Problem:
Explain in 200 words what you learned from this information regarding how traumatic experiences affect one's brain and future mental health. Use simple terms. Trauma's main effect on the brain involves the hippocampus (the memory center), the amygdala (the fear center), and the prefrontal cortex (the center that regulates emotions and controls functions). They work simultaneously to manage stress. When an individual thinks about a past traumatic event, the amygdala is activated while the prefrontal cortex is suppressed. This results in the body being overcome with fear but unable to control the feeling. As the brain's memory center, the hippocampus also is responsible for distinguishing between the present and the past. When having a traumatic thought, the hippocampus becomes less active, and the brain can't distinguish between actual trauma and a memory. The brain perceives the memory as an actual threat, placing it in an elevated alert state, and making the person feel trapped in their own, never-ending emotions. Childhood trauma increases the risk of developing psychological distress, anxiety, and depression. These conditions can present as physical symptoms (stomachaches, headaches), disruptive behavior (including unexplained anger), lack of focus, obsessive worrying, irritability, sleep disturbances, and appetite changes. The effects of trauma make it hard for children to form and maintain relationships with peers and may prevent them from succeeding in school. Need Assignment Help?