Capital Region | Capital Health | Summer 2019

crmc.org 7 Pattern recognition and your brain There are two mechanisms that burn an experience into the brain: intensity and repetition. Most of us can quickly recall where we were on the morning of 9/11/2001 or what we were doing when we learned of the loss of a loved one. The brain is capable of creating a neural network in one experience provided the experience is extremely intense. The less intense, the more repetitions it takes to learn something new. Every time we have a new significantly intense experience, the brain does a database search for similar experiences and stores the new experience in the same category. This is sometimes referred to as pattern matching. It’s how we learn—and it is also the basis for all sorts of phobias, panic disorders, cravings and addictive relapses. Take learning to read, for example. Through the work of repetition, we begin learning to mouth one syllable, then two or three, and then move on to complex words. The repetition, combined with the often intense positive reinforcement of a parent or caretaker, creates a synergistic effect. As we learn the alphabet and how to spell and read, the database in our brain grows and becomes more sophisticated. That’s why the more we learn, the easier it is to learn. Pattern matching allows us to build on our learning and not continue to make the same mistakes over and over again. It also is how we learn to survive. But pattern matching can have some negative effects too. Emotionally traumatic experiences are also intense—and tend to be stored clearly in our neural networks. Take the example of defending your country in a time of war: Active combat is intense, and the neural networks for survival are ingrained and often hard to turn off. Similarly, a neural network for any intense, life-threatening experience, such as tornadoes, hurricanes, motor vehicle accidents, etc., will burn elements of each experience into the brain. In some cases, these networks are very difficult to turn off, leading to post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). What is PTSD? PTSD goes beyond the normal anxiety and fear following a traumatic event. PTSD is when those uneasy feelings stick around for months— or even years—to the point where they interfere with everyday life, even getting worse rather than better. People with PTSD might experience things like: f f Reliving the traumatic event through flashbacks or nightmares. f f Avoiding people, places, conversations or anything that could remind them of the event. f f Intense negative feelings of guilt, loss, shame and lack of trust; someone with PTSD might also lose interest in things they once enjoyed. f f Constantly being on the lookout for danger. f f Experiencing persistent edginess, inability to concentrate, difficulty sleeping and/or angry outbursts. What can help? Avoiding PTSD is more likely when survivors talk about their experience with a professional, or even better, a group of fellow survivors. This is called a critical incident stress debriefing (CISD). CISD can help prevent PTSD and help return you to a normal pre- trauma state more quickly. After a traumatic event, it is important to keep a normal schedule and maintain your physical health—eat a well-balanced diet, exercise and drink plenty of fluids. It’s also important that you talk about the event with those who care and seek help if you need it. What not to do After a traumatic event, you should not make big life changes or isolate yourself from others. It’s also ill-advised to turn to alcohol to alleviate difficult thoughts and feelings or try to block them out entirely. Don’t label your feelings as crazy. Let memories occur naturally. They will pass. Seeking help If you or a loved one are experiencing symptoms of PTSD, the first step is to seek help from a PTSD-trained mental health provider. With therapy, medication or a combination of both, you can get better. Our mental health providers at Capital Region Physicians–Center for Mental Wellness are here to help. To schedule an appointment, call 573-632-5560 or visit crmc.org/services/mental-wellness .