General Brain Differences - Healthy And Abused

[PTSDMama]

Our therapist shared some more information that I thought may be helpful to some of you in understanding just how different traumatized brains can be. The link below shows several images of differences between brains in healthy and abused individuals. This has been so powerful to us to be able to see a picture, that I thought I would share.

Especially the color image is helpful to see. The temporal lobe area deals with feelings, and you can see that it can be very inactive in abused individuals, leading to attachment issues. The circled areas deal with time and place, so you can see how someone with trauma can feel as if it is happening again, in the present.

I have limited time to post, so I hope this makes sense. I am definitely not a therapist and just trying to paraphrase what ours told us. Hope it's helpful!

http://www.dsm5.org/Documents/Diagnostic Criteria for Personality Disorder (Comparison of DSM-IV DSM-5 old DSM-5 new.pdf

 

[JohnJohn]

Ptsdmama,

Thank you for the info. It gives a biological explanation to this dynamic issue involving exposure to emotional trauma. Hopefully science can move a little faster in helping redevelopment of atrophied and maladaptive parts of the brain.

 

[LKG]

Hi Ptsdmama,

Really interesting information of which I am almost obsessive about given I have not long been diagnosed. A number of things about my past and present behaviour is finally falling into place. I feel quite different and alone out here but am glad that I stumbled upon this site. I feel like I might finally fit in somewhere.:alien:

 

[PTSDMama]

Glad it's helpful! LKG - we have felt alone for our little guy too, and although we aren't sufferers, we see his pain and it pains us. Welcome, and hope you find comfort here!