When the Alarm Won't Turn Off

3:13

Companion Slides

Long-term brain changes from chronic stress — hyperactive amygdala, diminished prefrontal cortex, and the science of neuroplasticity.

Key Concepts

  • Amygdala becomes hyperactive — bigger, more reactive, lower alarm threshold
  • Prefrontal cortex shrinks — fewer connections, weaker override capacity
  • Hippocampus disrupted — memories stored as fragments, not coherent narrative
  • Cortisol stays elevated — chronic stress hormones damage the whole body
  • Neuroplasticity: every safe interaction helps the brain rebuild and heal

Part of

Module 1: How Trauma Changes People

What trauma really is, how the brain responds, what the ACE study tells us, and the science of resilience.

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The Window of Tolerance

The zone where we can think, feel, and function — and what happens when we leave it.