Conceptualising PTSD - Trauma Response To Anger

[bethinhfx]

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Definitions

• Amygdala – The brain’s emotional computer and alarm system
• Hippocampus – Brain’s storage for our most recent conscious memories
• Thalamus – Translates sights, sounds, smells into the language of the brain

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From my rough and quick image above, our information comes into the thalamus and is sent by quick and dirty transit to the amygdala, whilst simultaneously being sent to the hippocampus by highway (fast), and from the hippocampus to the amygdala by back roads (slow). From testing performed on animals, it is speculated that the path from thalamus to amygdala is shorter than that of the thalamus to hippocampus and hippocampus to amygdala.

So what does that mean? Basically, when we receive information into our brain, the amygdala is not what we want to process the information solely, as the amygdala is the fast and furious portion of our brain, possibly containing some of the most severe trauma images held by a sufferer of PTSD. If the image was intense enough it would burn directly into the amygdala, instead of being processed and stored correctly in the hippocampus initially.

@ Anthony: You are really smart aren't you? Lol. The work you have done on this site is incredible. Beth

 

[sherri ward]

This is a more detailed analysis I guess, to simply say: with PTSD, give yourself 5 seconds before you respond, as often your immediate response is going to come from the emotional computer and alarm system – which isn’t going to be an accurate response to what you fully feel, because those parts of your response are still coming down the back road from the hippocampus.

OMG! This is my husband. He no longer thinks before speaking, it all just comes out! Thank you for your postings!

 

[Beverly G.]

I too use a blanket. Mine is elactric and I crank it up full blast and roll up in it like a cocoon. It helps me sleep and keeps away the boogie bear.
oh yeah, I have tried the 5 second thing and at one point it was more like 5 minutes but I have a habbit of hurting the people I love and thinking first cut down on that.

 

[artzyfartzy]

I am trying to deal with my recurring trauma on a daily basis. Just when I thought I had the trauma of my mother making me surrender my son when I was 18 to an adoption agency, he finds me on Facebook. After 38 years of trying to forget Iam now I am dealing with all this guilt. I am fixing to be homeless because I can not keep a place to stay and I don't feel worthy of having anything. I feel unloved and my family as such, just lies to me one after another. Sometimes I think that I am imagining all the resentment they have for me and something happens and I am confirmed that they do.

 

[AngelaMarie]

I agree with the 5 second thing. My first response to threats or hurtful things are not nice. If I wait I can have control again.

 

[bethinhfx]

@artsyfartsy: Something that you can always feel good about no matter whats going on in your life is the fact that you chose to have your baby. How many young woman choose abortion or are forced to have an abortion. How wonderful that he has contacted you. Don't waste a minute feeling guilty. You had a baby; you gave birth; and you gave him away and that's ok. We live in a society that doesn't support young woman having children, and adoption is a painful route, no doubt, but you gave life to another human being. Thats pretty amazing when you think about it!:) Beth

 

[Anna]

I find anger is the one emotion I feel the most. There are ways to vent it, but it is becoming annoying.

 

[bethinhfx]

@Anna: No Kidding. I am very angry today; lots of pain inside. I am refusing to deal with anything else until I go to treatment. Beth