What Is Trauma?
Trauma Isn't Just a Memory — It's Stored in the Brain
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is not a sign of weakness. It's a neurological response to overwhelming experiences that the brain couldn't fully process at the time. As a result, the brain becomes stuck in a state of threat — even long after the danger has passed.
Research shows that trauma dysregulates key brain regions: the amygdala (your brain's alarm system) becomes overactive, while the prefrontal cortex — responsible for rational thinking and emotional regulation — becomes underactive. This creates the cycle of hypervigilance, avoidance, intrusive memories, and emotional flooding that defines PTSD.
Common PTSD & Trauma Symptoms:
Who Experiences PTSD?
Trauma Affects More People Than You Think
PTSD is more common than most people realize. It doesn't only affect combat veterans — trauma can result from any experience that overwhelms the nervous system's capacity to cope.
"Existing treatments for PTSD — including prolonged exposure, cognitive processing therapy, and EMDR — are only partially effective. Nonresponse rates reach up to 72% in military and veteran populations, prompting researchers to evaluate alternative treatments such as neurofeedback."
— Berman et al., Frontiers in Neuroscience, 2025