Your Brain on Narcissistic Abuse
Severe emotional trauma is often a double-edged sword, not only slashing the psyche but physically damaging the brain.
One of the most painful things survivors of narcissistic abuse deal with is the complete destruction of their self-esteem and their ability to trust themselves, due to the control, gaslighting, and manipulation that narcissists inflict on them.
Perhaps most distressing is the fact that narcissistic abuse can be physical, neurological, and psychological — and these issues can, without intentional healing, last a lifetime.
Most understand that repeated emotional trauma leads to PTSD and C-PTSD, but many don't realize the serious damage the brain undergoes from long-term abuse. These repeated emotional injuries shrink the hippocampus, which is responsible for memory and learning while enlarging the amygdala, the primitive brain that houses emotions such as fear, grief, guilt, envy, and shame.
Hippocampus
The hippocampus, which is Greek for seahorse, is a paired structure tucked inside each temporal lobe and shaped like a pair of seahorses. It helps to store and release memory.
According to Dr. J. Douglas Bremner, Professor of Psychiatry and Radiology and Director…
