Narcissism Recovery Podcast The Amygdala and the Traumatized Brain
Jul 18, 2019
The discussion delves into how the amygdala, a key player in emotional processing, is affected by trauma, especially in victims of narcissistic abuse. Listeners learn about the overactive nature of the amygdala in response to distressing experiences, leading to heightened emotional reactivity. The hosts highlight the importance of addressing painful emotions and reprogramming thought patterns to achieve healing. This journey encourages moving from emotional overwhelm to clarity, emphasizing the critical balance between the emotional brain and logical thinking.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Amygdala Tags Experience Before Reason
- The thalamus routes sensory input to the amygdala which tags events with emotional meaning.
- The amygdala stores emotional memories and decides if stimuli are threats before the cortex can assess them.
Chronic Abuse Hijacks The Emotional Brain
- In chronic abuse the amygdala becomes overactive and stays in fight-or-flight.
- This hijack prevents the cortex from engaging and clouds judgment and reality testing.
Triggers Make Past Reactions Feel Present
- Emotions and memories are stored together so triggers replay old reactions to new situations.
- Victims often search for past explanations and respond as they did during original wounds.