out to a professional.