Understanding Trauma
Published on Nov 19, 2015
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PRESENTATION OUTLINE
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT TRAUMA?
AMYGDALA
NEUROCHEMICALS
BIG QUESTIONS:
- What is TRAUMA?
- How does the human brain response to it?
- How does it engage our natural instincts of survival?
- How does the body react to it?
- What can we do to break the cycle of Trauma?
Photo by Gabriel Rocha
1.WHAT IS TRAUMA?
LET'S DEFINE TRAUMA.
Untitled Slide
HELPLESSNESS = UNCONTROLLABLE
UNCONTROLLABLE
- "It's the feeling that your life is in danger &
- there's nothing you can do to escape it."
- "The element of helplessness is what makes a given event
- subjectively overwhelming."
- (Goleman, pg. 204)
2. HOW DOES THE HUMAN BRAIN RESPONSE TO HELPLESSNESS?
OUR SURVIVAL INSTINCTS
3. HOW DOES TRAUMA ENGAGES OUR NATURAL INSTINCTS OF SURVIVAL?
SURVIVAL INSTINCT IS A CHEMICAL PROCESS: (GOLEMAN, PG. 203)
- There are certain parts of the brain that live beneath or outside your conscious awareness.
- When it reacts to negative life events, it produces NEUROCHEMICALS -sent throughout the body;
- That's the moment the brain change begins - leaving a powerful mark on memory.
- When the brain change begins (alteration in the chemistry of the brain), it hijacks the AMYGDALA.
- NEUROCHEMICALS poorly controlled mobilize fight-or-flight response (natural instincts of survival).
INSTINCTIVE PART OF OUR BRAIN
- Constantly assesses any life threatening situation
- Turns on SURVIVAL INSTINCTS
OTHER PARTS OF THE BRAIN
- Find WAYs OF ASSOCIATING MANY THINGS W/ THE TRAUMA;
- re-engaging NEUROCHEMICAL process, taking over the AMYGDALA;
- overaroused AMYGDALA impels the vivid memories of a traumatic moment
- to continue to intrude on awareness
- Traumatic memories = mental triggers (dread moment is about to happen)
4. HOW DOES MY BODY
REACTS TO TRAUMA?
SCOTT MUSGRAVE EXPLAINS...
HOW DEPRESSION AFFECTS THE BRAIN
& HOW MEDICATION PLAYS A ROLE IN HELPING IT.
VIDEOS 1 & 2: SHOW HOW...
- Trauma impacts our brain;
- Fight-flight instincts take control over our body to survive the threat
- Constant reinforcement of this protective patterning results in
- the formation of life habits
- Depression affects the brain & the role of its medication
5. WHAT CAN WE DO TO BREAK
THE CYCLE OF TRAUMA?
EMOTIONAL RELEARNING
THIS IS
CHRISTIAN HOPKINS
SUFFERED DEPPRESSION
"Photography was a form of therapy."
- "Photography saved my life."
