It is possible to develop trauma-related depression after a traumatic experience. Trauma and mood disorders, such as depression, share similar brain pathways known as the stress response. Mood disorders are likely to develop when the stress response remains perpetually activated.
Trauma rewires neuron networks and interferes with brain chemicals responsible for emotional and thought regulation, sustaining the stress response indefinitely. Here is a detailed explainer on how trauma increases vulnerability to depression in the brain.
The Science Behind Trauma-related Depression
A traumatic experience activates brain regions and neuron pathways responsible for processing distress memories and preparing the body for defense. Activity in the amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus, and the prefrontal cortex is central in the development of trauma and trauma-related depression.
The Amygdala
The amygdala plays a critical role in creating memories of distressing events. It is responsible for picking and processing internal and external stress signals in the body. When it detects distress, it sends signals to the hypothalamus, which initiates the stress response.
The stress response, also known as the fight-or-flight response or anxiety, is the body’s defense mechanism. It equips the body with the energy and alertness required to ward off danger, threats, or fears. The response should resolve when you neutralize the threat. Unfortunately, trauma alters this system. After a traumatic experience, the amygdala becomes hypersensitive to distress cues.
● It overreacts to small distress signals, alerting the hypothalamus to launch the stress response.
● The amygdala also becomes hyper vigilant to the point of picking up phantom distress cues.
● It increases neuron connections to the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, boosting sensitivity and reactivity to distress memories. In the prefrontal cortex, the neuron connections bypass the cognitive aspects of this brain region while favoring an instinctual and unregulated emotional response.
All these changes sustain the stress response, leaving you vulnerable to depression.
The Hypothalamus
Once the hypothalamus gets distress signals from the amygdala, it activates the sympathetic nervous system, which stimulates the release of adrenaline in the adrenal glands. Adrenaline is a primary stress hormone. It works to mobilize the release of energy for fight-or-flight, resulting in what is known as the adrenaline rush when one is anxious, stressed, afraid, or threatened.
Adrenaline increases breathing, blood flow, and heart rate, boosting oxygen intake and transportation to the brain and muscles. The body uses oxygen as fuel to burn glucose and
release energy. The brain utilizes this energy to heighten alertness, while muscles require it for contraction and relaxation during the fight-or-flight response.
The energy surge is essential for survival. It explains the superhuman ability to dash against oncoming traffic, catch a falling child or object, or develop solutions amidst immense pressure. In a traumatic state, the brain channels alertness to the perceived threat, increasing your hyper fixation on the threat. The body remains in that state of fight-or-flight, even when the danger is not imminent. The stress response can activate unprovoked, interfering with daily living. It could be at night when you are asleep or during working hours.
Adrenaline also releases cortisol, another primary stress hormone that sustains the stress response indefinitely. Cortisol stimulates the breakdown of stored carbohydrates, proteins, and fats into glucose, boosting energy production in the brain and muscles. It also suppresses other metabolic systems to reserve energy consumption for fight-or-flight.
Additionally, cortisol inhibits the release and function of feel-good molecules such as serotonin and dopamine,which counter the stress response by activating the reward pathway. The reward pathway is responsible for relaxation, calmness, happiness, satisfaction, and motivation. Its inhibition leaves you vulnerable to depression.
The Hippocampus
The hippocampus is responsible for processing short and long-term memories. It encodes and incorporates distress memories in memory networks when it receives signals from the amygdala. However, trauma interferes with this process, resulting in the creation of faulty memories with wrong contextual cues.
The memories manifest as flashbacks, vivid thoughts, and nightmares. The brain lacks control over the retrieval process, making these distressing memories intrusive and uncontrollable. The memories strengthen the stress response by signaling danger, since the contextual cues, such as time of the ordeal or spatial awareness, are incorrect. It explains why a soldier may react as though they are on the battlefield long after the war is over.
The Prefrontal Cortex
The prefrontal cortex adds meaning to emotional memories in a process known as toning. It is also responsible for emotional responses. Ordinarily, the regulation process requires cognitive abilities, which include rationalization, reasoning, and logic. However, trauma suppresses this element of the prefrontal cortex, leaving you a victim to the ensuing uncontrollable emotional avalanche. Each memory recollection strengthens the stress response, sustaining it long term, leaving you vulnerable to depression.
Ways to Heal from Trauma-Induced Depression
Trauma’s ability to rewire the brain increases vulnerability to depression, a characteristic known as neuroplasticity or brain plasticity. Fortunately, you can leverage these same properties to guide your brain toward better health. Here are tried and tested ways to develop a resilient mind amid trauma.
Surround Yourself With Loved Ones
Depression thrives in isolation. Resist the urge to carry your burdens alone. Talk to someone. A problem shared is already half solved. Science shows that the feeling of belonging releases feel-good memories, which inhibit the stress response.
Embrace Activity
Depression hates a moving target. Therefore, avoid dormancy. Clean the house. Do laundry. Develop and prepare a meal plan. Take on extra work or a project. Avoid idleness at all costs. It will keep you from indulging in negative thoughts or projecting your fears onto your future.
Exercise Regularly
Research shows that muscles stimulate the release of feel-good molecules, which counter the stress response. A jog, a walk, or cycling also lets you enjoy nature, taking your mind off negativity. Exercising can help you clear your head and embrace thought and emotional rationalization when negative thoughts cloud your judgment and perception.
Learn to Regulate Your Thoughts and Emotions.
Acknowledge your fears and worries. Note when they manifest and what they contain, then counter them with facts. Avoid suppressing your thoughts and emotions. They only create a rebound effect where you end up obsessing over them. Use your thoughts and emotions as pointers. Let them reveal what is inherent in you. Remember, neutralizing problematic thoughts and feelings weakens the stress response.
Embrace Mindfulness
Mindful living is key to accepting reality without succumbing to bitterness, anger, resentment, or regret. It fosters growth and learning from trauma. Life inherently involves stress, danger, and threats; the question isn’t if they’ll occur, but when.
Training your mind to accept reality is a crucial aspect of cultivating resilience in the face of adversity. Despite past troubles, remember to appreciate the good that remains in your life. You have endured hardship and emerged strong. Celebrate your capabilities and focus on maximizing what you currently possess.
Consider EMDR Therapy
Trauma is complex and challenging to overcome alone. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy can help you overcome the impact of trauma and related mood
disorders. The intervention does not require medication, electrical, or electromagnetic stimulation. Additionally, talking is not a necessity in this intervention. The therapist uses bilateral stimulation, through visual, tactile, or audio techniques, to activate the hippocampus to reprocess faulty traumatic memory fragments. All you have to do is focus on a particular depressing memory.
EMDR therapy is an evidence-based intervention developed through the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model. People report relief from trauma-related symptoms after a few therapy sessions. You do not have to deal with trauma and the resulting depression. Seek help from a certified EMDR therapist today.
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