Trauma Competency Quotes

“You freeze momentarily, at which point the assailant begins running toward you. You don’t think; you run. This is the stress response; it’s automatic, thoughtless, and lifesaving. It’s only after your rapid retreat that it’s possible for you to strategize a more reasoned escape plan/route. But, in the interim, your amygdala has sounded — and continues to sound the biological alarm — conveying signals to numerous parts of the cortex commanding them to pay attention to all relevant aspects of the situation (whether the man is following you, at what speed, etc.). At this point all energy is directed toward survival. So, the hippocampus goes off-line, as there is no need for long-term potentiation of memory, if you’re not going to survive to benefit from it.”
― Linda A. Curran, Trauma Competency: A Clinicians Guide

“you can start to formulate your get-away plan. Via the thalamic pathways, the body and brain become primed for action. Now, what’s needed is some cognitive input — a little thought, to refine your escape. The second pathway, after a short stopover at the cortex, continues back to the amygdala, where it meets up with the original thalamic pathway.”
― Linda A. Curran, Trauma Competency: A Clinicians Guide