New Study on PTSD + Tips🖤

Brain scans of 28 ppl with ptsd showed 2 clear differences.

The ppl listening to sad memories consistently showed high engagement in the hippocampus (brain center for organizing + contextualizing memories)

When the same ppl listened to their traumatic memories, the hippocampus was not involved.

“Therapies for PTSD often sought to help ppl organize their memories so they can view it as distant from the present.”

But this study shows,

“The brain isn’t in a state of memory. It’s in a state of present experience.”

The traumatic memories stimulate the PCC(posterior cingulate cortex) which is where we process an internal experience (or reliving memories).”

“Traumatic memories are not remembered, they’re re-experienced.”😢

There still needs to be more studies.

But as someone who experiences ptsd, I can confirm (anecdotally) it feels like I am living in that moment again.

⭐️Zen practices taught by The Buddha really help me. Thich Nhat Hanh + Eckhart Tolle pull on insights from zen masters(Thich Nhat Hanh is also a zen master) and give exercises to practice being in the present moment. (Which can help us feel safer when these moments arise).

Also shout out to Thich Nhat Hanh, his memorial will be honored on YouTube 🫶🏼

A study like this really could change the approach to healing such things, in the long term.❤️‍🩹

#ptsd #walkingformentalhealth #ptsdrecovery #mentalhealth #mentalhealthjourney #mentalhealthawareness #presentmoment #zen #healing #healingjourney