Health is typically divided into two core areas: mental and physical. But the reality is far more intertwined. Trauma doesn’t only reside in the mind but leaves physical imprints on the body. It reshapes the brain, disrupts systems, and manifests as physical disorders. Yet the link between mental and physical health, is often overlooked in care settings.
One of the most urgent consequences of untreated trauma is its link to suicidality. Trauma-induced changes in the brain can trap individuals in cycles of hopelessness, stressing the vital need for advanced, clinically validated treatment.
The Physiological Impact of Trauma
Trauma alters the brain, significantly affecting three key regions that regulate emotions, memory, and decision-making: the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex (PFC). A hyperactive amygdala heightens fear responses, a shrunken hippocampus impairs memory, and reduced activity in the prefrontal cortex diminishes the ability to regulate negative emotions.
Neuroimaging studies have shown these neural alterations are present in people with PTSD, which links directly to hallmark symptoms of the condition including avoidance and hyperarousal. Decreased activity in the PFC impairs the ability to modulate fear and stress reactions, resulting in hypervigilance. Increased activity in the amygdala is part of the neurological changes responsible for flashbacks. And smaller hippocampi suffer more severe PTSD symptoms in general. The brain essentially becomes “rewired,” prioritizing survival over overstability.
For those suffering PTSD who experience symptoms of dissociation (a disconnection from thoughts feelings or memories to cope with traumatic events), these symptoms have been shown to account for 41% of the variance in physical health problems, further suggesting a link between somatic distress and psychological adaptation to stress.
Broken Heart Syndrome: A Clear Physical Manifestation
Trauma doesn’t only leave mental scars but physical ones. Perhaps the starkest example of a physical manifestation is broken heart syndrome. Also known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, this condition mimics a heart attack, with sufferers experiencing chest pain and shortness of breath. But rather than blocked arteries, it’s triggered by extreme emotional stress, trauma, and grief.
In people with broken heart syndrome, it is believed that stress hormones like cortisol released during traumatic events may weaken the heart, sometimes fatally. It’s also been discovered that PTSD increases the risk of high blood pressure, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. And that’s just the beginning: chronically high cortisol levels are linked to increased inflammation, weakened immunity, and a higher risk of life-threatening conditions, including cancer, autoimmune diseases, and stroke.
The Role of Cognitive Inflexibility
Cognitive inflexibility, the inability to adapt thought patterns in response to stress or challenges, is another dangerous consequence of trauma. It traps people in endless negative thought loops, cultivating feelings of hopelessness and despair.
Hopelessness is more than an emotional state. It’s a powerful predictor of suicide. Research shows that individuals with less flexible cognitive abilities are significantly more vulnerable to suicidal ideation. Cognitive inflexibility in adolescents under stress (not uncommon due to immense academic, social, and developmental pressures) also experience more severe suicidal thoughts. This is especially concerning, considering teen suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people in the US.
The impact of cognitive inflexibility also extends far beyond the individual. Suicide itself is a traumatic event, even when unsuccessful. Survivors are left with the physical aftermath of their attempt and the mental anguish that follows. For families, friends, and communities, the trauma of a suicide attempt leaves fear and unresolved pain that can form cycles of hopelessness and trauma.
A New Approach to Trauma Treatment
Trauma treatment demands a new approach. If you’re healing from trauma, mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can help you improve mental flexibility, reframe thoughts, and reduce the weight of trauma. These approaches encourage the brain to forge new, positive pathways.
At Vita Health, we make effective treatment accessible to those struggling. Our clinically validated telehealth model, proven to reduce suicide attempts by 60% and deaths by 80%, provides remote therapy and features innovative in-app resources like the Hope Kit. This personalized resource helps you rediscover your strengths and equips you with actionable coping strategies, giving you back a sense of control.
Our approach relies on evidence-based techniques like brief cognitive behavioral therapy (B-CBT). Studies among traumatized military populations show that B-CBT can reduce suicide attempts by 60% and prevent up to three more suicide deaths per 100 soldiers. By adapting these methods for broader use, Vita Health ensures that life-saving support is accessible to whoever needs it most. Trauma rewires brains, rewrites physical health, and reshapes lives. But with the right care, healing is possible. If you or someone you care about is struggling, don’t wait. Reach out to Vita Health today.
