'Not all trauma leads to PTSD': Psychologist explains how trauma impacts our minds
Psychologist Lisa Rowbottom joined CTV Morning Live’s Kent Morrison to speak about how trauma impacts the mind on Remembrance Day.
This transcript has been edited for length and clarity.
Kent Morrison: Studies have shown as many as one in 14 Canadian soldiers developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at some point in their lives. This is not exclusive to the military, either. Lisa, does trauma always cause PTSD?
Lisa Rowbottom: No, it doesn't. There's certain times when it will, and there's a few characteristics that help the body and the brain decide if it will or won't. But some people can go through very traumatic experiences and come out without it.
Kent: Why is it that some soldiers or others will develop PTSD and others will not?
Lisa: We don't have an exact answer, because the brain is so complex, but the theory is that part of it is biological. There's a bit of a genetic predisposition towards certain areas of the brain being more susceptible to the neurotransmitters that cause PTSD to happen, and then there tend to be people who have limited social support or are less likely to seek social support. Having a lot of friends around you is great, but if you never talk to them about anything, it doesn't help.
Then, there's also the psychological piece. Which is when they have less emotional coping skills than other people may have, or they may have just had a longer exposure to different types of trauma, or they may have had exposure to trauma previously and then again. Kent: Is there a way to protect against PTSD?
Lisa: Yeah, there is. One of the things that we suggest people do, even prior to anything happening, is making sure that you have a good ability to regulate their emotion. You have the ability to recognize what's going on internally, and you can sit with it and know what to do with it.
Also, you’re making sure that you have those strong social connections around you, so friends, family and just getting used to being able to talk about how you're feeling.
During a traumatic event, they found that if you are able to look for areas within that event, if you have time, where you do have some control, because feeling completely out of control is one of the factors that leads to PTSD. And then afterward, getting support or help as soon as possible before the trauma has the ability to set into your brain.
The shifts in your brain chemistry when you've been traumatized, if they don't shift back right away, they can become a little more set, and it takes more time to shift them back, so the faster you can reach out to a professional, and get some help.
Kent: PTSD is something that we all continue to learn more about, but can sometimes struggle to define or recognize. Do you have any tips for people to recognize PTSD, either in themselves or in family members or friends?
Lisa: One of the pieces is going to be knowledge if a traumatic event has happened. It can be a momentary traumatic event, or a traumatic event where you witness something terrible happen to someone. It doesn't necessarily have to happen to you. After the event, the person may start having flashbacks or really intense memories of what had happened. You probably will see a mood shift, more difficulty controlling anger, more irritability. It's almost like the fight or flight response is dialed up, so they may be more edgy than usual.
Kent: Lisa, we always appreciate your advice. To get in touch with Lisa or know more, you can go to sojo.ca.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada expands list of banned firearms to include hundreds of new models and variants
The Canadian government is expanding its list of banned firearms, adding hundreds of additional makes, models and their variants, effective immediately.
LIVE UPDATES Water bottle, protein bar wrapper may help identify shooter in UnitedHealthcare CEO's killing
The masked gunman who stalked and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson used ammunition emblazoned with the words 'deny,' 'defend' and 'depose,' a law enforcement official said Thursday. Here's the latest.
Man wanted for military desertion turns himself in at Canada-U.S. border
A man wanted for deserting the U.S. military 16 years ago was arrested at the border in Buffalo, N.Y. earlier this week.
Life expectancy in Canada: Up last year, still down compared to pre-pandemic
The average Canadian can expect to live 81.7 years, according to new death data from Statistics Canada. That’s higher than the previous year, but still lower than pre-pandemic levels.
The National Weather Service cancels tsunami warning for the U.S. West Coast after 7.0 earthquake
A 7.0 magnitude earthquake shook a large area of Northern California on Thursday, knocking items of grocery store shelves, sending children scrambling under desks and prompting a brief tsunami warning for 5.3 million people along the U.S. West Coast.
These foods will be hit hardest by inflation in 2025, according to AI modelling
The new year won’t bring a resolution to rising food costs, according to a new report that predicts prices to rise as much as five per cent in 2025.
The world has been warming faster than expected. Scientists now think they know why
Last year was the hottest on record, oceans boiled, glaciers melted at alarming rates, and it left scientists scrambling to understand exactly why.
Pete Davidson, Jason Sudeikis and other former 'SNL' cast members reveal how little they got paid
Live from New York, it’s revelations about paydays on 'Saturday Night Live.'
Saskatoon based dog rescue operator ordered to pay $27K for defamatory Facebook posts
A Saskatoon based dog rescue operator has been ordered to pay over $27,000 in damages to five women after a judge ruled she defamed them in several Facebook posts.