When the Past Is Still Present: Understanding PTSD and the Nervous System
When most people hear the words post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), they may immediately think of a military veteran returning home from war.
And while combat can certainly lead to PTSD, trauma isn't limited to the battlefield.
A serious car accident. Abuse or assault. A frightening medical experience. The loss of someone you love. A natural disaster. An unexpected event that completely overwhelms you.
Experiences like these can leave a lasting impact on the brain and nervous system. Even after the immediate danger has passed, the body may continue responding as though the threat is still present.
One of the most important things to understand about PTSD is that it isn't simply a matter of needing to "think differently" or "get over it."
The brain and nervous system can actually learn to stay on high alert.
How PTSD Affects the Nervous System
Have you ever noticed what happens when you're suddenly startled?
Imagine you're sitting quietly when you hear a loud bang behind you.
Before you even know what happened, your heart may jump. Your muscles tighten. Your head turns toward the sound. Your breathing changes.
All of that can happen before you've had enough time to consciously think:
"Was that actually dangerous?"
That's because your body's built-in alarm system is designed to react quickly.
When there's a real threat, that's a very good thing.
The challenge comes when that alarm system becomes overly sensitive and continues responding to danger long after the original threat has passed.
Your Brain Has a Built-In Alarm System
Think of your brain as having several systems constantly working together.
Some areas help detect potential threats. Others help you think through what's happening. Still others help organize memories and place experiences into context.
When these systems are communicating effectively, your brain can recognize:
"That was scary, but it happened in the past. I'm safe right now."
With PTSD, that process can become much more difficult.
A sound, smell, location, conversation, song, facial expression, or even a particular time of day may trigger a response connected to the original trauma.
And here's an important part:
The person isn't necessarily choosing that response.
Their nervous system may begin reacting before their conscious mind has a chance to say, "I'm okay. I'm safe."
Fight, Flight, Freeze and Fawn: Understanding Trauma Responses
Most of us have heard of the fight-or-flight response, but the nervous system can respond to perceived danger in several different ways.
Fight: Confronting the Threat
Some people move toward the perceived threat.
They may become angry, defensive, irritable, or confrontational. Their nervous system is essentially preparing them to protect themselves.
Flight: Escaping the Threat
Others feel an overwhelming need to get away.
They may avoid certain people, places, conversations, situations, or experiences that remind them of what happened.
Freeze: Shutting Down
Sometimes the nervous system responds by becoming still.
A person may feel numb, disconnected, mentally foggy, overwhelmed, or unable to act.
Fawn: Trying to Prevent Conflict
Another possible response is becoming extremely focused on keeping other people happy.
Someone may avoid disagreement, ignore their own needs, or constantly try to make sure everyone around them is okay.
These responses aren't automatically character flaws.
They may be protective patterns the nervous system learned during an overwhelming experience.
The problem comes when the body continues using those same protective responses even though the original danger is no longer present.
PTSD Can Affect More Than Your Emotions
Another important part of understanding PTSD is recognizing that it doesn't only affect emotions.
PTSD can influence many aspects of everyday life, including sleep, concentration, mood, energy and physical tension.
Someone might say:
"I sleep eight hours, but I never feel rested."
Or:
"I can't shut my brain off."
Or even:
"I know I'm safe, but my body doesn't feel safe."
That last statement can be particularly helpful for understanding the connection between PTSD and the nervous system.
Logically, a person may understand that the danger has passed. But their body may still respond as though it needs to remain prepared for the next threat.
Those experiences are real, and they deserve to be taken seriously.
How Can the Nervous System Begin to Feel Safe Again?
This is where understanding the nervous system becomes especially important.
The answer usually isn't simply telling someone:
"Calm down."
If the brain believes there is danger, consciously telling yourself to relax isn't always enough.
Instead, recovery often involves helping the brain and body experience safety in the present.
Creating Signals of Safety
Depending on the individual, support may include trauma-focused therapy, healthy relationships, consistent sleep, regular physical activity, time outdoors, breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, predictable routines and other appropriate professional care.
For someone experiencing PTSD symptoms, working with a qualified mental-health professional who understands trauma can be an important part of care.
Evidence-based treatments for PTSD can include approaches such as trauma-focused psychotherapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). The appropriate approach depends on the person and should be discussed with a qualified healthcare professional.
A Simple Nervous System Awareness Exercise
Here's something simple you can try.
Step 1: Notice Before You Change Anything
Place one hand on your chest and the other on your abdomen.
Don't try to force yourself to relax.
Instead, simply notice.
How are you breathing?
Are your shoulders tense?
Is your jaw clenched?
Is your breathing fast or slow?
What does your heartbeat feel like?
Step 2: Slow Down Your Breathing
Take three comfortable, slow breaths.
Rather than forcing a deep breath, allow your breathing to remain comfortable and try letting your exhale last slightly longer than your inhale.
Then ask yourself:
"Did anything change?"
Maybe your shoulders dropped slightly.
Maybe your breathing slowed.
Maybe nothing changed at all.
That's okay.
The goal isn't to magically eliminate stress in three breaths. It's to begin noticing what your nervous system is doing.
That awareness can be an important first step.
The Person Isn't the Problem
One of the biggest things I hope people take away from understanding PTSD is this:
Don't confuse someone's protective response with who they are.
Sometimes what looks like anger may have fear underneath it.
What looks like avoidance may be an attempt to feel safe.
What looks like shutting down may be a nervous system that has become overwhelmed.
And what looks like an overreaction from the outside may feel very different to the person experiencing it.
Understanding Doesn't Mean Excusing Every Behavior
Understanding trauma doesn't mean every behavior is healthy or that people aren't responsible for their actions.
It means we can look beneath the behavior and ask a better question:
What might the nervous system be responding to?
That shift can create room for both accountability and compassion.
The Brain and Nervous System Can Change
Perhaps one of the most important things to understand about PTSD is that a traumatic experience doesn't have to define someone's entire future.
The brain is capable of learning and adapting.
The nervous system can develop new patterns.
And with appropriate support, people with PTSD can improve their ability to recognize when a threat belongs to the past rather than the present.
Healing doesn't necessarily mean forgetting what happened.
It can mean reaching a point where the past no longer controls the present.
Moving From "What's Wrong?" to "What Happened?"
Sometimes the most helpful change begins with the question we're asking.
Instead of:
"What's wrong with you?"
We can begin asking:
"What happened to you—and what does your nervous system need now?"
That question creates a very different conversation.
And for someone who has spent months or years feeling as though their body is constantly preparing for danger, that conversation can be an important place to begin.
PTSD and Nervous System Support in Denver, Colorado
At Life Springs Family Chiropractic, we take a brain-based approach to understanding how the nervous system is functioning and adapting to stress.
Our neurological evaluations are designed to look at nervous-system function and help us better understand patterns that may be contributing to concerns such as difficulty relaxing, poor sleep, brain fog, concentration difficulties, or feeling chronically stressed.
Our care is not a replacement for appropriate mental-health treatment for PTSD. When trauma or PTSD is involved, we believe collaborative care with qualified mental-health and healthcare professionals can be an important part of supporting the whole person.
If you're interested in learning more about how your nervous system is functioning, contact Life Springs Family Chiropractic to learn more about our Neurological Evaluation and initial examination.
If you are experiencing symptoms of PTSD or significant emotional distress, speak with a qualified mental-health professional or healthcare provider. If you are in immediate danger or experiencing a mental-health crisis, seek emergency assistance.
Take the Next Step Toward Understanding Your Health
If you're ready to take the next step, contact us today to set up your initial examination or join us at an upcoming workshop.
Life Springs Family Chiropractic – Denver, CO
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