“…during every stage of my medical training, whether I was studying surgery, cardiology, or pediatrics, it was obvious to me that the key to healing was understanding how the human organism works.” ~ Dr. Bessel Van der Kolk
Dr. Bessel Van der Kolk began studying post-traumatic stress and trauma in the 1970s. It was an area of much interest to him and had been since he started his psychiatric rotation in medical school. He was amazed at the contrast between how complex the human mind was. He marveled over the ways that our brains are connected to each other. But most of all, he was struck by how little psychiatrists knew about the problems in the people they were treating. Quite often, they had no knowledge of where those problems even began. Nor was there any way to determine it.
Fortunately, advances in research have given birth to several new branches of science. They have served to give us an in-depth view of the effects of psychological trauma. The branches are:
- Neuroscience – This is the study of how the brain supports its mental processes.
- Developmental Psychopathology – This is the study of how adverse experiences impact the development of the brain and mind.
- Interpersonal Neurobiology – This is the study of how our emotions, mindsets and behaviors impact those around us.
Is There More to Trauma Than What Meets the Eye?
Research within these disciplines has shown us that trauma is more than what is happening in the mind. It actually produces physical changes, and this includes recalibrating the brain’s alarm system. Stress hormones are increased and there are changes in the mind’s filtering system as well.
When a person has experienced trauma, the part of the brain that makes them feel alive gets compromised. Yet, their brains betray them with hypervigilance at the first sign of a potential threat. Traumatized people live their lives repeating the same issues, and they struggle to learn from their experiences. But now we know that this is not because they lack the willpower to do it. It’s because of the changes that have taken place in their brains, physically.
Now More Than Ever, Healing From Trauma is Possible
Because we know so much more about trauma today, we have been able to develop better treatment options. For the first time, research has enabled us to bring relief to suffering trauma clients and even reverse the damage in some cases.
There are three main ways that trauma is treated today:
- Through talking and connecting with others. This allows trauma victims to gain better insight into their conditions and process memories in healthy ways.
- By taking medications to help with trauma symptoms, or using other forms of treatment to change how the brain responds.
- By allowing the person to have experiences that contradict the helpless and hopeless feelings that go along with trauma.
Many people find that a combination of the above is the best option for them. But the first step in healing from trauma is always to get professional help and guidance.
Perhaps trauma has taken over your life, and you’re desperate for a change. I can provide you with the professional support that you need as we work through the healing process together. Contact me for an appointment today.
