Your body and brain after stress and trauma...

Humans have an incredibly evolved and complex brain. In fact, there are still many discoveries science has yet to make regarding all the different ways our brain works.
 
One thing we do know though, is part of our brain’s role is to protect us, and it does this in several ways. One way is by using certain chemicals and hormones when we are in danger. (note: our brain doesn’t always discriminate between ACTUAL danger and IMAGINED danger). These chemicals do many things, one being that they activate what is called the sympathetic nervous system. This prepares our body to fight, flight or freeze in response to the threat.

Our sympathetic nervous system moves blood away from our limbs, and towards our large muscles (helping us run, and limiting blood flow if we are superficially cut), suppresses our appetite and sexual drive (who wants food or sex when they’re being chased by a lion?), increases our heart rate and capacity for oxygen, and increases our perspiration. As you can imagine, this takes a lot of energy and coordination! Additionally, these chemicals also suppress our more complex thinking and memory skills, so that we can react quickly, rather than contemplate. During a traumatic or stressful event, all these actions are occurring in your body.

So, what happens after that? Well, you also have a parasympathetic nervous system… and this system activates after the sympathetic nervous system, to calm everything down and conserve energy. Appetite may return, blood flows back in to the limbs, breathing slows… everything starts slowing down, for what some call the ‘rest and digest’ period. During this time, a person can feel more tired and ‘foggy’ than normal as the body tries to restore order.

​Here is a simple (but not comprehensive list) of things that are normal physiological experiences during and after a stressful or traumatic event:
 
During event:

• Increased heart rate
• Difficulty making decisions
• Loss of appetite
• Loss of sex drive
• Increased perspiration
• Increased breath rate
• Sleep disturbances

 
After event:

• Shallow breath
• Memory difficulties
• Lethargy
• ‘Brain fog’
• Changes in appetite
• Changes in sleep pattern
• Return to ‘sympathetic’ state… or similar physiological experiences eg: rapid heart rate, breathing difficulties

 
Remember: you are a unique physiological & emotional being, so your responses may be varied, according to the individual differences within your own system. If you are struggling with these symptoms, remember they are normal responses, but if they continue for an extended period, you may want to consider getting additional support through your GP, counsellor, psychologist or trusted health professional. 

Photo by Bhargava Srivari on Unsplash