New research has found a specific change in brain chemistry due to trauma. An article on Medscape.com says:
“Lower serotonin 1B levels were also strongly associated with age at first trauma. The earlier the trauma exposure, the greater the brain alterations and the greater the severity of PTSD symptoms, and the greater the risk of developing comorbidities,” senior author Alexander Neumeister, MD, associate professor of psychiatry at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, told Medscape Medical News.
“These findings establish that trauma at a young age causes long-lasting neurobiological and psychological effects in survivors with PTSD. In other words, early-life trauma can interfere with normal brain development,” he said.
The article is somewhat technical, but lay readers like us can pretty much follow what is being discussed. To read the story, you need to register for Medscape.com, which is free.
Read Potential new drug target for PTSD on Medscape.com.
Link supplied by a Lovefraud reader.
Darwinsmom
It was me who posted last week about my girlfriend and her “financial advisor”.
You’re doing all the right things, Darwin. You are validating her real experience, and you’re shining a light on the truth. You can’t make her see it.
You might want to buy her a book – there are some good ones out there – “sociopath next door” but that title might put her off – there are some good books about Red Flags – anyway, you’re right in what you’re doing – just don’t harm yourself in the process.
Athena
Skylar, yeah, I logged off and read about Eddie H. In a way, that’s totally my spath. Your comment made me realize something. My spath is by far the MOST well mannered man I ever met. Great manners, polite, well spoken, articulate. He has cultivated a fantastic image of a polished corporate executive. His two children are the same – extraordinarily polite, kind, mild, well behaved. Everybody comments on it. Curtseys, bows, yes ma’am, etc. But it’s such a mind F*ck, because he lies to everybody constantly. He is extraordinarily polite to his children, and gives this pretense of formality and kindness, yet his daughter says “I don’t know if he doesn’t know right from wrong, or if he just doesn’t care”. Through his politeness, he is mind f*cking everybody, including his children, making everybody think he’s great when he is intentionally screwing everybody over.
I saw my spath’s blatant lies right away. They were extraordinary. I just didn’t know what it meant. I had no idea. And, of course, I thought *I* was special. I thought if I was kind enough, loving enough, sexy enough, he’d really love me, and he’d stop lying to me. Or something.
Skylar
I never got the impression from you that your spath was a blatant liar like mine. I had the impression it was more subtle.
Athena
Oxy
Yes, what a story there you have! Yikes!
That’s sort of where my line of questioning was with the Judge’s daughter. We are all impacted by PDs – you were – I was – I just can’t imagine that the wife is just well grounded and normal. Not after living with THAT.
I was doing some reading while I am making the most wonderful meal and I found this link on PTSD that I wanted to share:
http://www.ptsdsupport.net/biology&PTSD.html
Athena,
At the very beginning he lied and lied and lied. That’s why I went to the library and checked out “People of the Lie” by Scott Peck.
I think they do this to test our boundaries. How much lying will you put up with? I’m not sure. I think that it’s a test of some sort. After that, the deceptions become more covert.
In the testing phase, the lies are blatant and shameless, but they are inconsequential. He will say he’s eating a cheeseburger when you can see it’s a hotdog. They are obvious. I’m not sure if it’s a test or if they are just trying to shake our grasp on reality. I know that lies are detrimental no matter what. Even if you know it’s a lie.
Skylar
Thanks for explaining the lies. I didn’t understand why he lied when he didn’t need to. It confused me. WHy say he was studying when he was working? It didn’t matter. Except that I could find out the truth so easily.
One time I was really upset about nonsense lies and I pushed him WHY would you lie to me about such unimportant carp? I pushed and pushed and he got exasperated and said, BECAUSE YOU ASKED. That made sense, I was NOT supposed to ask questions. Just asking a question resulted in a lie. It was HIM revealing his contempt of me. HOw DARE I ask a question! Well, guess I deserved the lie answer.
Why did I stay? The water wasn’t cooking me enough to burn yet.
How do you guys keep track of your posts? I forget the articles I post on, pretty easy, and then have a hard time finding the article I posted on last.
Darwinsmom – your friend is lucky to have you. You are doing what you can: giving her tools, and being there for her. Of course the whole thing is going to go to hell in a hand basket – but your knowledge and understanding will mean a lot as she starts to truly break free. take care,
one joy
Thank you for posting that link duped.
i haven’t read the article noted on the thread yet…you have to log in to the page (and I am pretty sure i already have an account…but where did i put the info….?)
i have been doing nuerofeedback http://www.brainandhealth.com/
intermittently for over a year to retrain my brain – to make use of its plasticity and the physical changes in it that need to be made to heal from PTSD.
my list of symptoms (there may be more, but i may not be able to identify them yet as i am still too deeply ‘in’ them) hyper-vigilance, heightened generalized anxiety, seeing things as frightening that may not be, inability to mitigate anger/ fear/ anxiety responses, severe cognitive and memory impairment (especially in the areas of written and spoken language – my home territory), especially when under stress.
i rarely have nightmares – but i rarely dream now. after seeing a councilor a couple of times i have had intense dreams, and had a couple during this time of mom being in the hospital and having dad closer to my orbit.
the nuerofeedback helps.
i had dinner with one of my lost friends tonight. we had talked a few weeks ago when i stopped by his place, and we had emailed a bit. but dinner has left me cold – there are still big holes in our relationship (pre spath holes) and i am not comfortable with that. i will work out what is best, with love trust and patience in myself.
LOVE THIS ONE!!!!
Stargazer says:
Oxy, did you say you wrote a book? If you didn’t you should. You’ve had more sociopaths pass through your life than anyone would even want to think about.
(Report abusive comment)
November 6, 2011 at 8:06 pm