On a quest to prove holistic treatments necessity in healthcare and understand more about my body and how to help it better, I have delved further into the body and how it changes and responds to Anxiety, Depression and CPTSD.
Anxiety, Depression and Complex PTSD, also known as CPTSD are all interrelated conditions which I’ll be looking into as individually as possible; and if you have been following the blogs prior to this, you may notice a lot of areas where you think the ECS and CBMP’s may be beneficial.
Hand Model of The Brain
To be able to better understand the below, I will describe the brain using Dr Dan Siegel’s ‘Hand Model of The Brain’
Basically put, our wrist/hand is our brain and what we’ll be focusing on today.
With our wrist being the the brain stem, our thumb being our Amygdala and the remaining four fingers being our prefrontal cortex. (I will get into these in a second) let us just have a look at the below image, and put our hands in the positions shown. Genuinely-try it!
Remember, the thumb is the Amygdala. The thumb is tucked near the centre, just as the amygdala is located in our brains. The amygdala is responsible for many things, such as our ‘fight of flight’ responses by sensing danger and letting the body know, processing emotions such as fear, pleasure and anger. It significantly impacts our response to these events and over time often shapes feelings and behaviours. In addition to this it also has a significant impact on how we remember our memories, specifically those that have strong emotions attached to them.
Very basically put, the four fingers covering the thumb, are the prefrontal cortex. Located just below the forehead in our brains, it is responsible again for many emotional regulations but carry great weight on ‘day to day’ functioning of a person such as decision making, attention and focus, impulse control and memory.
When everything is working as it should, the prefrontal cortex (four fingers) will ‘touch’ (communicate) and work with the amygdala (thumb( to make more rational decisions, process emotions better and regulate responses.
Anxiety
In anxiety, the amygdala is overactive, which leads to increases in stress responses and fear.
The HPA Axis (which I very briefly touched on previously-but a stress response system in our bodies that works by signalling and the release of hormones to manage stress) becomes disrupted and this causes prolonged release in the key hormones required for the HPA axis to function efficiently.
Depression
As discussed in a previous blog; we know that in cases of depression, neurotransmitters are dysregulated or even lacking. This includes the well known Serotonin and Dopamine which a lack of, contributes to mood instabilities.
The Hippocampus (a small part of the brain that works alongside the amygdala for new memory formation and learning) and the Prefrontal Cortex can both shrink, which can then lead to difficulties with memory retention and decision making as well as cause prolonged stress and contribute to the cycle of depression.
CPTSD
The Amygdala can become hyperactive in cases of PTSD and CPTSD, causing further sensitivity to threats and causing one to feel ‘on edge’ and in fear more often. As with depression, the Hippocampus may shrink and the PFC (Prefrontal Cortex) may struggle to function normally.
The above difficulties mean that the ‘thumb’ and the ‘four fingers’ are unable to connect effectively, and the dysregulation in the brain is from many areas, from reductions in neurotransmitters, hormone imbalances or slow release of hormones – two areas that could potentially be treated effectively with CBMP’s too.
In addition to the psychological difficulties the conditions above cause, there are also significant physical effects that should be considered such as sleep disruptions, muscle tension and pain due to this ranging from neck, shoulder and back pain to headaches, increased heart rates due to high palpitations in moments of panic attacks or severe anxiety.
In understanding Anxiety, Depression, and CPTSD through Dr. Dan Siegel’s Hand Model of the Brain, we see how deeply intertwined our brain’s different parts are in managing emotions and navigating our daily lives. When everything functions as it should, the amygdala and prefrontal cortex work in harmony—allowing us to react rationally and stay calm. However, when these connections become disrupted, as they often do with chronic stress, trauma, or mood disorders, it can leave us feeling overwhelmed, on edge, or disconnected.
By visualising the interaction between our “thumb” (the amygdala) and “fingers” (the prefrontal cortex), we gain a powerful tool that as Dr Siegel says himself ‘we can carry anywhere’ to better understand our responses, behaviours, and physical symptoms. This awareness is the first step in taking back control, and it underscores the importance of treating not just the psychological but also the physiological impacts of these conditions.
Whether through CBMPs, therapy, or practical coping strategies, the goal is to support your brain in reconnecting these vital pathways. With time, patience, and the right support, it’s possible to regain balance, improve emotional regulation, and foster resilience. Remember, your body and mind are intricately linked, and small steps towards understanding can lead to significant change on the road to recovery and well-being.
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