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Dr. Richard Jordan
San Diego County Psychologist
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Trauma: How it affects the brain, how it can be effectively
treated, how it benefits thriving relationships.
By Dr. Richard Jordan
Trauma and Brain Function
The areas of the brain that register trauma are in the limbic system,
also referred to as the “old brain.” Some of the specific areas of the
brain that are involved include the thalamus, the amygdala, and the
hippocampus. These areas of the brain are intimately linked with
emotional expression and body responses to thoughts and emotions.
Most sensory input is processed by the thalamus and sent to other
parts of the brain. The amygdala records sensory events and
experiences that are novel or out of the ordinary, so that traumatic
events are especially stored there. And it is the amygdala that sends
information to the body to respond when certain traumatic memories are
triggered.
So, the challenge for effective therapy is to somehow access the
“energy charge” of the trauma memory in the amygdala in a way that
dissipates it and allows the person to function without being
overwhelmed by traumatic memories. Unfortunately, many proposed
treatment modalities are either ineffective, or re-traumatize the
patient.
Trauma Treatment Options
A therapy that works strictly through the higher thought areas of the
brain, the prefrontal cortex, are unlikely to be effective because
this area of the brain does not communicate with the limbic system in a
way that yields any benefit in the relief of trauma symptoms. As such,
Cognitive Behavioral approaches might not be effective.
I offer a brief note here about what is an effective treatment. At
best, effectiveness is determined by scientifically sound controlled
studies. There is much new work being started and proposed in the
study of effective trauma treatment. In the results available thus
far, it seems that some are claiming effectiveness of their methods
because their patients achieved significant benefit during the study.
However, as goods scientists, it is important to also look long-term,
to see if the benefits are lasting. It is also important to look at
the effectiveness of placebo treatment, and to tease out the benefit
of simply having the patient paid more attention to. Some treatments
claiming to be effective are no more effective than placebo treatment,
but this fact is sometimes not openly offered. Also, when looking at
long-term data for Prozac, often prescribed for PTSD symptoms, the
benefits seem to abate after the Prozac is stopped. This suggests that
the emotional/body energy of the trauma is only suppressed by the
medicine, and re-emerges later off-medicine.
Therapies that are being found more effective include the Eye Movement
Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) technique, somatic techniques,
opposite-hand writing, and certain play therapy techniques with
children.
EMDR is a widely growing technique that is becoming less controversial
as its success continues to be demonstrated. It seems to be effective
not only for trauma treatment, but for a variety of other challenges
that people often bring into therapy. As it has evolved, fewer
therapists are actually using eye movement, but instead are using
tapping or other devices. It is now widely believed that eye movement
is not necessary to yield therapeutic benefit, but that the important
thing is to provide "alternating bilateral stimulation" or BLS. For
more about EMDR and BLS, see the following sites:
www.emdria.org
www.emdrinfo.net
www.emdr.com
Somatic techniques focus the patient on his or her body sensations, so
that access to the stored traumatic energy is through the body
experience of it. This can be done in a gentle, gradual way, and in a
way that builds a bridge or connection with the thinking areas of the
brain. The result is that the patient begins to increase their
“psychic carrying capacity” for the traumatic energy, and are
ultimately able to discuss the traumatic events in a rather
matter-of-fact way, without emotional charge. Often they may something
to the effect of, “It’s over, I’m done with it.”
A somatic approach also emphasizes the patient’s, and the patient’s
body’s, wisdom and timing, such that he or she develops their own
resources to process and move through emotional material. Because the
result is a person who is very present with their body experiences,
there are many side benefits, including better health, more presence
in relationships, and generally a more joyful way of being. Presence
and awareness yields a conscious dominion over one’s responses to life
experiences.
Two somatic approaches which I have found to be effective are Body
Centered Transformation by Gay and Kathlyn Hendricks, and Somatic
Experiencing by Dr. Peter Levine. Links to their sites, and other
related sites follow.
www.trauma-pages.com
www.ptsdreference.com
www.hendricks.com
www.traumacenter.org
www.traumahealing.com
A skilled therapist will combine trauma healing techniques as
appropriate for each patient and situation. For example, I have found
myself using EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, and Gestalt approaches all in
the same session at times, according to where the patient found
himself during the session.
Trauma Healing and Thriving Relationships
When many of us think of trauma, we think of car crashes, abuse,
sudden or unexpected death of loved ones, and such. However, consider
that we have all experienced traumas in our lives, to some degree.
Each of us differ in how resilient we are in managing or coping with
traumatic life events. No matter what the nature of our life traumas,
each of us learn some version of the following: The people who are
supposed to love us all the time, sometimes hurt us. No matter how
loving and enlightened our parents might have been, we experience some
forms of traumas at their hands. For example, a child who is less than
one year old has such little concept of passing time that, when mother
leaves the room, the child will fear that she may never return. This
has to do with the developmental psychological principle of "object
permanency."
So, we grow to believe, and to fear, that it is not safe to be very
close to other people for very long. As we grow into adults, we forget
this belief, that is, it becomes unconscious, but it still dictates
the ways in which we relate to people, especially our special someone.
If we wish to have a thriving, loving, intimate, long-term
relationship, one requirement seems to be that we bring this
unconscious belief up into the light, so that we increase our ability
to be intimate and authentic with our relationship partner.
One of the gifts of relationship is that, given time, it will present
us with all the ways in which our beliefs and fears stop us from a
deep, thriving, lasting love. As one becomes aware of these beliefs
and fears, one has the choice and opportunity to grow and evolve as a
human being, and to increase the flow of loving expression in your
relationships and in the world.
Contact Dr. Jordan at
drjordan@cox.net for marriage
counseling, relationship advice, psychotherapy, and relationship
healing. Offices in San Diego County, California. (619)
303-5062 Speaking engagements and workshops nationwide.
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