M5 · Clinical Practice
M5
Slide 5
CONTENT
3. Neurobiological Dysregulation
Trauma affects brain systems responsible for emotional regulation and executive functioning.
Key structures involved include:
THE AMYGDALA
(threat detection)
In chronic trauma exposure:
Becomes hyperactive — the person perceives threat more readily, in situations that would seem safe to others.
THE HIPPOCAMPUS
(memory processing)
In chronic trauma exposure:
May struggle with memory integration — appointments, instructions, and details slip; the past intrudes on the present.
THE PREFRONTAL CORTEX
(planning, impulse control, decision-making)
In chronic trauma exposure:
Becomes less effective at regulating impulses — emotions and reactions escalate faster; long-term planning becomes harder.
In practice, this may look like:

Hypervigilance

Irritability

Rapid escalation of anger

Withdrawal or dissociation

Difficulty planning or keeping appointments

Inconsistent follow-through

Avoidance of authority figures

These behaviours are often misinterpreted as a lack of motivation or non-compliance.
Clinically, they are often adaptive survival responses.