Architecture Of A Traumatised Mind: Cognitive Distortions

Episode 5: This episode looks at the indelible impact upon the mind and bodies of children subjected to extreme forms of abuse and neglect.  The wounds sustained remain active well into adult life not only because of the altered cognitive perceptions, but because of a completly reorganised neuroception. in this regard thoughts alone do not shape out behaviour and how we feel, but our viscera also inform our felt sense of being.  This episode we will investigate the impacts of trauma on cognition and execxutive functioning, and in later episodes we will investigate the changes in the limbic & autonomic nervous system, that must be dealt with somatically.

 The cognitive domains effected include but are not limited too:

1. Lack of Attachment/Attunement

2. Loss of Agency

3. Locus of control (Externalised)

4. Impaired Sense of Self

5. Lack of self efficacy 

6. Low Self Esteem (inc. shame & guilt)

7. Cognitive Processing difficulties

8. Arrested development

9. Identity distirbances.

The result of these compromised domains leads to a multitude of distressing thoughts and related feelings, resulting in a drastically altered felt sense of being, compared to un-traumatised people.  The world for trauma survivors is perceived as inherently dangerous, well outside the context of normal healthy adult experience, so much so that Tonic Immobility (TI) can result with such cognitive disorganisation that the individual looses the capacity to think and link thought with action, a truly terrifying experience.

These compromised psychic domains leave the individual feeling dissociated & depersonalised, Chronically Anxiety & Depression with such Poor Executive Functioning and impaired sense of self that life may become completely devoid of meaning and purpose and social connectedness.