How PTSD Affects Cognitive Function

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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 with school, work, and even relationships (National Center for PTSD, 2020). That’s why therapy for PTSD often includes strategies to help rebuild thinking and memory skills, not just manage emotions.

https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/what/index.asp

Comments

  1. Leila SmithJune 20, 2025 at 9:31 AM

    I really enjoyed your post!
    As someone with a Mom who suffers from PTSD it can be difficult sometimes to have conversations with her because she will forget that she already told me something or assume she told me something important but never actually did. The small triggers are also something that even I struggle with because I will say something I assume is harmless but she will become extremely agitated and upset over something I believed wasn't a big deal. Which really resonated with me from your post because I sometimes don't realize that her brain is in a state of fight or flight and the things I may assume are small really impact her. This post was a great reminder to give my Mom more grace with certain things and be careful with my words.

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