Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Unresolved Trauma can result from any trauma - real or imagined.
PTSD is short for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. PTSD can occur when a person has experienced or witnessed a traumatic event like a serious accident, an act of violence, war, or other disturbing events. The person may experience or witness an event that they perceive to be shocking, scary, or dangerous-whether it is real or imagined it can still result in symptoms of stress that can wreak havoc on the body, mind, emotional stability, relationships, and that person's life in general.
Symptoms of stress from experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event may follow shortly after the event or may not show up for years. Possible symptoms may include nightmares, flashbacks, or disproportionate feelings of nervousness, uneasiness, or fear.
Feeling down in the dumps because of stress is not a personal failing.
It happens to most of us, so don't be afraid to reach out for help.
We can help.
It is natural for everyone to experience mild symptoms of anxiety momentarily and from time-to-time such as before taking a test, just before an interview, before public speaking, going to parties, dating, etc.
It is natural to experience fear during and from a traumatic event. People automatically respond to a traumatic event with a fight-or-flight response. It is a natural protective measure our body takes. This response is to protect you from harm.
There are a wide range of reactions that may occur, but they fall mainly into the category of fight-or-flight. Examples of fight include someone yelling or getting physically aggressive. Examples of flight may be that the person walks out of the room, falls asleep, or says that they are bored, and they may even tune out.
Most people will recover from this stress on their own. A person, who continues to feel stressed or frightened for a prolonged period of time, even when they are not in danger, may find themselves caught in a vicious cycle of fight-or-flight response.
Sound the Alarm
SOUND THE ALARM
The stress response begins in the brain when our sensory system sends information to the amygdala. The amygdala contributes to emotional processing. The amygdala interprets the information and if it detects danger it sends a distress signal to the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus will act like a Command Center sounding the alarm.
The autonomics system's response of fight-or-flight to a perceived danger is a biochemical reaction that enables a person to rapidly produce sufficient energy to fight or flee a threatening situation. The hypothalamus, just above the brain stem, acts as an integrator for autonomic functions, receiving ANS regulatory input from the limbic system to do such.
The autonomic nervous system has 3 branches: the sympathetic nervous system, the parasympathetic nervous system, and the enteric nervous system.
When a threat is perceived the body reacts with a fight-or-fight response. The autonomic system (ANS),has 2 main components, the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activates physiological changes that happen in the fight-or-flight response and the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS).
The SNS system is commonly known as the "fight-or-flight response system, while PNS is commonly known as the "rest and digest" system. Sometimes the SNS system is referred to as "fight, flight, or freeze" response, just like you see when a deer freeze in your headlights. Then there is the enteric system (ENS), linked to the gastrointestinal system, which in Harvard articles the gastrointestinal system is sometimes referred to as "the second brain". The ENS receives information from both the SNS and the PNS, but can function on its own as well.
When perceiving situations that seem dangerous the sympathetic system can go into overdrive somewhat like someone stepping on the gas pedal in a car. This triggers the fight-or-flight response which gives a person the energy boost they need to respond to their perceived danger.
What causes this boost in energy?
When your body is presented with an immediate perceive threat, your body releases adrenaline, noradrenaline, and cortisol. The fight-or-flight response is your body's solution to a threat. Non-essential functions stop so your body can run for its life.
If the solution is not successful, your body may go into a "freeze" response - the nervous system is overwhelmed and has no further solution to offer.
Overwhelm is a whole brain and body response. The active response to threat did not work and this overwhelm point is what we would consider trauma.
As your heart rate elevates in this process, your body redirects blood flow away from your organs and to your arms and legs so you can respond to the perceived danger.
In the past the most common way to respond to a danger was to run or stand your ground and fight.
In the modern world this may not always be as appropriate of a response.
THE NOTICEABLE EFFECTS OF FIGHT OR FLIGHT
FIGHT OR FLIGHT - NOTICEABLE EFFECTS
Getting stuck in a fight-or-flight response is stressful.
During this response all body functions move blood away from your organs and brain, overwhelming your central nervous system. Less energy is spent on your digestive system and your immune system which may seemingly lead to long-term consequences involving poor health.
The increase in "stress" hormones such as adrenaline may also increase your heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Epinephrine is also known as adrenaline. Adrenaline is now pumping through your body.
This sudden surge of energy may increase muscle tenseness, shut down non-essential systems including the digestive system, your immune system, peripheral vision, and even reduce hearing.
There may even be an increase of blood sugar levels (i.e. glucose) shot into your blood system to further boost your energy.
BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS (GLUCOSE) RISE WITH FIGHT OR FLIGHT RESPONSE
BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS (GLUCOSE) RISE WITH FIGHT OR FLIGHT
WHAT HAPPENS TO BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS (GLUCOSE) WHEN YOU ARE STUCK IN FIGHT OR FLIGHT RESPONSE DUE TO THE OVERWHELMING OF THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (CNS) DUE TO LONG TERM STRESS ?
To produce the fight-or-flight response, the hypothalamus activates two systems: the sympathetic nervous system and the adrenal-cortical system.
Due to blood flow being re-routed during the fight-or-flight response, blood is being drained from the prefrontal cortex. So now you are losing rational thought.
If this is part of a long-term activation process, without proper blood flow to the brain, it makes learning new things, focusing on details, and having good relationships very difficult.
The lower parts of the brain are involved in survival and escape and a prolonged activation of the fight-or-flight response system would change the way a person responds in their daily life - for the worse.
When your body is in fight-or-flight, your body is being mobilized to respond to STRESS. You may be frozen with fear, anxiety, uncertainty, unease, and are unable to be fully present, to be mindful, or to even fully participate in learning, social relationships, and general understanding.
WHAT LONG TERM EFFECTS OF CHRONIC STRESS MIGHT LOOK LIKE
WHAT LONG TERM EFFECTS OF CHRONIC STRESS MIGHT LOOK LIKE
When presented with an immediate stressor, the body releases adrenaline, noradrenaline, and cortisol. The heart rate elevates and blood is directed away from the organs and to the arms and legs to enable fighting or fleeing. Less energy is expended on functions such as thought and your immune system because all of the body's capabilities are mobilized to respond to the stress.
Since blood is shunted away from the digestive system, this may be the reason some people get queasy to their stomach and feel like throwing up.
The fight-or-flight response plays a vital role in survival.
THE ANATOMY OF FEAR
THE ANATOMY OF FEAR
What are the possible results of long-term stress?
The long-term activation of the stress response system and the overexposure to cortisol and other stress hormones that follow, can disrupt almost all of your body's processes.
This puts you at an increased risk for many health problems.
Mayo Clinic says, "Stress that is left unchecked can contribute to many health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and diabetes."
Cleveland Clinic explains how stress can become a vicious cycle, in their article, "7 Strange Things Stress Can Do to Your Body and What's Your Body Telling You With These Symptoms?" Cleveland Clinic states the following:
1. Muscles and joints Stress can cause pain, tightness or soreness in your muscles, as well as spasms of pain. It can lead to flare-ups of arthritis, fibromyalgia, and other conditions, That's because stress lowers your threshhold for pain.
2. Heart and lungs Too much of the stress hormone cortisol may make heart and lung conditions worse. These include heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and asthma. If you have pain or tightness in your chest or heart palpitations, see a doctor as soon as possible to rule out a serious condition.
3. Skin and hair If you have a skin condition such as eczema, rosacea or psoriasis, stress can make it worse. It also can lead to hives and itchiness, excessive sweating and even hair loss.
4. Gut- Gastrointestinal System - "The Second Brain" Stress really shows in your digestive system-from simpler symptoms such as pain, gas, diarrhea and constipation to more complex conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and acid reflux (GERD).
5. Shoulder, head and jaw Doctors call this the "tension triangle". Stress can trigger tension headaches, tightness in the neck and jaw, and knots and spasms in your neck and shoulders. It may also contribute to temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ), a jaw disorder.
RELATED: Your Jaw May Be to Blame for Your Migraine Headaches
6. Immune System
You need a strong immune system to fight disease, but stress weakens your body's defenses. It makes you more likely to catch colds or the flu, for example. It also may make autoimmune conditions such as lupus and inflammatory bowel disease worse.
7. Mental health
Stress can bring on symptoms of depression and reduce your enthusiasm for activities you usually enjoy - from everyday hobbies to sex. People also tend to eat poorly and exercise less when stressed, which only makes symptoms stronger.
Feeling down in the dumps because of stress is not a personal failing.
It happens to most of us, so don't be afraid to reach out for help.
We can help.
Chronic stress contributes significantly to premature aging
Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, discovered that stress shortens telomeres - structures on the end of chromosomes - so that new cells can't grow as quickly. This leads to inevitable signs of aging: wrinkles, weak muscles, poor eyesight, and more.
WebMD has the following comments about stress:
"It can also exacerbate just about any health condition you can think of" Studies have found many health problems related to STRESS.
STRESS seems to worsen or increase the risk of conditions like:
7 Conditions Worsened or Increased Risk of Due to STRESS per WebMD
The National Center for Biotechnology Information is part of the United States National Library of Medicine, a branch of the National Institutes of Health.
1. Cancer 2. Coronary heart disease 3. Accidental injuries 4. Respiratory disorders 5. Cirrhosis of the liver 6. Suicide
STOP THE VICIOUS CYCLE OF PTSD
AND
UNRESOLVED TRAUMA
TRAUMA AND THE BRAIN
People experienceing PTSD or unresolved trauma are stuck in a permanent fight-or-flight response state that can inhibit their ability to deal with normal stress and daily living. The fight-or-flight response is a complex systemic reaction. There are instaneous messengers and physiologic changes involved.
THE EFFECTS OF STRESS
Are You Ready to Stop The Vicious Cycle of PTSD
That is Wreaking Havoc in Your Life?
Brain And Body Balance has helped those struggling with PTSD or unresolved trauma, whether officially diagnosed or not. Brain And Body Balance is done in our office and people say it is soothing and relaxing. Brain And Body Balance is considered a permanent, drug-free, non-invasive solution that affects all aspects of one's life.
People report that Brain And Body Balance is Life-Changing.