What happens to the brain when the death of a loved one?

it's not just the emotions. Emotional upheaval can change the brain

Throughout his life a person experiences many emotions associated with what is happening around. It can be as joyful moments and negative, which, as a rule, people try to forget (but not always). However, the most serious emotional turmoil remains the loss of a loved one, close family member. Of course, such an event can't affect the brain, and in recent years, research scientists have increasingly attributed the loss of a loved one the types of traumatic brain injury, despite the fact that the right to attribute it to mental injury. But what happens to the brain when this happens?

The Problem is not in sadness and grief; loss is causing confusion, disorientation and wrong thinking, — writes Lisa Shulman, a neurologist from the Medical school of the University of Maryland. — Emotional trauma leads to serious changes in brain function that persist throughout life.

Increasingly, Scientists consider the loss of a loved one as a serious brain injury. The human brain is rebuilt (this process called neuroplasticity) — in response to emotional trauma, which he applied. In his book, Shulman, whose husband died of cancer, describes the feeling she awakens in a strange world where you are not respected any rules. Several times in the months after her husband's death, she lost track of time. One day, making their case, she went to a strange place and ultimately didn't know where or how I got there.

trauma literally destroys the brain

If all this can happen with a neurologist, versed in the biochemistry of the brain, what can we say about the others?

the consequences of emotional trauma

What's the matter why a person starts to behave in a similar way? After the loss of the human body secretes hormones and chemicals that accumulate in large quantities. Every day reminder about the sad event cause a stress response and ultimately modify the diagram of the brain. How people lived before is forgotten, and the brain turns everything on its head, giving priority to the most primitive functions. The prefrontal cortex, the center of decision-making and control of emotions sidelined, and the limbic system, which involves our survival instincts, is the main.

a man with the emotional shock becomes inactive «thinking» the centre of the brain and control emotions. While «fear center» becomes hyperactive

In an attempt to cope with overwhelming thoughts and emotions and keep their functions the brain acts as superfiltr. He's trying to hold on to the memories and emotions are "acceptable zone" to minimize stress, or completely to wash them. According to research by 2019, published in the journal Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, the bereaved are trying to get rid of thoughts associated with the loss. The result: increased anxiety and inability to think correctly.

According to scientists, there is nothing unusual. So grieving people can lose their keys several times a day, to forget who they're calling, and with difficulty to remember the names of their best friends. Is the feeling comparable .

Studies show that these cognitive effects are more pronounced in people who experienced severe grief. The human brain can not understand the causes of the death of a loved one and even trying to come up with an explanation. This can lead to the eternal dispute "what if" and "if only", which inevitably leads to guilt.

as soon As the brain recovers, people will be able to live with this event

Each of us reacts differently to grief, and this reaction is determined by the relationships that we build early in life, as well as intensity of grief — says Shulman. Thus, despite the fact that areas of the brain can equally react to emotional upheaval in different people, sensual experience grief — is unique for each person.

How to cope with mental trauma

As with any trauma, emotionally scarred brain requires a period of recovery and rehabilitation. We do not return to their normal activities immediately after heart surgery, but in some way hope to bounce back after a mental struggle related to the loss of a loved one.

Studies show that to cope with such injuries is possible through a variety of activities from medication to psychotherapy and even massage. For example, in one case, participation in an eight-week cognitive therapy based on informed decision-making, improved a person's ability to perform complex mental processes. Other studies show that a person is just dramatically change the nature of its activities.

For some, it means to wrap in a favorite shirt or blanket, to record in the diarypositive memories or create a photo album or video about life with a loved one. For others a move to another country, change jobs, or image. Ultimately, the brain still gets everything in place. However, according to scientists, the consequences of the loss still remains with the person for life. And it does not fix it.