How PTSD Affects Cognitive Function
PTSD doesn’t just impact emotions, it can really affect how your brain works day-to-day. People with PTSD often struggle with memory, focus, and decision-making. This happens because trauma changes how the brain processes information, especially in areas like the amygdala (which controls fear), the hippocampus (which helps with memory), and the prefrontal cortex (which helps with reasoning and emotional control). For example, someone with PTSD might have trouble remembering details from a conversation or find it hard to concentrate in class. They may also overreact to small triggers, like a loud sound or a certain smell, because their brain is stuck in “survival mode.” Their memory might also become selective, remembering the traumatic event very clearly but struggling with day-to-day memory. I read that PTSD can actually shrink the hippocampus, which helps explain why memory issues are so common. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, this cognitive impact can interfere...