Trauma can significantly impact a person’s mental health and can be a major contributing factor to depression. When a person experiences trauma, it can lead to emotional dysregulation, making it difficult for the individual to manage their feelings. This can lead to a cycle of negative emotions that can become a depressive state. It is not unusual for a person to blame themselves for what has happened, or to view themselves as defective for feeling the way they do after a trauma.
Trauma impacts brain structures involved in emotion regulation and memory processing. The amygdala, which is responsible for processing emotions, especially fear, can become overactive. At the same time, the prefrontal cortex, which regulates these emotions, can be impaired. This combination can result in an individual having difficulty managing negative feelings and can lead to a greater likelihood of developing depression. Additionally, traumatic experiences are not always stored in the brain as a coherent memory, but can remain as fragmented sensations, images and emotions that can cause distress in the present.
When someone begins to address their trauma, they can expect a positive impact on their depression. As the person works through the trauma, the brain’s emotional responses become more regulated, and they will experience a reduction in negative emotions and thought patterns.
There are several self-help approaches that individuals can use to help manage their trauma:
Seeking professional help is useful for many individuals seeking to address their trauma. New approaches such as Havening and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) can offer unique ways to deal with traumatic experiences.
Trauma can significantly contribute to depression by disrupting the brain’s ability to regulate emotions. Addressing trauma, whether through self-help methods, or with a professional, allows for emotional regulation and a reduction in depressive symptoms. New approaches such as Havening and ACT can offer specific techniques and philosophies which help clients resolve trauma. Self-compassion, mindfulness, and emotional regulation are also helpful strategies in dealing with the impact of trauma.
Tags: Trauma, Depression, Self-Compassion, Mindfulness, Emotional Regulation, Havening, ACT, Amygdala, Neuroplasticity
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