How To Heal The Brain After TraumaTrauma is all too common these days, unfortunately. Child abuse. Rape. Combat. Violence. Car accidents. Life.

Traumatic events can actually alter the structure and function of people’s brains resulting in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). When remembering the trauma, often in vivid flashbacks, or reacting to everyday stressors in life, the brain of a person with PTSD actually functions differently, but it can reset itself.

What Trauma Looks Like In The Brain

When you experience trauma, your brain’s fear center, the amygdala, sounds the alarm, and your body instinctively responds almost immediately with a sequence of hormonal and physiological changes. Your brain isn’t busy preparing you to think about what’s going on. It’s getting you ready to run or do battle and ceases all non-essential body and mind processes. Your sympathetic nervous system floods the body with stress hormones and according to fMRI studies, parts of the brain shut down.

Ideally, when the immediate threat subsides, the parasympathetic nervous system kicks in and calms and restores the body. This process would reduce stress hormones and allow the brain to resume the top-down structure of control. However, some trauma survivors’ brains never fully shift from reactive back to responsive mode. Instead, their brains stay on alert, primed for threat with dysregulated activity.

Neuroanatomical studies have identified changes in brain structures of those with PTSD which can lead to depression, substance abuse, personality and other mental disorders, and health problems.

  • Overstimulated amygdala: The amygdala is responsible for survival-related threat identification, plus tagging memories with emotion. After trauma the amygdala can get caught in a highly alert loop in which it looks for and perceives threat everywhere.
  • Underactive hippocampus: Research has shown that people with PTSD have smaller hippocampi. Because the hippocampus is crucial to storing and retrieving memories and distinguishing between past and present memories, people with PTSD can lose the ability to discriminate between past and present, resulting in flashbacks that seem real.
  • Ventromedial prefrontal cortex shrinkage – Due to this brain region shrinking, the ability to regulate emotions is reduced in people with PTSD. The smaller size results in fear, anxiety, and extreme stress responses when the brain is triggered – even by things not connected to the original trauma.
  • Ineffective variability: With PTSD, the hormones get out of whack and interfere with a body’s ability to regulate itself, and the sympathetic nervous system stays highly activated. For example, tests show cortisol levels to be lower than normal in some studies of patients with PTSD, however, corticotropin-releasing factor in cerebrospinal fluid is increased. This state leads to fatigue of the body and many of its systems, especially the adrenal.

Healing The Brain After Trauma

The good news is that the changes in the brain can be reversed. The amygdala can learn to relax again; the hippocampus can resume proper memory consolidation, and the nervous system can heal to flow between the reactive and restorative modes again.

Medications, hypnosis, neuro-linguistic programming, neurofeedback, cognitive behavioral therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), and other brain-related modalities — even virtual reality, ketamine, and methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy) — have proven helpful in treating PTSD. The bottom line is that the mind has to reframe and release the trauma so that the brain can reset itself.

Recovery is a gradual process accomplished over time with successful methods of treatment being as varied as individual trauma survivors. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, but evidence suggests that when people commit to a process of exploring and testing treatment options they can, reduce the effects of trauma and even eliminate symptoms of PTSD. Studies show therapies to be most effective when applied during the disorder’s critical first few months.

Somatic Therapy

Somatic experiencing has proven successful for treating trauma, resetting the brain and body, and recovering health. Somatic experiencing is a holistic therapy that studies the relationship between the mind and body regarding the psychological past. The goal of somatic therapy is to recognize and release physical tension that may remain in the body after trauma.

The counseling sessions typically involve the patient tracking his or her experience of sensations throughout the body. A somatic psychology session may include awareness of bodily sensations, dance, breathing techniques, voice work, physical exercise, movement, or healing touch.

In his book Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma, Dr. Peter Levine introduced somatic therapy in 1997. He tells of his observations of how animals in the wild dealt with and recovered from life-threatening situations. Levine explains that animals are routinely threatened in the wild, but are rarely left traumatized, because unlike humans, they naturally complete the cycle of shedding the residue of stress. Levine suggests that humans have the natural capacity to do this too, but often don’t allow it because we don’t know how or doing so would be viewed as socially inappropriate.  Emotions can be unblocked and trauma healed through awareness and physically shedding the energy of the traumatic event.

He teaches a Method of Somatic Experiencing Therapy for healing from trauma as follows:

  1. Create a sense of security. –  A person must feel secure to be able to stay present with the trauma related sensations within the body.
  2. Gently explore the sensations. – A person learns to tolerate the sensations while staying present.
  3. Become aware of the process of “pendulation”. – This is what Levine calls the fluid rhythm of expansion and contraction of sensations. When a person acknowledges this fluctuation, it doesn’t feel so threatening as they move through the process of resetting the nervous system.
  4. Practice “titration”. – Experience the smallest arousal of the nervous system possible while exploring the sensations and keep decreasing. Levine advises a person to “touch the edges” of the response to create increased stability, resilience, and tolerance resulting in a reorganization of the nervous system.
  5. Insert corrective experiences. – Replace the old ways of responding – panic and helpless “freeze” mode – with positive and empowering reactions. A person with PTSD still need the fear response but needs to turn it down.
  6. Discharge the residual energy from aroused states physically. – This frees energy for higher level brain functions and life preservation when really needed.
  7. Restore dynamic equilibrium and relaxed alertness. – This is restoring the nervous system back to a state of calm and allowing it to self-regulate again.
  8. Teach the mind and body to be present in the here and now. – Connect with the physical environment and reestablishing the capacity for social engagement and interaction.
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36 Comments

  1. Sandra Pawula Reply

    Very informative. I love Somatic Experiencing therapy. I find it’s work much better for me than EMDR, which can be the case if you’re dealing with developmental trauma rather than shock trauma alone. I’m glad you’re getting the word out about this. Thank you, Debbie.

  2. I’ve never heard of any of these therapies Debbie. I’m always willing to learn something new…which I definitely have today. 🙂

    • Somatic therapy? I did some to heal from my brain injury trauma. I found it soothing and healing in a very primitive, instinctual way.

  3. This is interesting, Debbie and new to me as well. It is a relief to learn that people can heal and that changes in the brain can be reversed.

  4. I’ve been a long-time fan of EMDR and have seen how effective it can be in my own life and with the clients treated with it where I work. While I haven’t heard of Somatic Experiencing Therapy by that name, I’ve heard about similar processes, for example, the emotional releases that some people experience when practicing yoga. Our bodies hold our emotions. This is why so many physical ailments can be resolved with emotional healing. Debbic, thank you for getting this information out? I think far more people are dealing with PTSD than are clinically diagnosed.

    • I’m with you, Paige. I think there is so much more PTSD than diagnosed and even if it’s not called PTSD. I did not realize that it was probably a BIG part of my mental/emotional problems in the past until writing this.

      • Heather Walker Reply

        How would I go about finding a Somatic Experiencing therapist?

        • Heather, you would just need to do a Google search of therapists in your area. Some traditionally certified counselors will also have this training and then it may be others. I know I went to a massage therapist who did. Good luck! 🙂

    • I’m with you, Paige. I think there is so much more PTSD than diagnosed and even if it’s not called PTSD. I did not realize that it was probably a BIG part of my mental/emotional problems in the past until writing this.

    • Sushma Verma Reply

      Thanks for the precious comment here. It would be really kind of you to share the details of the place where you took the EMDR. Please let us know as some of the other survivors really need this.

      • EMDR is widely available and offered by various mental health professionals. You should be able to find a practitioner near you with an online search.

  5. Wow for someone who had brain injuries at 16 like lucky to be Alive- coma for a a week- this is fascinating and the emotional part very interesting as it often comes up when i get stuck thanks

    • Wow! Suzie. Glad you have done as much healing work as you have. You don’t have to specifically do Somatic therapy to release the energy. I found that it can be done other ways too.

  6. Jeremy Landers Reply

    Thank you for this,

    I’ve previously used a similar self learned process to deal with developmental trauma. Comparatively my efforts were like cudgeling my mind back into health, so reading this has opened my eyes to a more nuanced, more effective way to apply the experiences and practices I’ve become familiar with.

    Since what I had endured is very uncommon it had been unrelatable, and so passed into memory and anecdoate without healing taking place. A recent article a friend shared was about someone else who had gone through what I experienced. Like oily rags over smoldering embers, it didn’t take much to reignite those old pains. I was surprised at how visceral and persistent this recollection has been, and how deeply it has effected my mental health. But after research here and elsewhere, I feel better equipped to walk the journey towards a more final healing.

    • I’m glad you found this useful, Jeremy and have found a way to effectively deal with your emotional trauma. We can heal and get better. All the best to you.

  7. Thanks alot. I really need that information. It’s hard to heal but I should try and not to give up. Also passing time is healing.

    • Glad to hear this provided hope to you. The brain is very resilient and can most definitely heal with time and support. Keep at it!

  8. I have brain damage from radiation. Lots of internal buzzing and dizziness.
    Seeing a naturopathic doc. Neurotransmitters totally messed up!
    Will I get better? On supplements for the neurotransmitters but I seem to be getting worse at night!
    Thanks

    • Robin, I can’t comment on your case specifically because I know nothing about it. However, I can tell you that healing a brain injury takes time – lots of it. It can be years depending on your injury. I healed the most, besides immediately right after, in my third year. I did all kinds of things to encourage continued healing though: neurofeedback, neuroplastically based exercise, cognitive and physical, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, acupuncture, brain training, etc… The brain is amazingly resilient and can heal years, even decades, after injury if supported and encouraged.

      I too, and most brain injury survivors will tell you, that you do get worse as the day goes on, you get further away from a good night’s sleep, and your brain gets tired. Don’t panic. Use it as your brain telling you what it needs to heal. Take naps during the day. Go to bed early. Take a yoga class. Meditate.

      I provide coaching for brain injury recovery if you’re interested. https://www.thebestbrainpossible.com/coaching/

      Keep at it. Your brain can heal.

  9. Hello Debbie and thank you for this wonderful information. I had mild anxiety from the time my mother died when I was 6 followed by abuse from my stepmother and father. I was put on clonopin abour 9 years ago for anxiety never knowing how bad it was and addictive it was. In a nutshell I went off the clonopin about a year ago and went through hell! No Dr should ever put anybody on that awful medicine! I haven’t slept much since then, I have terrible insomnia. A few months ago my niece was killed in a car accident and my body has been bouncing inside with other feelings like floating anxiety. I eat a healthy whole food organic diet, exercise daily, take supplements and am trying different holistic herbs. This feeling I’m experiencing is awful!! Can you recommend something? I would love to speak to you.

    • Kim,

      I’m sorry to hear of your challenges. I offer email and video coaching. You can learn the details here https://www.thebestbrainpossible.com/coaching/. I’d be happy to get more information and work with you to make specific recommendations of mental health practices to reduce the anxiety and work with your thoughts. While medication does help with the symptoms, as you’ve seen, it has its drawbacks and does not deal with the root causes.

      All the best to you.

      Debbie

  10. After years of being subjected to violence in my line of work, I started to decline in my coping skills, having multiple panic attacks per week & was consequently clinically diagnosed with PTSD two years ago. This March my Symptoms evolved into more psysiologic symptoms, some of which included slurred speech, balance issues, severe memory lapse…. just to name a few. I recently took early retirement and have been focusing on my health with my health care pro idols. Today we learned that I have “slowing in the left AND right hemispheres of my brain. Am I reading this article correctly, that there is a possibility of repairing the already damaged parts? Or is prevention of further damage my only goal at this point?

    • Eileen,

      The brain is capable of repairing itself and forming new pathways because of its ability to adapt and change called ny=uroplasticity. You can read about it all on this website. I healed my brain from a very serious brain injury by harnessing and self-directing neuroplasticity. There are also miraculous brain healing modalities, such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy, neurofeedback, Brain Wave Optimization, and exercise, meditation, diet can all hugely impact your brain’s healing. You can read about it all on the website. Every brain is different and every brain injury is different. I don’t know your specifics, but I do know the brain is capable of remarkable healing when supported and encouraged. I offer coaching via email or video if you are interested. https://www.thebestbrainpossible.com/coaching/

  11. Thanks for your post. I have had complex PTSD for about three months – For me, this PTSD was my body’s and higher self working to eliminate very poisonous holding I had in my body from early childhood trauma (extensive long term physical abuse from a parent) – I am 64 years of age but in good health. The experience has been the hardest thing I have ever done. I am committed to my health and to passing through this without medication. I am coming out of it. I worked with a psychotherapist using somatic experiencing. That was very helpful and important but not a cure. I worked with an acupuncturist who did energy work with me, including working with me on a ‘soul’ level – he was actually able to pull out some of the terrifying fragments of my father – in the abuse he drove parts of himself that he could not accept into me. He was very ill. That saved me, pull my feet out of the fire. I have been working with an another acupuncturist who has been working to relieve me of liver-chi congestion and related – that is the most current thing and that is required. But one thing that surprised me was the help I am getting from using Kundalini Yoga practices. Many of these practices were designed for the nervous system – they can be quite powerful, and, therefore, can be too powerful and can create a flood of sensation. But they are essential for me at this point in the process I have been using a Kundalini Yoga protocol designed by David Shannahoff-Khalsa – a psychiatrist – https://sacredtherapies.com/meet-david-shannahoff-khalsa/. I also do martial arts and related – which is calming and focusing (community based). I need to have some level of mastery with my nervous system and brain function and I need to be present, in the moment. Recovery is a spiritual practice. Thanks again.

    • Bill,

      I applaud the tenacity with which you have pursued your healing and am glad to hear that you are having good results. Recovery from any trauma, injury, or condition is very individual. I like to think of it like putting pieces of a puzzle together. The ones that fit are out there, but they are different for everyone. Similarly, I had to find them and fit everything together to heal from my brain injury. Thank you for the additional information, and I wish you continued success. 🙂

      • I agree, I liken it to weaving a blanket…you get bits and pieces here and there and sew them together. I am a military veteran and I developed celiac disease due to stress so I advise others to always get their vitamin levels checked with blood work, it saved my life, Mike

        • Thank you for your encouragement and comment, Mike. I definitely think I learned the most from other brain injury survivors.

  12. Hi Debbie,
    So inspirational hearing your story and the comments others have shared. I have had cptsd for some time and have recently had more trauma pile on. I am currently experiencing tremors and body sensations all over. I wish to heal this trauma in my body as it has changed my life recently!

    • I’m glad you find the information helpful and hopeful, Nicole. You CAN heal. It takes time and effort, but it can happen. And the more you know, the more you can help you brain recover. all the best to you. 🙂

  13. This post is very informative on this topic. I just tripped upon it and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your post stations. Thanks for sharing.

  14. Pingback: How Trauma Can Damage the Brain for Generations and Can Be Reversed - The Best Brain Possible

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