Causes of PTSD

The exact cause of PTSD is not known. However, some may include:

• Childhood abuse/neglect/loss of a parent

• Victim of sexual, verbal, or physical abuse

• Accident

• Natural disaster

• War

How Does Trauma Affect the Brain

Scientific studies have discovered that trauma has a long-lasting effect on the brain. In children, that can include a decrease in the size of the brain, cell turn off and on, and cortisol changes.

Certain areas of the brain affected by trauma include the amygdala, the hippocampus, and the prefrontal cortex, associated with fear, thinking, memory, and decision making.

Areas of the brain and trauma effects:

1. Amygdala is responsible for fear, startle response, and vivid memories. Therefore, if trauma affects this brain region, it increases the individual's sensitivity to adrenaline (remember, the fight, flight, or freeze mode), creating constant anxiety.

2. Hippocampus is responsible for long-term memory and spatial navigation. So, when this part of the brain has experienced trauma, it often reduces present memories and makes it more challenging to distinguish between past and current ones.

3. Prefrontal cortex is responsible for regulating emotions, so any severe trauma can decrease the size and function of the brain or even increase blood flow, resulting in more intense emotions.

Treatment Methods for PTSD

Many adults struggle daily to cope with past traumatic events, even dating back to childhood, signifying that these memories have yet to be processed and are still negatively impacting their lives. Fortunately, though, there are now various treatment approaches to help individuals with PTSD.

Treatments may include:

1. Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy

Cognitive-behavioural therapy focuses on the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Treatment entails encouraging and challenging clients to re-evaluate their maladaptive thinking patterns and emotional reactions to trauma. In other words, clients with PTSD often overgeneralise by expecting the worst outcomes and will learn how to change negative thoughts into positive ones.

Overall, CBT can reduce symptoms of isolation and withdrawal, avoidance behaviour, and trigger responses, increasing one's quality of life.

2. Dialectical-Behavioural Therapy

Dialectical Behavioural Therapy is a form of cognitive-behavioural therapy designed to treat individuals who struggle with relationships, impulse control, and managing emotions. The client will learn to effectively cope with conflict, build healthy relationships, and replace maladaptive thought patterns with acceptance, tolerance, or validation.

Some DBT techniques involve:

• Reframing

• Opposite action

• Distress tolerance

• Radical acceptance

• Mindfulness

3. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation Therapy)

EMDR is used to restructure traumatic events by bringing suppressed memories into one's conscious awareness and diminishing the negative emotions associated with the trauma. It allows the individual to heal from their emotional and physical scars. It enhances their sense of safety and stability, not to mention all other facets of life, such as seeing the world in a new light, relating to other people, and finding inner peace.

4. Medication

In conjunction with therapy, another way to treat emotional and physiological symptoms of PTSD is through medication. Although medication can't cure PTSD, if the prescriber regularly monitors the client and the individual takes them as prescribed, it can alleviate some residual symptoms.

Medications for PTSD can help with flashbacks, impulsivity, insomnia, agitation, restlessness, depression, anxiety, isolation, and hyper-arousal, to name a few.