Trauma changes us in ways that aren’t always obvious—changes that run deeper than mood swings or anxiety. It rewires our brains, often without us realising it, leaving us stuck in patterns of fear, disconnection, and emotional overwhelm. The sensations you’re living with—tightness in your chest, the startle that won’t go away, the feeling of always being on edge—aren’t just in your mind. They are in your brain and your body.
The Brain in Survival Mode
In The Body Keeps the Score, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk unpacks exactly how trauma reshapes the brain and why traditional approaches to healing sometimes fall short. Understanding what trauma does to the brain can be a huge step toward reclaiming your sense of control and beginning your healing journey.
Imagine your brain is a carefully tuned system, with different areas working together to process emotions, evaluate situations, and store memories. When trauma hits, that system goes into survival mode. And here’s the thing: trauma can leave your brain stuck in that state, constantly scanning for threats even when none exist.
At the centre of this reaction is the amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for processing fear. In an instant, it takes control of your body’s fight-or-flight response, preparing you to run or defend yourself. In a traumatic situation, this is a lifesaver. But long after the event, the amygdala can remain hyperactive, leaving you in a state of chronic vigilance. You might find yourself jumping at loud noises or feeling an unexplained sense of dread—your brain is reacting as if danger is still near, even when you’re safe.
Next to the amygdala, you have the prefrontal cortex, the part of your brain that helps you stay calm and rational. In a healthy brain, the prefrontal cortex can send signals to the amygdala, reminding it when the coast is clear. But trauma weakens this connection. Your prefrontal cortex doesn’t have the strength to calm the amygdala, which is why even when you know you’re safe, your body won’t stop reacting. Your logical brain is saying one thing, but your survival brain isn’t listening.
The Past Feels Like the Present
Now, imagine trying to recall a traumatic event. For most memories, the hippocampus steps in, organising them so you can remember what happened, but also understand that it’s in the past. When trauma disrupts the hippocampus, that sense of time gets scrambled. The memory of trauma doesn’t stay in the past where it belongs—it pops up in the present, sometimes as a flashback, a nightmare, or a sudden wave of anxiety. Your brain has lost its ability to keep track of what happened then and what’s happening now.
This is why trauma can feel like it haunts you. You aren’t just recalling it—you’re reliving it. Every time a sound, smell, or situation reminds you of the event, your brain reacts as if you’re right back in that moment, no matter how much time has passed.
Why Talking About Trauma Isn’t Always Enough
So why doesn’t just talking about your trauma make it go away? Van der Kolk’s research helps answer that question. Trauma isn’t just stored in memories—it’s stored in your body. The tension in your shoulders, the churning in your stomach, the tightness in your throat—all of that is your body’s way of holding onto the trauma. And while talking about it can help process some of the emotions, it doesn’t always reach those parts of the brain and body that are still reacting.
For many trauma survivors, the thalamus, the part of the brain that processes sensory input, becomes overwhelmed. It can’t properly sort out sensory information, leaving you vulnerable to sensory overload or dissociation, a feeling of being disconnected from your body or surroundings. This is why certain sounds or smells can instantly throw you into panic or numbness—your brain hasn’t been able to file away the trauma where it belongs.
Reclaiming Your Brain with Solution Focused Hypnotherapy
The good news is that the brain can heal. This isn’t about being “fixed,” because you aren’t broken. It’s about retraining your brain, and that’s where neuroplasticity comes in—the brain’s ability to reorganise and form new connections. When trauma rewires your brain, it isn’t permanent. Through the right kind of therapy and bodywork, your brain can regain its ability to calm itself and stop constantly reacting to perceived threats.
One approach that’s gaining recognition for its effectiveness in trauma recovery is Solution Focused Hypnotherapy (SFH). SFH helps re-engage the brain’s healing processes by reducing the dominance of the overactive amygdala and strengthening the prefrontal cortex’s ability to regulate emotions.
How SFH Helps:
SFH focuses on shifting attention away from problems and the past, and towards a positive vision of the future. By guiding individuals into a relaxed state through hypnosis, it allows the brain to access the subconscious and create new neural pathways that support calmness, control, and positivity. When we’re in a deeply relaxed state, the amygdala calms down, and the prefrontal cortex can more effectively step in to regulate emotions.
Additionally, hypnosis allows the hippocampus to reprocess traumatic memories in a less intense way, placing them properly in the past where they belong. This can significantly reduce the emotional charge of flashbacks or intrusive thoughts, helping you feel more in control of your responses to triggers.
SFH also encourages clients to develop practical, solution-focused strategies to manage their daily lives. This process reinforces the brain’s ability to focus on positive outcomes, reducing the intensity of the trauma’s grip. Through repeated sessions, the brain learns to respond with a sense of safety and calm, rather than panic and fear.
Moving Beyond the Isolation
Another key part of healing is connection. Trauma has a way of isolating people—making it hard to trust others or feel safe in relationships. But healing doesn’t happen in isolation. As van der Kolk explains, reconnecting with safe, supportive relationships is crucial. Whether it’s through therapy or finding a trusted support group, being around others who understand and validate your experience helps restore your brain’s sense of security.
For those engaged in Solution Focused Hypnotherapy, this sense of connection can also be built during hypnotherapy sessions. Hypnotherapy creates a safe, calming space for individuals to explore their thoughts and emotions without fear of judgment or overwhelm. This feeling of safety allows the brain to relearn how to feel secure in relationships and trust in others again.
The Path Forward
Healing from trauma isn’t about erasing the past, and it’s not about “thinking your way” to recovery. It’s about reclaiming your body, your brain, and your sense of self. It’s about understanding that the reactions you have—the tension, the fear, the emotional overwhelm—are all deeply connected to how trauma has rewired your brain. And while trauma changes the brain, the beauty of neuroplasticity means that change is never final.
With the right combination of therapy, bodywork, and connection, you can start to undo the hold trauma has on you. Solution Focused Hypnotherapy can be a powerful tool in this process, helping your brain rewire itself for calm, confidence, and hope. The journey may not be quick, and it may not be easy, but it is possible. You can take back your brain, one small step at a time.
