[This is your brain on trauma (CPTSD Focus)](onenote:https://newcastle-my.sharepoint.com/personal/c3074618_newcastle_ac_uk/Documents/NCU%20Integrated/HG%20GG.one#HG%20-%20GG%20Video%20Episodes.§ion-id={8F9BAC11-7802-4295-BECC-09DA628D756D}&page-id={A50C648E-3073-45F1-95DC-EA0F0B918BD5}&object-id={596D67B7-A646-4901-9296-7EEF2E1DADBE}&F) ([Web view](https://newcastle-my.sharepoint.com/personal/c3074618_newcastle_ac_uk/_layouts/Doc.aspx?sourcedoc=%7b47727220-8D3E-4D1D-95B4-05382CF192AC%7d&wd=target%28HG%20GG.one%7C8F9BAC11-7802-4295-BECC-09DA628D756D%2FHG%20-%20GG%20Video%20Episodes.%7CA50C648E-3073-45F1-95DC-EA0F0B918BD5%2F%29&wdpartid=%7b642F159B-3B40-4C72-A45C-E2215548CCCE%7d%7b1%7d&wdsectionfileid=%7b951F3611-5E99-42B9-9521-DA66882B603F%7d))
- CPTSD
- CPTSD = PTSD + BPD Symptoms (Unstable sense of self)
- Society as a whole suffers from CPTSD symptoms outside of having trauma.
- Paralysis of initiation: comes from emotional numbing.
- Loss of autonomy: if not reinforced = encourages compliance. Children need to be encouraged to develop autonomy.
- Lack of reinforcement: when making choices, the choices don’t get fulfilled/completed.
- Worst cases where P is punished for trying to take autonomy. (All about what other people want)
- Reliance on perfectionism: won’t get started until it’s perfect.
- Perfectionism and feeling safe go hand in hand.
- BPD
- No persistent sense of self to fight against external stimuli.
- Too emotionally dysregulated to lay down a foundation of who we are.
- PTSD
- Dissociation = numbing
- Drive and passion come from emotion; if emotions are numbed (by trauma) drive is also numbed.
- Loss of emotion = loss of identity.
- Increased impulsivity: Desire to do thing for a little while / difficulty with follow through
- Chronic activation of SNS; de-activation of peripheral nervous system.
- 1 short term event that traumatises us.
- Identity
- **What makes someone feel like a "loser"; is the intense negative emotional experiences they suffer**.
- BPD: Unstable sense of self = over-reliance on external circumstances.
- Consistency
- External: Consistent environment.
- Internal: Sense of identity/self (Healthy; Athletic; etc) = drive over time.
- Very strong identity helps tolerate setbacks and increases drive.
- Neurobiology
- ACC (Anterior Cingulate Cortex): brain region in the frontal lobe, part of the limbic system, involved in integrating emotions and cognition, playing key roles in attention, decision-making, error detection, pain processing, and emotional regulation.
- TPJ (Temporal-Parietal Junction): a hub for integrating sensory, social, and attentional information, crucial for functions like perspective-taking, empathy (Theory of Mind), attention shifting, self-consciousness, and language
- Relationships
- Emotions
- CPTSD = poor emotional awareness (due to hemispheric lateralisation = poor emotional regulation.
- Numbed emotions are still active, just not aware of it.
- Confused/numb to positive emotions. Hyperactivity of negative emotions.
- Due to different parts of brain; amygdala hyper activated; dm-PFC (and other positive brain areas) de-activated.
- Dr K sees this in a lot of people without PTSD (general hopelessness; worries about climate change).
- Affective Emotions: Don't need a social environment.
- Social Emotions: Require a social environment.
- Rewiring Trauma
- Become comfortable in own body
- Using mind-body practices. EG yoga.
- Exercise causes body to go into rest mode when you are done.
- Exposure therapy: expose to stimuli.
- Doesn’t work alone for those with high dissociation symptoms (CPTSD)
- Effective trauma treatment has to be holistic (different strategies)
- Everything is effected by trauma. Trauma is a chameleon. Many different diagnoses have underlying trauma.
- Anti C-PTSD Strategies.
- Increase autonomic (SNS/PNS Flexibility)
- Increase awareness of the body
- Articulate emotions physically if you don't have awareness emotionally.
- Articulate emotions with language
#PTSD