HEALING THROUGH TRAUMA

Witnessing a relative deal with a traumatic experience strengthens our capacity for resilience. The phenomenon had already been observed, but without understanding exactly what was happening in the body. A team of neuroscientists from the University of Lausanne (UNIL) has just identified the active brain mechanism in these types of situations. Research has shown that when you are in a difficult situation, the brain produces more serotonin. 

For Daniel Schechter, Associate Professor at the UNIL and assistant physician in the University Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (SUPEA), this finding is important because it reveals the key role of this neurotransmitter in the brain mechanism of resilience. “The study shows that more serotonin is released into the stress circuitry when one has been previously exposed to a similar unpleasant situation, explains the specialist. If we have a traumatic experience, it creates a shock. The neurological system is overwhelmed and cellular serotonin absorption becomes faster than its production.” Serotonin plays an important role in mood regulation. Antidepressants help to prolong the action of serotonin, which explains their effectiveness in case of anxiety disorders. 

Therapeutic approach

The discovery of the cerebral mechanism of resilience is an interesting therapeutic approach to reduce stress in predictable situations. He uses the example of a patient at risk for postpartum depression. By offering therapy during pregnancy with exposure to a crying baby, a stressful situation for the expectant mother, we accustom her to these crisis situations. This practice can then help her to manage the situation better once the child is born. “Therapeutic support is essential for the positive impact of stress exposure, says Daniel Schechter. The person will feel reassured and less helpless.” 

This method could be particularly useful for improving the response to minor stresses and daily hazards that can be anticipated. The psychiatrist gives the example of a person about to return to work after suffering from burnout. One therapeutic approach could be to confront the person, through augmented reality, to work-life scenarios that are a source of annoyance. This conditioning could allow the person to better cope with uncomfortable but predictable situations, and with stress once they go back to work.

While this study opens up new perspectives, the psychiatrist also sees limitations such as the controlled nature of the experiment. “In life, something always comes up. In my daily life as a doctor, I can be faced with an emergency at any time,” says the specialist. So you can’t be prepared for any eventuality and the stress that comes with it. “Habituation to stress does not make you immune to anxiety or depression, but it can lead to greater resilience.”