The Psychology Behind PTSD

Written by Ashmita Annamalai & Anvitha Mattapalli, Edited by Harini Akurathi & Arushi Patil, Layout by Vrinda Gandhi, Art by Thejo Tattala, & Blogged by Taruni Manam

The neuropsychological cause of Post-traumatic stress disorder and it’s great impacts on an individual.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that may occur in people who have either witnessed or experienced a traumatic event, such as a severe accident, a natural disaster, a sexual assault, or a near-death situation. This condition may last months or even years and usually will not alleviate without psychotherapy.

When trauma first occurs, our “reptilian brain” (the brain stem, which is responsible for the most important functions of life such as breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate) takes control. The brain stem triggers the “fight or flight” response and all body and mind functions that are not vital are shut down so our body can recognize and focus on what we need to survive. After the threat goes away, the parasympathetic nervous system resumes the functions that were shut down earlier. However, for some trauma survivors, the after-effects of the experience remain. For these people, the brain’s “threat and alarm system” becomes very sensitive and is triggered easily. This causes the parts of the brain that are accountable for thinking and memory to stop functioning properly. Because of the overly sensitive nature, it is hard to separate “normal” events happening in the present from dangerous events that happened in the past.

There are three main parts of the brain that contribute to PTSD: the amygdala, the prefrontal cortex, and the hippocampus. The amygdala is responsible for emotions and can detect threats in the surroundings. It activates the “fight or flight” response and “then activate[s] the sympathetic nervous system to help deal with the threat” (Telemynd). People who have PTSD usually have an overactive amygdala, causing irrational thoughts. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is responsible for regulating attention and awareness, making decisions about the best response to a sudden situation, determining the significance of events, regulating emotions, and inhibiting dysfunctional reactions (Telemynd). For people who have PTSD, the PFC is underactive and the regulation of emotion and dysfunctional reactions does not occur at the right times. Lastly, the hippocampus is responsible for storing and retrieving memories and differentiating between past and present experiences. Succeeding a traumatic event, “the hippocampus works to remember the event accurately and make sense of it” (Telemynd). However, since trauma is generally overwhelming, the information is not coded correctly. This means that someone with PTSD might have trouble recalling important details of the event and may or may not overthink about what happened because the hippocampus is working extremely hard to try and make sense of the situation.

Nerves connect these three parts of the brain together. When a person experiences PTSD, these nerves do not function like they usually do. The hippocampus is unable to store the memory of the traumatic event. The amygdala is overwhelmed with emotion and cannot be relaxed, even when the prefrontal cortex sends it a message.

PTSD has various impacts on a person. About 80% of all people with PTSD have another similar disorder, which include depression, substance abuse/addiction, anxiety, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The person may experience the traumatic event through nightmares. These experiences may also be provoked by triggers around the person that remind them of the traumatic event. Because of this, the person may try to avoid situations that resemble the traumatic event or become startled easily. Some other impacts include lower performance in education or work, disinterest, lack of sleep, autoimmune diseases, eating disorders, and self-harm. PTSD doesn’t only harm those suffering from it; it also harms the person’s loved ones. It can be difficult to support people with PTSD due to their side effects from it. This can cause divorce, abandonment, and hardships in relationships. This can also affect the mental health of the person’s loved ones.

PTSD is caused by the witnessing or experiencing of a traumatic event that is hard to recover from. In the brain, their amygdala overworks and cannot be calmed down, leading to the person re-experiencing the event. The person may isolate themselves from others or have difficulty with being in places that remind them of the event. Their loved ones may also struggle to support them. However, PTSD is treatable. Therapies and medications are available to help those with PTSD and overcome the traumatic event.

References:

Pacific Grove Hospital. (n.d.). Signs and Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. https://www.pacificgrovehospital.com/ptsd/symptoms-signs-effects/

Hammer, Paul S. (May 29, 2013). DCoE Director Explains Science Behind PTSD. https://www.brainline.org/article/dcoe-director-explains-science-behind-ptsd

Telemynd. (n.d.). The Science Behind PTSD: How Trauma Changes The Brain. https://www.telemynd.com/blog/the-science-behind-ptsd-how-trauma-changes-the-brain

By Thejo Tattala

By Thejo Tattala