The Science
Trauma produces "a re-calibration of the brain's alarm system, an increase in stress hormone activity" and "compromises the brain area that communicates the physical, embodied feeling of being alive.
To understand trauma, we need to understand the whole body system.
The simplest way to define trauma is that it's an experience we have that overwhelms our capacity to cope.
Why does it overwhelm our capacity to cope?
Bessel Van der Kolk describes it like this
Simply put, more or less, every part of the brain is affected by trauma. The right brain (emotional) lights up more. The left brain (logical) shuts down more. The back of the brain (reptilian) is more hyperactive. The front (prefrontal cortex) becomes less active.
The connections and neurotransmitters between the different parts of the brain get scrambled. The brain then goes into a state of hyper-alertness, and that involves multiple brain structures.
Trauma does not discriminate, it incapacitates a person to think, feel and act clearly. Creating a feeling of paralysis or helplessness. It's not your fault, it's your brain's fault.
The Facts
"Trauma is a fact of life. It does not have to be a life sentence" Peter A Levine
Arland wanted to be released from the memories of the past.
"My journey has been amazing. The first session was amazing as Angela did not judge me for who I am. I am very grateful for the good work you put into the world. Since I have experienced The Advancing Heart Protocol™, I continue to improve not only my life but others I share my life with".
Sophia wanted to be released from high anxiety.
“I have noticed the emotions, but the intensity has decreased, and the length of time the emotions last for is shorter. So, for example, I physically and psychologically recover from an experience that provokes the emotions a lot quicker than I normally would do”.
Sophia, Registered Health Professional, New Zealand
How does trauma affect the nervous system?
Traumatic events push the nervous system outside its ability to regulate itself.
The nervous system controls everything you do. Including breathing, walking, thinking, and feeling
For the brain to deal with any situation, it has to use all the senses to take in information. It sees, hears, smells, tastes, and touches what is happening. With the five senses being activated the six sense, the body becomes activated, and the energy from experience is laid down into the nervous system. It has to take and do something with the information.
If a person can not cope with the incoming stimuli, it lays it down as danger (trauma).
Hormonal response to trauma
When the body is stressed (feeling of danger), it triggers the release of cortisol. A cortisol-releasing hormone is released from the brain and runs through the nervous system. You have adrenal cortical tropic hormone (ACTH) being released. Inside the kidneys, you have adrenaline being released. Cortisol is being secreted, and it's affecting the brain, the body, and your metabolism. Now you have the kidneys, adrenal glands secreting these substances, and a profound effect on the brain. Cortisol will shut off the hippocampus (laying down and integrating memory) functions, but adrenaline will increase the amygdala (laying down emotional memory) functions. In essence, adrenaline increases the laying down of certain kinds of memories. But cortisol will decrease the integration of those memories because the hippocampus has receptors that respond to the cortisol and shut it down. Each hormone has a different effect on the brain.
Cortisol can become toxic to the way the brain functions and grows if sustained over long periods of time, i.e., abusive childhoods or relationships. In contrast, adrenaline will increase the laying down of those memories. Hence, why trauma cannot be released by talking it through - managing and reframing emotions is limited and can be damaging.
Our body's response to trauma
When we are under threat or in danger, our bodies have a system that prepares us to fight, flee or freeze in a dangerous situation as a way of surviving
For the brain to deal with any situation, it must use all the senses to take in information. It sees, hears, smells, tastes, and touches what is happening. With the five senses being activated, the sixth sense, the body becomes activated, and the energy from the experience is laid down into the nervous system. Then, it has to take and do something with the information.
If a person can not cope with the incoming stimuli, it lays it down as danger (trauma).
The impact of trauma on the brain network
Traumatic stress is associated with increased cortisol and norepinephrine responses to subsequent stressors
Trauma impacts three primary brain networks - the default mode network, where we process information and understand how we feel. The salience network - a filter for all the stimuli in our environment. The executive network. This helps us plan, think, concentrate and focus our attention.
For people who have experienced trauma, much of the time, the environment feels threatening. However, figuring out what is dangerous or threatening is challenging, as all three brain functions are often impaired. When the brain's integration is damaged, it disrupts a person's ability to balance their nervous system. To rebalance the nervous system and reintegrate the brain networks, we must create safety. This is the beauty of The Advancing Heart Protocol™.
No one needs to suffer or be at the mercy of stress hormones; you need to book your free consultation to regain control over your life.
CONTACT AND LET'S CONNECT
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