Understanding PTSD/PTSI: The Impact of Trauma on the Mind and Body
Understanding PTSD/PTSI: The Impact of Trauma on the Mind and Body
Trauma is a deeply personal experience, yet its effects can manifest in strikingly similar ways across different individuals. For decades, the term Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has been used to describe the lingering impact of trauma, but more recently, mental health professionals have been shifting towards the term Post-Traumatic Stress Injury (PTSI) to reflect its nature as an injury to the nervous system rather than a disorder. This distinction helps to reduce stigma and underscores the possibility of healing. Understanding how trauma affects the brain and body is key to recognizing symptoms, seeking treatment, and ultimately finding relief from its grip.
Mental health professionals are also realizing that PTSD can occur from many different kinds of experiences other than war or witnessing/experiencing single life threatening experiences. Dr. Daniel Amen has researched the brain with his brain scans and shown that many types of experiences can result in PTSD/PTSI. For example, the limbic (emotional) parts of the brain are all lit up with PTSD/PTSI. This can appear as persistent anxiety that deeply impacts a person’s daily life and be falsely diagnosed as anxiety. Mental health professionals have also been long aware of Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) that can result from years of verbal, emotional, physical abuse and attachment wounding. Yet, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual that lists mental disorders does not recognize these extra features of PTSD/PTSI. Of course, everyone responds to life experiences differently due to many factors and might not have the same reactions as another.
The Two Minds: Conscious and Subconscious
The human nervous system operates through two main channels: the conscious mind and the subconscious mind. The conscious mind, which resides in the upper portion of the brain, processes thoughts, logic, and awareness. It often believes it is the sole driver of experience, but this is far from the truth. Below it lies the subconscious mind, where emotions, instincts, and deep-seated memories reside. This is the area most affected by trauma, storing distressing memories and emotional wounds even when we are not actively thinking about them.
When trauma occurs, the subconscious mind takes the brunt of the impact. It records the event and may replay it in the form of flashbacks, nightmares, or physical sensations. The conscious mind, often unaware of these stored traumas, may struggle to rationalize or control them, leading to feelings of helplessness or confusion. Understanding this interplay between the two minds helps explain why trauma can feel so overwhelming and persistent.
Common Symptoms of PTSD/PTSI
PTSD/PTSI manifests in a variety of ways, both emotionally and physically. Some of the most common symptoms include:
- Flashbacks: Vivid and intrusive recollections of traumatic events that replay in the mind.
- Disrupted Sleep: Difficulty falling or staying asleep, or experiencing fragmented sleep patterns.
- Memory Issues: Gaps in memory surrounding traumatic events or an overall decline in recall abilities.
- Physical Symptoms: Trembling, shaking, nausea, aches, and pains with no clear medical explanation.
- Emotional Instability: Sudden crying spells, outbursts of anger, or feeling emotionally numb.
Dr. Daniel Amen’s research has found that trauma can hyperactivate the limbic region of the brain—the same area responsible for anxiety. This is why many people with PTSI also experience chronic anxiety, heightened fear responses, and even panic attacks.
Why Some People Develop PTSD/PTSI While Others Do Not
Not everyone who experiences trauma will develop PTSI. Various factors influence whether an individual will experience lingering symptoms. Past trauma, early childhood experiences, and the quality of emotional support received during formative years all play a role. Those who have experienced neglect, abuse, or attachment wounds from caregivers may be more vulnerable to developing PTSI after a traumatic event.
However, the way an individual processes a traumatic experience in the immediate aftermath can significantly impact their recovery. If a person can express their emotions, receive support, and avoid suppressing their pain, they may be less likely to develop long-term symptoms.
Healing from PTSD/PTSI: Pathways to Recovery
PTSI is not a life sentence. Healing is possible, and many approaches can help individuals process trauma and reclaim their lives. Some of the most effective methods include:
- Talking Therapy: Speaking about traumatic experiences with a compassionate listener can help the brain process the experience in a healthy way.
- EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): This therapy helps rewire how the brain processes traumatic memories, making them less distressing over time.
- Brainspotting: A powerful approach that helps locate trauma stored in the body and release it.
- Guided Imagery and Energy Work: Techniques that help the subconscious mind process trauma in a non-verbal way.
- Staying Connected: Isolation can prolong suffering, while community support fosters healing.
- Mindful Breathing and Movement: Techniques such as stretching, deep breathing, and yoga help the body release stored trauma.
Listening to the Subconscious Mind
The subconscious mind does not operate on the same timeline as the conscious mind—it does not differentiate between past and present. This is why traumatic memories can feel as if they are happening in real time. The good news is that healing can occur at any point in life. Whether the trauma happened years or even decades ago, it is never too late to address and process it.
Symptoms of PTSI can also manifest physically. Many individuals experience unexplained weight loss, digestive issues, chronic pain, and fatigue. These symptoms are the body's way of signaling that unresolved trauma is still being held internally. By working with a skilled trauma therapist, individuals can begin to release these stored wounds and experience relief.
The Journey to Healing With Therapy by Catherine
PTSI is an injury, not a life sentence. Healing is not only possible but expected when individuals receive the right support and therapeutic interventions. Trauma can make the world feel small, suffocating, and unsafe, but with time and guidance, people can reclaim their sense of peace, purpose, and joy.
At Therapy by Catherine, healing is approached with compassion, expertise, and evidence-based techniques like EMDR, Brainspotting, and ancestral healing. Whether you are struggling with recent trauma or pain that has been lingering for years, you don’t have to face it alone. Through deep healing and self-discovery, you can rewrite your story—one that is defined not by trauma but by resilience and renewal.
If you or someone you love is struggling with PTSI, reach out today. Healing begins with a single step.
