The Body Keeps the Score: The Brain That Controls Stress, Pain, and Inflammation by Robert Sapolsky is a book that explores the effects of trauma and how it can affect people’s lives. The author shares information about how traumas impact our bodies and how we can use Neurofeedback to rewire our brains.
Stress hormones spike and decrease as soon as a threat has passed
It is no secret that modern life has put many of us under a lot of stress. When faced with a stressful situation, your brain activates a cascade of stress-related hormones that are a bit of a challenge to regulate. The result is a body that is fatigued, inflamed, and stressed. In a nutshell, stress reduces the quality of your life. It also leads to anxiety and depression. Fortunately, your body has an answer.
The human adrenal glands consist of two major parts: the adrenal medulla, which is made up of nervous tissue, and the adrenal cortex, which is comprised of glandular epithelial tissue. Aside from regulating stress, the medulla is responsible for generating and releasing the neurotransmitter adrenaline, which is essential to your survival. Its other major task is to produce and release glucose, which provides your brain with a quick energy boost.
In addition to your adrenal glands, your body’s hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is responsible for maintaining a state of high alert. It is best known for the famous flight or fight response, which consists of an increased heart rate, a rise in blood pressure, and a spike in the production of cortisol. However, the HPA axis can be overactive, resulting in stress and the related conditions like depression, anxiety, and weight gain.
The cortisol-producing medulla is part of a larger system that includes the HPA axis and the parasympathetic nervous system. The parasympathetic is in charge of the more mundane tasks, such as regulating blood pressure, digestion, and sleep. Its job is complemented by a plethora of hormones, including the testosterone and progesterone, which are important in men and women.
The fight or flight response is the most important, mainly because it has the ability to trigger other stress-related responses. For example, a frenzied person will likely exhibit symptoms such as shaky hands, dizzy spells, and a racing heart. This is a normal response to sudden or sustained stress, but the effect is magnified in a chronic situation, like a prolonged illness in a loved one. Moreover, a persistent slew of stress-related inflammatory chemicals may be a precursor to a heart attack. The adrenal medulla and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis are a couple of of the most complex systems in your body. The best way to visualize the adrenal medulla is to picture yourself in the prehistoric era, surrounded by bears, which can’t be much fun.
Although the cortisol-producing medulla may be the sexiest part of your adrenal system, the HPA axis plays an even more crucial role in the human body. The axis is responsible for many of your most important functions, such as regulating your mood, ensuring a healthy sleep pattern, and balancing your calorie intake. The system is often compromised by genetic traits and immune system disorders. This, coupled with the stress-inducing events of everyday life, can lead to serious health problems.
Trauma causes flashbacks, nightmares, insomnia, hypervigilance, and rage
If you have recently experienced a traumatic event, you may be experiencing some of the signs of trauma. These symptoms can cause upsetting thoughts and feelings and can affect both your physical and mental health. It is important to understand the symptoms of trauma and what to do when they occur.
The symptoms of trauma can range from the obvious to the subtle. They include upsetting thoughts and feelings and can have an effect on your relationships and well being. For example, you might not be able to sleep or focus. You might also feel detached from yourself and other people. This can lead to irrational behavior.
If you are suffering from any of the signs of trauma, it is important to seek professional help. There are many options available and it can help to find the best treatment for your specific condition. You may need to talk with a doctor, therapist, or social worker. Having a support group can help you understand what to expect and give you a safe place to express your emotions. If you are having trouble coping, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline offers free and confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Having a traumatic experience can trigger a variety of emotions, including anxiety, anger, and sadness. These feelings are the brain’s way of coping with the stress of the traumatic event. Some people with PTSD will try to suppress these feelings. Others will avoid thinking about the event and its consequences. They may even choose to do things to distract themselves. Eventually, they will start to develop symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Flashbacks are one of the most troubling symptoms of PTSD. The memory of the traumatic event is so vivid and painful that it can trigger panic attacks or nightmares. You might also experience hypervigilance, which means you are constantly on the lookout for threats. This is very exhausting and can lead to other problems.
You may have flashbacks that are random or you might relive the same event over and over. You might also be experiencing intrusions, which are random thoughts that don’t relate to the traumatic event.
A traumatic experience can increase your risk of depression, physical illnesses, and even suicide. You might have a harder time enjoying once-cherished activities. Your PTSD might also prevent you from being able to regulate your positive emotions.
The main symptoms of trauma are the ones that are most obvious. These include upsetting thoughts and feelings, the lack of sleep, and the hypervigilance that you might be feeling. You might also be experiencing intrusions, flashbacks, and nightmares. These are all normal reactions to a traumatic event. However, the most challenging reaction to the traumatic experience will begin to lessen with time.
Neurofeedback helps trauma sufferers rewire their brains
Neurofeedback is a treatment for trauma victims that helps rewire their brains to improve their health. It works by using real-time electrical readings from the brain to retrain the brain’s neural pathways. This allows victims to control their attention, handle emotional feelings, and pursue their goals.
Neurofeedback has been around for more than four decades. It is used to treat a variety of conditions, including ADHD, anxiety, concussions, premenstrual syndrome, depression, phobias, and sleep disorders. It is also a good tool for overcoming chronic pain. The process of neurofeedback training helps rewire the brain for optimal function and performance.
This procedure uses sensors to monitor the brain’s electrical activity and rewards the brain when its patterns are in the desired state. It is important to know that the brain is a highly plastic organ, which means that it adapts to new information and experiences. Therefore, the results of neurofeedback are not predictable. It can take up to 50 to 100 sessions to achieve a change in behavior. However, most people will see a small improvement after a couple of sessions.
Some of the problems that neurofeedback can help with include ADHD, depression, migraines, ADD, learning difficulties, behavioral disorders, PTSD, anxiety, and chronic pain. Most importantly, neurofeedback can be a viable alternative to medications.
Many studies have shown that children who receive neurofeedback experience a number of benefits, including a higher IQ, better performance at school, less depressive symptoms, and better sleep. Additionally, neurofeedback can help rewire the brain for optimal mental functioning, and can reduce the symptoms of phobias, hyperactivity, and anxiety.
Another study found that 61% of patients with PTSD had improved symptoms after receiving neurofeedback. Researchers concluded that the brain’s response to neurofeedback helps it develop healthier connectivity patterns. This has a positive effect on the mental and physical well-being of PTSD sufferers. The study suggests that Neurofeedback can help trauma sufferers rewire their brains for improved cognitive functions, such as concentration, memory, and mood.
According to neurofeedback researchers, the brain’s ability to learn and rewire itself is essential for good mood. As the brain is rewired, the synapses are built up and the neurons fire in different ways. This is called neuroplasticity, and it continues throughout a person’s lifetime.
The Trauma Research Foundation has been using neurofeedback to treat a range of traumatic injuries and disorders since 2007. They have a program of hands-on skill training and neurofeedback equipment. They offer live workshops to teach individuals how to rewire their brains for optimal functioning and happiness.
The Trauma Research Foundation offers a Neurofeedback program that includes 36 hours of self-paced didactic training, 11 hours of live meetings, and a practicum with neurofeedback equipment. These programs are conducted by qualified clinicians who have specialized training in the field.
