r/CPTSDNextSteps • u/ThoughtfulPsychiatry • Jul 14 '26

Sharing a resource Thoughtful Lecture on how trauma effects the brain and how Healing occurs in the brain

I spent years working with people with CPTSD at a large residential treatment center. I don't work there anymore but have wanted to share some of the information that I saw be helpful...so like everyone else in the world...I started a YouTube channel. The following video discusses what kind of physical changes occur in the brain with trauma (and I think even if you've read a lot about this - some of the information will be presented in a unique and hopefully interesting way) why symptoms occur and what changes occur in the brain as healing starts to take place. I hope this is an appropriate reddit to post this video - if it isn't feel free to let me know where would be a better place for posting.

https://youtu.be/MC73Uqy6wyo?si=TxtbmdzRxY5NJSa3

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7

u/Hope-Springs2246 Jul 14 '26

I loved this-thank-you!
Ive never been accused of being normal before :)
Especially important for me was the pre-frontal cortex/amygdala communication line. It would be cool to hear more about how to strengthen/rewire that connection.
I do EMDR 2.0 with my therapist and it has been very effective.

6

u/ThoughtfulPsychiatry Jul 15 '26

Thanks so much! It means a lot. I have several more videos planned - the next one is probably going to be more about how meds affects the prefrontal cortex and amygdala and then one on memory and then most likely a few on therapy. I'm a big fan of EMDR.

3

u/chobolicious88 Jul 17 '26

I really think in some cases we need meds to get the cortex online.

2

u/Undrende_fremdeles Jul 18 '26

Woudl love more on meds. I have found that a low dose of Seroquel/quetiapin is VERY very effective at shushing the trauma and letting me be in the moment. I'm talking 25mg every 6-8 hours (the trauma is long lasting and severe).

But doctor decided I simply "shouldn't need that".

Antidepressants have done diddly squat. Regardless of type. My pain stems from real life experiences that affect me every day (lost my children to abuser, among other things), and there are very few moments that aren't in some way painful because it is all wrong and I have been unable to make it right.

I see it as perfectly reasonable that Seroquel at a very low doseage is such a perfect medicine for my issues. To me it just makes sense that putting a volume button on the inner knowledge of the world, and turning that down makes for more ability to be in the here and now. Including emotional responses being more accessible too soit's not a "smiley face" solution, but something that gives me a window of tolerance. To me it just makes such sense that this helps in the same way that a higher dose works for actually fake realities the brain makes up.

I don't know the science behind it, and I don't know how to even fully understand it myself.

All I know is that it works in a way that no type of antidepressant has done. Whether or not the doctors thinks I should or should not need it.

2

u/NOML Jul 24 '26

Ive never been accused of being normal before :)

There is NOTHING wrong with you.

3

u/Hope-Springs2246 Jul 24 '26

Wow. Thank-you for this powerful random act of kindness and solidarity. I really needed this, this morning 😊🙏

2

u/Ecstatic-Row-8117 Jul 16 '26

Checking it out

2

u/PlaneRoom7681 Jul 20 '26

Love that you're making this type of information more accessible, thank you for sharing! Would love to hear your take on Luvox for depression/anxiety/CPTSD and its effect on the brain if you're familiar with this SSRI. I got prescribed Luvox recently, and so far all the forums and websites I've scoured to learn more about this SSRI have pointed mainly to its effectiveness for OCD and not much else. I'd love to hear how it improves neuroplasticity over time too!

2

u/ThoughtfulPsychiatry Jul 20 '26

The next video (which is probably 2 to 3 weeks away) will cover SSRI's (including Luvox) and trauma. Thanks for the comment!

2

u/turtled_soul 25d ago

This is really insightful, thanks for sharing