Moderate Trauma (PFC off) – As emotion becomes more intense, the left brain becomes overwhelmed. With no experiences for comparison, the activity in the amygdalae and hippocampi increases placing intense memories into non-chronological storage.
It is as if the memory were a big warehouse and several truckloads of information comes in at the same time. The first thing to do is to empty the trucks by placing stuff on the loading dock: Hopefully in some kind of order. A call goes out to other employees to help while the foreman inventories the loads. However, without former experience, the brain does not know where to place these memories. The organization of the Prefrontal Cortex is lost so it stores stuff any old place until it can get things sorted out. Then it shuts down. The cingulate cortex takes over.
At this point, we desperately need someone with whom we can share our experience. If we find someone, recovery is quick and effective. If we do not find anyone, we are left to our own resources. Without a proper debriefing or a timely friend, the amygdala rewires itself, and the intensity of the emotional overload overcomes the cingulate cortex advancing into severe trauma, but let’s look at the moderate trauma first. The brain will learn a way to respond to this trauma. Here, I think of the girl which becomes a favorite teasing target because she always responds in the same way.
The next level of brain function, namely the emotional memory and artistic activity is on its way to shutting down. Exercises to strengthen this level includes art, music, and other creative activities. Activities such as drawing therapy and anatomically correct dolls, have been used by psychotherapy to assist in discovering and gathering evidence – especially in children.
It should be pointed out here that the primary development of the personality is in the first two years of life. If the trauma is Type A, neglect, then these areas may not have developed properly. These depend on proper stimulation of the brain and is primarily non-verbal.
Self-identity
Synchronizes life rhythms
Basic evaluations
Our personal reality
Exercises to strengthen the PFC include drawing, painting, doodling, gardening and woodwork. Anything where creativity is exercised.
Severe Trauma