Summary: Pupillary response in those with PTSD differs from people who have not experienced traumatic events. The pupils of those with PTSD failed to show sharp constriction caused by light changes, and more enlargement when exposed to emotional stimuli that other participants.
In extreme moments of traumatic stress, a person might suddenly “space out.” Whereas they seemed fully present, talking, and participating, they suddenly become vacant, staring into the distance.
Some common physical signs of trauma include paleness, lethargy, fatigue, poor concentration and a racing heartbeat. The victim may have anxiety or panic attacks and be unable to cope in certain circumstances.
Symptoms of facial aging and trauma can range from wrinkled, drooping skin to injuries that cause pain and interfere with sight, smell, speech and breathing. Symptoms of aging skin can include: Fine lines and wrinkles. Loss of skin elasticity.
Initial reactions to trauma can include exhaustion, confusion, sadness, anxiety, agitation, numbness, dissociation, confusion, physical arousal, and blunted affect. Most responses are normal in that they affect most survivors and are socially acceptable, psychologically effective, and self-limited.
If you have PTSD, you may have trouble keeping yourself from thinking over and over about what happened to you. You may try to avoid people and places that remind you of the trauma. You may feel numb. Lastly, if you have PTSD, you might find that you have trouble relaxing.
As a result of the sensory vision system's interconnections with the structures of the limbic system, blurry vision is a common symptom in PTSD patients.
Trauma can hurt or damage the iris, which can lead to tissue loss, according to the AAO. The loss of tissue can make the eye color look completely different. It has been quoted in books from fact to fairy tale that someone's mood can change the color of the eye.
Emotional overreactions are a common symptom of trauma. A victim of trauma might redirect their overwhelming emotions towards others, such as family and friends. Because these unresolved emotions are always bubbling beneath the surface, any incident that brings feelings forward can unleash these pent-up emotions.
Trauma is not physically held in the muscles or bones — instead, the need to protect oneself from perceived threats is stored in the memory and emotional centers of the brain, such as the hippocampus and amygdala. This activates the body whenever a situation reminds the person of the traumatic event(s).
Most people are indeed entirely unaware that they are suffering from trauma at all. Many put their symptoms and negative experiences down to stress which is often vague and unhelpful, particularly when trying to get to the core of the problem.
Smiling when discussing trauma is a way to minimize the traumatic experience. It communicates the notion that what happened “wasn't so bad.” This is a common strategy that trauma survivors use in an attempt to maintain a connection to caretakers who were their perpetrators.
Patients with PTSD not only showed an exaggerated response to threatening stimuli but also to stimuli that depicted positive images. New research by Welsh academics shows that a patient's pupils can reveal if they have suffered a traumatic experience in the past.
Trouble Making Eye Contact
People with Complex trauma often feel uncomfortable with people they don't know — and even with those they do. Making eye contact can be challenging in these circumstances. You may prefer to look down or away, rather than meeting someone's gaze.
Among children who experience trauma, intrusive thoughts or memories of trauma (e.g., feeling like it is happening all over again) may lead to confused or agitated behavior which can resemble the impulsivity of ADHD.
If you have recently experienced a highly stressful or traumatic event, you may have noticed that your skin has flared up badly. It could be very dry, scarring more easily or you could find yourself with acne or rosacea.
Injury or trauma to the eye can damage the iris, causing tissue loss. This tissue loss can make the eye color look different. A dilated pupil can make the color of that eye look different from the other eye. The eye color isn't actually changed, but if the pupil is dilated, less of the color of the iris can be seen.
How many eye colors are there, and why your shade is unique to you. At some point, you've probably wondered what the rarest eye color is. The answer is green, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). Only about 2 percent of the world's population sport this shade.
Blurred vision: Individuals may experience a lack of sharpness in their vision, preventing them from seeing fine details clearly. Light sensitivity: Patients may experience discomfort in daylight without a pair of sunglasses. Watery and strained eyes: Some individuals report watery eyes and pain from strained eyes.
The eyes express all the emotions and states of mind and body. Eyes soften in love, harden with anger, widen in fear, narrow in suspicion, roll in exasperation, glaze with boredom, and weep in sadness.
When we are severely stressed and anxious, high levels of adrenaline in the body can cause pressure on the eyes, resulting in blurred vision. People with long-term anxiety can suffer from eye strain throughout the day on a regular basis.
Sadness: If you notice that you or a loved one is feeling down much more often, it may be a sign that they're coping with a traumatic event. Losing interest in normal activities: A child may lose interest in things they once enjoyed.
Women with PTSD may be more likely than men with PTSD to: Be easily startled. Have more trouble feeling emotions or feel numb. Avoid things that remind them of the trauma.