Trauma causes Dissociation or Splitting between the left hemisphere (responsible for logic, analysis, observation) and the right hemisphere (responsible for imagination, creativity, emotions, trauma memories). Brain research shows trauma survivors have reduced number of pathways in the corpus callosum, accounting for decreased communication between the two hemispheres.
Splitting allows the logical brain to take over and continue on with normal life (goals, relationships) without being overwhelmed by trauma in the right hemisphere. While this is a brilliant strategy to cope with trauma as it is occurring, it can cause significant mental and emotional distress individually and interpersonally. Behind the ‘strong’ left brain functioning, the right hemisphere continues to cycle through trauma responses – fight, flight, freeze, submit, and attach. The logical brain continues to suppress these trauma responses and grows weary, angry, and exhausted of this cycle, not realizing the only way out of this cycle is to make space for the trauma and heal it.
-Faiza Haroon, MACP, RP
Your Healing Journey Counselling 