How Trauma Changes Memories

Takeaway

Trauma is not your fault: It’s essential to acknowledge that trauma is not a result of personal weakness or failure.

Seek help: There are various treatment options available, including therapy, medication, and support groups.

You are not alone: Trauma can affect anyone, and there are many resources available to support individuals who have experienced trauma.

Healing is possible: With the right treatment and support, individuals can heal and recover from traumatic experiences.

Self-care is essential: Engage in activities that promote relaxation and stress reduction, such as exercise, mindfulness, and meditation.

What is Trauma?

Trauma is when something very scary, hurtful, or disturbing happens to you. It can be physical, emotional, or sexual. Trauma can make you feel overwhelmed, helpless, and scared.

Siegel views trauma as an experience that affects the development and functioning of the brain, particularly the emotional regulation systems, leading to changes in behavior, emotions, and relationships.

Traumatic experiences differ. Traumatic experiences frequently involve real or perceived threats to life or safety and trigger a survival response. After the initial reaction subsides, trauma survivors often feel the world is unsafe.

Definitions:

American Psychological Association (APA)

“Trauma is an emotional response to a terrible event, such as an accident, rape, or natural disaster.”

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)

“Trauma is exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence.”

Sigmund Freud (Psychoanalytic Perspective)

Freud defined trauma as an overwhelming experience that disrupts the individual’s psychological equilibrium, leading to feelings of anxiety, fear, and helplessness.

Carl Rogers (Humanistic Perspective)

Rogers viewed trauma as a significant threat to an individual’s sense of self and personal identity, leading to feelings of vulnerability, shame, and self-doubt.

Examples of Traumatic Events

• Being in a car accident
• Being bullied or abused
• Losing a loved one suddenly
• Experiencing a natural disaster
• Being in a war or combat

Causes of trauma include:

• One-Time Events. Accidents, life-altering injuries, assaults, or unexpected threats to stability are common events that lead to trauma.
• Relentless Stress. This category deals more with everyday life. Living in a crime-ridden neighborhood, battling or supporting someone with chronic illness, racism, being subjected to repeated bullying or abuse, or neglect can induce trauma.
• Extraordinary Circumstances. The sudden death of a loved one, a painful breakup, or extreme disappointment can also lead to trauma.

People’s responses to trauma vary as much as the traumatic experiences themselves. People who experience the same traumatic event are likely to respond differently. For people who experience emotional trauma, it can range from an adjustment issue that resolves itself quickly to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is a life-altering, severe condition.

Symptoms of trauma include:

• You think about the trauma you experienced seemingly nonstop. You find it difficult to redirect your thoughts to your current surroundings and circumstances.
• Flashbacks. Certain sounds, sights, smells, or locations take you back to the trauma. You have nightmares or trouble sleeping. You don’t feel safe. Any strong reaction that doesn’t seem connected to your present life could be an effect of trauma.
• Loneliness. Persistent feelings of loneliness and failure are frequent symptoms of trauma.
• Do you always seem on guard? Do you startle easily? Do you panic when small things don’t go according to plan? These could be signs of trauma.

How trauma changes memories

Memory and trauma is the deleterious effects that physical or psychological trauma has on memory.

Memory is defined by psychology as the ability of an organism to store, retain, and subsequently retrieve information. When an individual experiences a traumatic event, whether physical or psychological trauma, their memory can be affected in many ways.

For example, trauma might affect their memory for that event, memory of previous or subsequent events, or thoughts in general. Additionally, It has been observed that memory records from traumatic events are more fragmented and disorganized than recall from non traumatic events.

Physical trauma

When people experience physical trauma, such as a head injury in a car accident, it can result in effects on their memory. The most common form of memory disturbance in cases of severe injuries or perceived physical distress due to a traumatic event is post-traumatic stress disorder.

Traumatic brain injury

Damage to different areas of the brain can have varied effects on memory. The temporal lobes, on the sides of the brain, contain the hippocampus and amygdala, and therefore have a lot to do with memory transition and formation. Patients who have had injury to this area have experienced problems creating new long-term memories.

Brain trauma

In addition to physical damage to the brain as a result of mechanical injury, there are other changes in the brain that can be observed. Neuroimaging studies on PTSD repeatedly identify key structures associated with pathology development. The structures observed to change are the amygdala, Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC), Pre Frontal Cortex (PFC), insula, and hippocampus.

These parts of the brain are most affected because they contribute to the feeling and actions associated with fear, clear thinking, decision making and memory.As a result of individual changes within different brain structures communication and regulation within structures is also impacted.

Amygdala

The Amygdala is known as the “fear center of the brain,” and is thought to be activated and regulated in response to stressful situations marked with perceived heightened stimulation. Specifically, the Amygdala is responsible for identifying threats of danger to self and safety.Consistent exposure to trauma and or stress, may lead to over-perception and heighten responsibility and sensitivity to threat.Increased activation in the fear center can impact communication with other circuits in the brain structure including connections between the PFC, amygdala, and hippocampus which can in turn affect how memory are stored by the hippocampus.

Hippocampus

The hippocampus is a major site of neurogenesis, it is where new neurons are born, impact to neurogenesis can have multiple implications. Some studies suggest that blocking of neurogenesis may have the ability to block the efficacy of anti-depressants which are used to treat symptoms of depression.According to the DSM-5 there is comorbidity among depression and PTSD. In addition to comorbidity rates, the symptoms of PTSD and Major Depression Disorder (MDD) also have some overlap. Specifically, both list negative alteration in mood and cognitive disturbances as a symptom, underlying the idea of a “c” factor or a cognitive dysfunction that can be seen as a transdiagnostic dimension of psychopathology.Trauma can impact the hippocampus and may have global implications in mood and symptom progression through the impacts on neurogenesis.

Interpersonal trauma

Interpersonal trauma is psychological trauma resulting from adverse interactions between people. Interpersonal trauma could include sexual violence, domestic violence, and abuse in childhood. People in these instances present with PTSD, often with more complex features. Interpersonal trauma continues to be a significant public health problem in the United States, contributing to significant psychological distress and functional impairment.

Sexual violence victims are predominantly women. When interviewing women who had been sexually abused in childhood, Williams  found that 38% of women had no recollection of the abuse in later adulthood. While those who experienced a singular traumatic event (e.g., witnessing the death of a parent) were better able to remember the traumatic experience. These results indicate that repeated traumatic experiences are more likely to be repressed than those that occurred only once.

The World Health Organization has identified that one in three women are victims of intimate partner violence. Exposure to intimate partner violence results in many adverse psychological and neurological outcomes.Strangulation is common in interpersonal violence, causing cerebral dysfunction and leading to memory impairment. Initial consequences of strangulation could be loss of consciousness and mild brain injury, while long-term residual problems include neurological impairment.Changes to the hippocampus also may have impact to a person’s ability to recall the traumatic experience and produce a trauma narrative

A person’s amygdala does not fully develop until their late 20s. Stress experienced prior to that age may have more extensive impact compared to stress experienced after the amygdala is fully developed.

Types of Traumatic Stress Disorder 

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5), the following are the types of traumatic stress disorders:

1. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (309.81)

• Characterized by symptoms such as intrusive memories, avoidance of triggers, negative alterations in cognition and mood, and marked alterations in arousal and reactivity.
• Can occur after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event.

2. Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) (308.3)

• Acute stress disorder is very similar to PTSD but is shorter in duration. ASD symptoms develop immediately after a traumatic event and last three days to one month. If symptoms persist beyond a month, the individual has developed PTSD.
• Similar to PTSD, but symptoms last for a shorter period (3 days to 1 month).
• Can occur after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event.

3. Adjustment Disorders (309.0-309.9)

• Characterized by symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and behavioral changes.
• Can occur after experiencing a stressful or traumatic event.

Subtypes include:

• Adjustment disorder with depressed mood (309.0)
• Adjustment disorder with anxiety (309.24)
• Adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood (309.28)
• Adjustment disorder with disturbance of conduct (309.3)
• Adjustment disorder with mixed disturbance of emotions and conduct (309.4)

4. Reactive Attachment Disorder (313.89)

• Characterized by symptoms such as difficulty forming and maintaining healthy relationships.
• Can occur in children who have experienced neglect or abuse.
• Emotional withdrawl or inhibition
• Lack of response to comfort from caregivers
• Impaired emotional response to others
• Limited ability to experience positive emotions
• Episodes of irritablity,sadess or fearfulness,often without cause.

5. Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder (313.89)

• Characterized by symptoms such as difficulty inhibiting social interactions.
• Can occur in children who have experienced neglect or abuse.

6. Other Specified Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders (309.89)

Characterized by symptoms that do not meet the full criteria for PTSD, ASD, or adjustment disorders.

Examples include:

• Persistent complex bereavement disorder
• Traumatic grief

7. Unspecified Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders (309.9)

Characterized by symptoms that do not meet the full criteria for any specific trauma- or stressor-related disorder.

How Does Trauma Affect You?

Trauma can affect your:

• Emotions: You might feel anxious, sad, or angry.
• Relationships: You might have trouble trusting others.
• Body: You might have physical pain or tension.
• Mind: You might have trouble sleeping or concentrating.

Can Trauma Be Cured Through Treatment?

Treatment can’t cure trauma, but it can become another experience in your life with feelings surrounding it that you can regulate and control.

Regardless of the traumatic experience and your response, it’s essential for the survivor to seek professional help if they’re having difficulty processing what they experienced.

What can I do to help myself?

You can get better with treatment. Here are some things you can do to help yourself:

• Talk with your health care provider about treatment options and follow your treatment
• Engage in exercise, mindfulness, or other activities that help reduce stress.
• Try to maintain routines for meals, exercise, and sleep.
• Set realistic goals and focus on what you can manage.
• Spend time with trusted friends or relatives and tell them about things that may trigger symptoms.
• Expect your symptoms to improve gradually, not immediately.
• Avoid the use of alcohol or drugs.

How can I help a loved one with PTSD?

If you know someone who may be experiencing PTSD, the most important thing you can do is to help that person get the right diagnosis and treatment. Some people may need help making an appointment with their health care provider; others may benefit from having someone accompany them to their health care visits.

If a close friend or relative is diagnosed with PTSD, you can encourage them to follow their treatment plan. If their symptoms do not improve after 6 to 8 weeks, you can encourage them to talk about it with their health care provider. You also can:

• Offer emotional support, understanding, patience, and encouragement.
• Learn about PTSD so you can understand what your friend is experiencing.
• Listen carefully. Pay attention to the person’s feelings and the situations that may trigger PTSD symptoms.
• Share positive distractions, such as walks, outings, and other activities.

Tips for Healing and Recovering From Trauma

• Seeking trauma treatment shouldn’t be done without thought or care. Consider the following tips to guide you through healing and recovery from trauma.
• Get Educated. Learn about trauma, how it can affect you and others, and why it’s important to seek help.
• Avoid Unhealthy Coping. Unhealthy coping mechanisms like self-medicating with drugs or alcohol aren’t helpful. It often only worsens trauma’s effects or creates secondary concerns.
• Connect With Others. Finding someone who understands your experience and will listen without judgment or advice is critical. They should be a safe person you can talk to when you need them most, without fear of judgment or advice on “what you should do.”
• Seek Survivor Support. You don’t have to go through this alone. Although comparing trauma is unhealthy, many people have gone through similar experiences. They can offer support and practical advice on how they handled things afterward that may apply to your situation.
• Seek Treatment. If you’re experiencing trauma symptoms, it’s important to find a mental health professional to help you through them. You’ll be able to more effectively process what happened, learn coping skills, and develop healthier habits to help you deal with future stressors.

 Conclusion

Trauma is a complex and multifaceted experience that can have a profound impact on an individual’s life. It can affect their emotions, relationships, physical health, and overall well-being. Trauma can also change the way memories are formed, stored, and retrieved, leading to fragmented, distorted, or suppressed memories.

Remember, trauma is a treatable condition, and seeking help is the first step towards healing and recovery.