Metabolic Changes in PTSD
Many with PTSD often think it’s all in their heads.
It’s not uncommon for people that don’t understand PTSD to think that those suffering from it should “just get over it”. Many patients report that they or their loved ones believed that they should be able to think their way out of symptoms.
However, the research on PTSD indicates that there are a lot of changes that occur. There are physiological changes that happen throughout the body and the brain.
The nervous system goes into overdrive for the person suffering from PTSD.
The human nervous system is designed to have a fight/flight/freeze mode as a survival mechanism. In PTSD, the branch of the nervous system termed the sympathetic nervous system, becomes the predominant state. The result is that there is an impact on all the functions of the body. For people with PTSD, this most frequently manifests as anxiety, hypervigilance, insomnia, and impaired digestion.
Cortisol levels are altered.
Related to the hyperactive state of the nervous system is the dysregulation in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Research indicates that those with PTSD are likely to have low levels of cortisol in the morning upon waking. It also seems that people with PTSD have a stronger cortisol burst when they encounter a stressful situation compared to those that don’t have PTSD. This may feel like poor energy and over-reactivity to stressors for the person with this profile.
Cortisol has an important role in all aspects of health. It’s involved in the circadian rhythm, blood sugar regulation, appetite, metabolism, immune system, and energy levels. In addition to affecting all these systems, an imbalance in this system will impact one’s ability to have resilience to stress. Resilience to stress is considered a hallmark of good health.
Inflammation is common.
People with PTSD typically also have high levels of inflammatory chemicals present in their bodies. Their bodies and brains are literally inflamed. There are brain structures that are altered because of inflammation. This includes structures that are involved in memory and emotional states. These have been studied in studies that review brain imaging of those with PTSD.
Inflammation throughout the body is a contributing factor for the development of chronic disease. It’s known that people with PTSD are more likely to have cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. All of these are pro-inflammatory states.
The role of integrative medicine in the treatment of PTSD is not just an approach to treating symptoms it is helping to address the underlying metabolic disturbances.
Integrative medicine shines when addressing PTSD because this condition really benefits from a full-body approach to healing. Testing and treating abnormal cortisol rhythms are routine. The assessment through lab work and the treatment of inflammation with diet changes and supplements are effective. Methods such as calming supplements, mediation, exercise, and heart rate variability can help to shift the body out of a fight/flight/freeze state.
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