Trauma, Inflammation and the Immune System

The topics of trauma and stress disorders are slowly gaining the attention they so desperately need. However, something that has been slower to come to the attention of the general public is the relationship between trauma, inflammation, and the immune system, and conversely the relationship between immune dysfunction, inflammation and the development of psychiatric disorders. As we enter a world post-pandemic where a virus caused not only long-term physiological distress for a subset of victims, but in many cases psychological distress as well - these issues have been thrust into the light of day.

While there is plenty to dig into regarding stress disorders, it is also important to highlight how traumatic stress can be detrimental to your immune system and even cause inflammation in your body.

When we talk about traumatic stress, we refer to a collection of diagnoses such as those listed below:

·       Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): A mental disorder that affects individuals who have gone through traumatic events, prolonged periods of intense stress or life-threatening experiences. It can result from single incidents such as sexual violence, near-death encounters, or serious injuries – but can also be “complex”, resulting from abuse, neglect or disruptive conditions that are cumulative and emotionally damaging over time.

 ·       Acute stress disorder: A mental disorder that arises in the initial days to weeks following trauma and could be considered the short-term precursor to developing PTSD.                                 

·       Reactive attachment disorder: A disorder that arises when a child becomes a victim of emotional abuse or neglect.

·       Disinhibited social engagement disorder: An attachment disorder that makes it hard for individuals to form emotional bonds with others.

·       Adjustment disorders: Another short-term stress disorder associated with trauma that encompasses a variety of subtypes based on the type of symptom experienced.

How Can Trauma Affect the Immune System?

Traumatic stress disorders are associated with undeniable changes in the psychological functions of the body and can ultimately affect the immune system.

In addition, many scientific studies have shown that there is a link between traumatic stress and inflammation. The long-term effects of traumatic events and PTSD can lead to neuroinflammation and peripheral inflammation.

PTSD affects the human body's immune response and can lead to an increase in inflammatory diseases. Trauma is one of the factors that can inhibit the formation of anti-inflammatory mechanisms in the body.

The figure below shows how traumatic stress affects these functions.

Figure 1: The relation between traumatic stress and the immune of the body. Source: Frontiersin.org

You can see that PTSD causes dysregulation in the immune system leading to changes in the production of anti-inflammatory factors. In extreme cases, traumatic stress can lead to psychiatric disorders.

After four waves of analysis including over a thousand adolescents across an 8-year span, researchers found that the presence of traumatic experiences before the age of 16 altered the immune function of these individuals and predicted the development of mood and anxiety disorders in participants at age 19.

How Can Trauma affect Physiological Body Functions?

Exposure to traumatic events cannot always be avoided due to the wide scope of human activities and life experiences. The statistics surrounding the sheer number of people who experience trauma within their life that may go unresolved, however, is staggering.

·       It is estimated that as much as 43% of the population has experienced trauma.

·       683,000 children were neglect and abuse victims in 2015.

·       2/3 of addicts experienced childhood trauma.

Exposure to Trauma can cause some serious damage to the physiological functions of the body. Some of the medical disorders that can be caused by traumatic events include the following:

·       Autoimmune Disorders

·       Autonomic Dysfunction

·       GI Disorders

·       Cardiovascular Problems

·       Substance Use Disorders

·       Obesity

·       Diabetes/Metabolic Disorder

·       Cancer

·       Stroke

According to studies done on veterans, it was discovered that victims suffered from multiple major chronic illnesses caused by trauma. These include diseases such as:

·       Respiratory illness.

·       Digestive issues.

·       Circulatory diseases.

·       Nervous breakdown.

·       Musculoskeletal illness.

The overall long-term effects of traumatic stress lead to inflammatory disorders and an overall decline in the human immune system, which sometimes can cause death.

If you have been a victim of trauma or have endured chronic stress throughout your life, it is imperative that you seek medical evaluation for any physical manifestations of your experiences, and additionally to rule out any medical contributors to your current psychological symptoms such as anxiety, depression, or mood instability.

How can EMDR therapy become significant in healing trauma and improving the immune system?

As we learn more about the adverse effects of trauma on the immune system and the great consequences involved, it remains crucial to seek professional help from a qualified therapist.

More than 8 million people in the United States are exposed to traumatic events at least once in their lifetime. This includes events like losing a loved one, facing a natural disaster, diagnosis of a serious illness, violence, discrimination, assault, abuse or neglect.

The number of individuals exposed to trauma cannot be ignored, and the mind and the body cannot continue to be viewed as separate entities. They are intricately connected and in order to heal one entirely, one must heal both.

EMDR therapy takes into account the history of a patient, and a thorough assessment is done to identify the root cause of pain.

An EMDR therapist carefully conducts a safe procedure of evaluating patients and helps them to reprocess the traumatic memories until they no longer cause physiological disruption to the patients' lives.

During EMDR therapy, patients are guided to eliminate not just the overwhelming emotions associated with a memory, but the negative beliefs that those experiences have imprinted on their lives.

In the long run, EMDR therapy helps individuals to heal from trauma, and with time the body starts healing as the nervous system calms and the immune system is able to follow suit.

 If you believe you are suffering from PTSD or have experienced complex trauma and would like to explore treatment options, let’s connect. I would love to explore how we can work together collaboratively to get you the help you need to heal - mind and body.