The Brain & Trauma
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Transcript of The Brain & Trauma
The Brain & Trauma
July 9, 2013 – Adams County Foster Parents
Presented By:
Aaron Wiemeier M.S. LPC
Trauma
What is Trauma?
Trauma
Definition:Medical
Psychiatric
Injury or insult to body/shock
Experience that is emotionally painful or distressing
Both can be Acute or Long Term
Trauma
Definition:Psychiatric/Emotional Subtypes:
Developmental (1)
Environmental
Secondary
Trauma
Important Notes:
• Trauma is relative
• Body/Brain organized to heal trauma naturally
• Developmental trauma as harmful as single acute episode (1)
• Be aware Perception of Trauma What one feels is traumatic another may not
Trauma
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Criteria: A)
Both 1) experience/witness/confronted death/serious injury/threat of
2) Response fear/helplessness/horror
Trauma
Posttraumatic Stress DisorderCriteria:
B) Recurrent thoughts/dreams/feelings
C) Avoidance of things associated with event
D) Persistent symptoms of increased arousal
E) Duration
F) Causes clinically significant impairment in social, occupational or other areas of functioning
Trauma
Trauma Memory
Non-Declarative Memory
Trauma
Trauma Memory
Stored as early as 6 months In-Utero
Stored in Limbic System (Amygdala & Hippocampus)
Much more permanent
Unconscious
Similar to procedural memory
Trauma
Trauma’s Effect on the Brain
Trauma
Trauma’s Effect on the Brain
Smaller Hippocampus (long term memory) (3)
Short term memory deficits
Dysfunctional Stress-Response System (Cortisol) (1)
TraumaTrauma’s Effect on the Brain
Because the trauma has affected the structures our brain uses to deal with stress/hurt/pain emotional or otherwise
Behavioral
We resort to other less natural and more dysfunctional patterns of dealing such as:
TraumaTrauma’s Effect on the Brain
Anger The “safest” feeling to express - emotional dysregulation
Attention/Impulsivity Issues - Hyperarousal
Emotional Withdrawal/Numbing
Enuresis/Encopresis primal soothing mechanism
Distraction: creating conflict/cutting etc.
Delayed/Impaired Ability to recognize feelings categorical “fight or Flight”/all or nothing response
Trauma
Catatonia
Repression
Identity Disorder/Conversion
Regression
Rage
Anger
Denial/Avoidance
Hierarchy of Self-Protective Brain
Responses
Trauma
Negative Cognition
EmotionalResponse
Biological Response
Trauma
The Road Block To Healing
Negative Cognitive Message – I am powerless, I deserve bad things, I am not worthy, I am not loveable etc.
TraumaThe Aversive State
Outside does not equal inside
Creates a state of stress that must be reduced eventually
We reduce the stress on one side or the other (inside traditionally is harder to “reduce” and because its tied to trauma and is more permanent. Our environment and thoughts are not nearly as permanent.
Explains Self-Sabotage, Messy Rooms etc.
The Brain & TraumaPractical Applications – General Overview
The Brain & Trauma
Practical Applications for Adults
Adult Emotional Regulation
• Our own negative cognitive message = largest trigger
• Taking Care of Yourself
• Separate the action from the person – right & wrong choice
• Time is your “ally”
The Brain & Trauma
Practical Applications for Adults“It’s not how you feel but where you feel”
Non-Verbal Body Awareness
• 75% of all communication
Eye Contact
Facial Expression
Voice Tone
Posture
Gesture
Timing & Intensity of response (1)
The Brain & Trauma
The Brain & Trauma
Practical Applications for Children & Families
Reframing Behavior as Fear-Based
• for self as well as child (www.postinstitute.com)
• not focusing on surface behavior but what is underneath (Attachment Disorder)
• Repetition
• Eliminate systemic fear-SocietyAdminStaffChild
The Brain & TraumaPractical Applications – Children
Coping Skill Development & Emotional Awareness
• Healing Hand
• Method of Loci (memory strategy)
• Need to be different types (at least one internal)
The Brain & Trauma
Practical Applications for Adults
Structure & Discipline
• Discipline = “to teach”
• Consistency/Follow Through
• 3 Levels of Choice: Open/You Choose (weighted?) /”I action – base on emotional needs of child at current time
Love/Nurturing
• Attachment Considerations
• Chemistry of Connection/The Connected Child
The Brain & Trauma Other Intervention Ideas For Healing
The Brain Gym Exercises that stimulate right/left brain connection as well as connection between lower and higher organized parts
My Sensory Workbook: Lauren Kerstein
The Brain & Trauma Other Intervention Ideas For Healing
-Bridges the gap between thinking mind and emotional mind (trauma memory needs to “MOVE”)
- Gets children out of categorical all or nothing emotions
- Equips child with coping skills and discerns between right and wrong choices
-Helps child rate feelings on a scale and learn “where” they feel
- Teaches children different names and groups of feelings as well as how to describe them more vividly
www.myfeelingsworkbook.com
The Brain & Trauma My Feelings Workbook - Populations
• Trauma/PTSD• Autism/Aspergers• Enuresis/Encopresis• Anger/Opposition & Defiance• ADHD• Chronic Stress• Depression• EMDR preparation
The Brain & TraumaFamily-School-Community = Healthy Resilient Children
Thank You For All You
Do!
The Brain & Trauma
References:www.traumaresources.org (Trauma, Brain & Relationship DVD 2000) (1)www.brainconnection.com (2)www.leadershipcouncil.org (3)www.growingchild.com (4)http://library.thinkquest.org (5)Perry, B.D. (1997) Incubator of Terror: Neurodevelopmental Factors in the Cycle of Violence (6)
Other Helpful Websites:
www.postinstitute.com
www.attachment.org