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Trauma Brain Vs Normal Brain: How Trauma Affects The Way We Live

Trauma Brain Vs Normal Brain: How Trauma Affects The Way We Live

Blog Outline

The Flight and Fear Response 

As an evolutionary advantage in humans for their survival as a species, a flight and fear response exists.

How The Developing Brain Is Affected By Trauma 

When a child experiences a traumatic event, the brain will change the way it works for its continued sustenance. The brain will create new hard wiring and the ways it communicates with the body once trauma affects it.

Trauma in Adulthood

Trauma is not exclusive to childhood. We as adults can also experience extreme trauma, even from something like committed relationships or the sudden absence of it.

Are The Changes in The Brain Structure Permanent?

Experts believe though these effects are definitely treatable through certain treatment methods such as the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or the Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy.

Treatment Methods For PTSD 

Psychotherapy and Medications are excellent for treating a mental condition like PTSD.

Trauma during the brain’s development phase, especially when someone is a fetus can significantly affect how it is fully developed before adulthood. Trauma specifically during the childhood years can also significantly affect the brain, especially in the context of trauma brain vs normal brain. Trauma in adulthood is also highly consequential. Suffice to trauma has the power to change our lives to the extent where we can actually end up suffering from certain mental disorders that can turn our lives upside down. Let’s talk about it some more:

The Flight and Fear Response

As an evolutionary advantage in humans for their survival as a species, a flight and fear response exists. In a neurotypical brain, an impending danger means that it is time to take flight or fight the danger. But in the trauma brain vs normal brain, the same response is impaired due to a past trauma, which acts as a constant trigger for post traumatic stress, developing into Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). We will talk about PTSD, but we’ll first talk about how something that was supposed to be a normal brain transforms into a trauma brain.

Learn More: The Hidden Mental Scars of Childhood Trauma in Adults

How The Developing Brain Is Affected By Trauma

There is a reason we sometimes debate a topic like childhood trauma brain vs normal brain as brain development starts as early as a child’s conception in a mother’s belly. Even if the mother feels trauma, no matter what kind it is, the child’s brain even at the fetus stage will be affected. This is because a child’s brain, before he or she reaches adulthood, is always evolving in the developing sense. The first eight weeks of someone’s life is perhaps one of the most important times of their life when it comes to development. During this time, their care is paramount and an adult caregiver is important, be it a parent or guardian who is present at all times, trustworthy and caring.

When a child experiences a traumatic event, the brain will change the way it works for its continued sustenance. The brain will create new hard wiring and the ways it communicates with the body once trauma affects it. Trauma can be caused by physical or mental abuse, accidents, the death of someone close, or witnessing something life-threatening for someone else or yourself. Physical abuse or mental abuse is a common cause when it comes to the trauma brain vs the normal brain. Just like the nurturing caregiving of a child by a primary caregiver can greatly induce normal brain development while trauma, which is the exact opposite of it, can significantly impair the brain.

Learn More: Understanding The Different Types Of Trauma

Trauma in Adulthood

Trauma is not exclusive to childhood. We as adults can also experience extreme trauma, even from something like committed relationships or the sudden absence of it. While the brain is no longer in development, it never stays plastic because it can change as a response to different events, especially when it is traumatic. Exposure to trauma can affect brain function in healthy people several years after a traumatic event. It also makes them more susceptible to mental conditions such as PTSD.

The trauma brain vs normal brain is so affected so much that a condition like PTSD, which is all about the constant stress of past trauma once it is triggered, comes into existence. It usually shows its symptoms during adulthood and can comprise of:

  • Having problems with emotion
  • Greater fear response, which is also difficult to let go
  • Are unable to relax
  • Bad memory and problems focusing
  • Having problems differentiating the past from the present
  • Having no interest and unrelenting depression

Trauma Brain vs Healthy Brain: The Differences

What are the differences when it comes to the topic that relates to the debate of trauma brain vs normal brain? Once trauma or something like PTSD affects the brain, do the internal structures of the brain also change? Exposure to high-intensity traumas can have long-lasting effects on the brain and behavior of healthy people, which also lead to changes in the structures of the brain. PTSD can especially change both your brain’s physical structure and its functions. Here’s how:

  • The Amygdala becomes overactive and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex becomes underactive. It would make sense since the amygdala is the “fear center” of the brain and the aforementioned cortex is tasked with regulating the amygdala and its fear response
  • The gray matter in the prefrontal cortex is reduced. It is the dark tissue that is mostly present as the outer layer of the brain and is where most of the decision-making and information-processing process takes place
  • Gray and white matter in the cerebellum are also significantly reduced. While the white matter is the part that connects different parts of the brain with each other, the cerebellum is the part that is located at the back of the brain and is tasked with handling motor skills, balance, emotions, and memory
  • Creates abnormalities in the western hemisphere of the hippocampus and amygdala. The hippocampus deals with new memory creation and spatial navigation, explaining memory problems as a symptom of PTSD
  • People with PTSD evidence reduced reactivity in neural areas associated with the reward system, which leads to lower reward satisfaction, and reduced dopamine levels

 

Learn More: Understanding Relational Trauma

Are These Changes in The Brain Structure Permanent?

Experts have no idea if the effects of trauma or PTSD are reversible. They do believe though, that these effects are definitely treatable through certain treatment methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or the Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy. Studies have shown that CBT promises strong results, especially in regards to social anxiety disorder which can occur as a result of long exposure to PTSD. The amygdala had gotten smaller in the people who were treated with CBT. EMDR also measured positive results when treating PTSD. All of this evidence suggests that brain structure tends to change when good treatment methods like CBT are applied to the affected individual, closing the debate of trauma brain vs normal brain.

Treatment Methods For PTSD in Detail

There are a couple of treatment methods that can help in resolving the issue of trauma brain vs healthy brain. The most effective ones are psychotherapies like CBT or medication. Let’s talk about them a little to finally put a pin into the matters relating to trauma brain vs normal brain.

Psychotherapy: Also called “Talk” therapy, where patients talk to mental health experts to ensure they can find resolutions to their problems together. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which involves homework, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy, which involves moving your eyes a specific way while you process traumatic memories, are both examples of psychotherapies.

Medication: Medication like antidepressants can treat symptoms like depression or stress that are also associated with a disorder like PTSD. On the other end, medication like anti-anxiety medicines can help reduce the extreme anxiety also associated with PTSD.

Conclusion

Now that the debate of trauma brain vs normal brain might be abating for you by reading this blog, you can put your focus on the actual treatment of PTSD. For that, we at Orange Coast Psychiatry can provide you with a mental health professional who can essentially treat your PTSD or other trauma-related problems. We are also adept at treating Acute Stress Disorder, Adjustment Disorders, Dissociative Disorders, Psychosis, Mood Disorders, or an Eating Disorder, in addition to Telehealth and Psychiatric Medication Management services.

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Shaheena Gazipura

PMHNP-BC

Richard Samedra, PMHNP-BC, is a Board Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. He brings over 12 years of experience in the mental health field, working with clients facing a wide range of acute and chronic mental health conditions. His journey began as a Licensed Vocational Nurse and Charge Nurse at Westminster Therapeutic Residential Treatment, where he supported clients dealing with anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and substance use disorders. Richard’s dedication was centered on helping these individuals improve their mental health and transition to a lower level of care, whether that meant returning to their families, a board and care facility, or a sober-living environment.

Motivated by a growing passion for mental health care, Richard pursued his Registered Nurse (RN) education at Saddleback Community College and later transitioned to La Palma Intercommunity Hospital Behavioral Health. In this role, he specialized in geriatric psychiatry, working with older adults experiencing conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, dementia, depression, and anxiety. This experience solidified his commitment to mental health, leading him to work at Bellflower Community Hospital, where he provided care for patients experiencing severe psychiatric crises, including suicidal ideation, manic and depressive episodes, substance use disorders, and exacerbated schizophrenia symptoms.

Inspired by the impactful work of PMHNPs at Bellflower, Richard enrolled in the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program at Azusa Pacific University. To broaden his expertise, he worked full-time at College Hospital Costa Mesa while completing his studies. There, he gained comprehensive experience across various units, including adolescent, acute men’s and women’s, stabilization, and detox/med-surg. Now, as a PMHNP, Richard is committed to leveraging his diverse background and knowledge to provide compassionate, comprehensive care to those in need.

Richard currently practices as a Nurse Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Orange Coast Psychiatry, where he is supervised by Dr. Montgomery.

 

Shaheena Gazipura

PMHNP-BC

Shaheena Gazipura is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) with over 9 years of dedicated experience in both inpatient and outpatient mental health care. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California.

Shaheena began her career working on an adult psychiatric inpatient unit before transitioning to the geriatric psychiatric inpatient unit at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital. In addition to her clinical work, Shaheena also serves as a Nursing Clinical Instructor, guiding the next generation of nurses through their mental health rotations at a large community college.

Shaheena is a passionate advocate for mental health, believing that it is a fundamental pillar of overall well-being. She is committed to reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness and strives to provide comprehensive, compassionate care that honors each individual’s unique experiences and challenges. Her goal is to create a supportive, nonjudgmental environment where patients feel empowered to work alongside her in achieving their mental health goals.

Outside of her professional life, Shaheena enjoys exploring new culinary experiences, staying active through exercise, and planning her next travel adventures.

Shaheena currently practices as a Nurse Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Orange Coast Psychiatry, where she is supervised by Dr. Barrios.

Clint Nacar

PMHNP-BC

Clint Nacar, PMHNP-BC is a Board Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Mr. Nacar graduated from Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. Currently Mr. Nacar works in an inpatient psychiatry unit at a leading academic medical center in Los Angeles, Renewed Mental Health Group, and Orange Coast Psychiatry

Mr. Nacar brings over 7+ years of experience with the mental health population. He works to help patients take control of their mental health through patient education, psychotherapy and medication management. Mr. Nacar’s areas of focus include: Depression, Anxiety, Adjustment Disorder, Bipolar disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Mr. Nacar treats children ages 6+, adolescents, and adults, offering both in-person services and telehealth at Renewed Mental Health Group.

With the collaboration of each patient, Mr. Nacar strives to develop individualized plans of care addressing each patient’s unique situation and concerns. He also encourages each patient to take charge of their mental health through a holistic approach while also employing the latest evidence based practices in treatment.

Clint is one of our most experienced Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners at Orange Coast Psychiatry and is 103NP Licensed in the State of California.

Cristian Cuevas

PMHNP-BC (Fluent in Spanish)

Cristian Cuevas, PMHNP-BC, is a highly skilled board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with over seven years of experience in inpatient psychiatry and mental health.

A California State University Long Beach graduate, Cristian also earned recognition as a board-certified psychiatric mental health registered nurse. With a wealth of expertise in adult psychiatric care across the lifespan, Cristian has successfully diagnosed and treated a diverse range of mental health disorders.

Additionally, his specialized experience in child and adolescent inpatient populations further enhances his ability to provide comprehensive and compassionate mental health care.

Cristian Cuevas is the Lead Nurse Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Orange Coast Psychiatry and is supervised by Dr Barrios.

Griselda Hernandez

PMHNP-BC (Fluent in Spanish)

As a licensed Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) with a robust background in psychiatric and substance abuse nursing, Griselda provides compassionate, evidence-based care to individuals facing mental health and addiction challenges. The core of her practice focuses on promoting holistic wellness, fostering resilience, and empowering patients in their recovery journey. Specializing in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of adolescents with various mental health disorders, Griselda strives to create a therapeutic environment where patients feel valued, respected, and supported.
“My approach is grounded in years of diverse experience, including work in psychiatric units and medical detox units for both adults and adolescents. This extensive background has equipped me with the skills and knowledge to manage complex psychiatric and substance abuse conditions effectively. I am committed to staying updated with the latest advancements in psychiatric care, integrating cutting-edge therapies and best practices into my treatment plans. Collaboration is key to my practice; I work closely with multidisciplinary teams, families, and community resources to provide coordinated and comprehensive care tailored to each individual’s unique needs.”
Griselda holds a Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization in Psychiatric-Mental Health from West Coast University, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. Additionally, she is fluent in the English and Spanish language, enhancing her ability to connect with a diverse patient population.
Griselda currently practices as a Nurse Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Orange Coast Psychiatry, where she is supervised by Dr. Barrios.

Dr Barrios

Board-Certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist

Dr. Carlos Barrios is a Board-Certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist with over two decades of experience in mental health care. His expertise in telepsychiatry has allowed him to serve patients across California and beyond. In his practice, Dr Barrios integrates metabolic and functional methodologies, focusing on guiding patients toward medication independence and emphasizing the connection between physical and mental health.
Outside of his professional life, Dr Barrios is passionate about kettlebell training, which helps him maintain my physical and mental wellness. He cherishes visiting his family in Guatemala, to reconnecting with his cultural roots and rejuvenating his spirit. Dr Barrios is also deeply involved in transcendental meditation and rucking, practices that not only provide him with tranquility but also keep him grounded and connected to nature. These hobbies reflect his commitment to a holistic approach to health, both personally and professionally.