By Martin Brink, Board-Certified in Neurotherapy and QEEG:
Many of our clients with Complex PTSD feel worn out by “talk therapy” that seems to merely circle the problem. They live in a body that feels like a permanent war zone—stuck in a loop of hyper-vigilance or emotional numbness that willpower alone cannot switch off.
They want to know: ‘What is a better therapy for C-PTSD?’ Beyond drugs that dull the senses or even more talk therapy, is there a way to retrain a nervous system stuck in survival mode since childhood?
In order to look for a reasonable answer, it’s a good idea to examine the function of the affected organ: The Brain.
Based in Neuroscience, QEEG Brain Mapping can identify dysfunctional patterns of Complex PTSD in Brain activity.
Neurotherapy offers a drug-free pathway to real and lasting change; because C-PTSD is — without a doubt — a Functional Brain Disorder.
But what exactly does that mean?
All our Abilities, Behaviours and Experiences arise from the electrical activity in our Brains.
Electroencephalography (EEG) records electrical Brain activity from the scalp with very little fuss:
Quantitative EEG (QEEG) analyses the Brain’s electrical activity: Green = normal levels.
If our Brain’s electrical activity is out of order, it affects our Abilities, Behaviours and Experiences.
When Brain activity isn’t normal, it shows up in the EEG. See for yourself (psychiatric client):
QEEG maps: Yellow = a bit too much, Orange = clearly too much, Red = crazy too much activity.
CPTSD entails widespread neurobiological alterations in emotion regulation pathways, stress-response circuits and executive function networks. Research with EEG and QEEG has revealed multiple distinctive patterns of abnormal Brain activity in people suffering from CPTSD and/or Developmental Trauma.
Understanding these electro-physiological signatures is crucial for targeted Neurotherapy with Neurofeedback to help restore normal Brain function by addressing the physiological root cause of the persistent symptoms.
Below you’ll see some of the abnormal patterns that can be found in CPTSD, according to research and clinical experience.
Impaired Prefrontal Cortex (PFC)
In healthy people, the PFC keeps the Emotional Brain (e.g. Amygdala) under control. In CPTSD, the PFC is typically under-developed, under-active and under-connected, leaving the Emotional Brain in charge.
This often results in deficits in planning, decision-making, impulse control, identity stability and overwhelming emotional experiences and reactions that impact all aspects of life, work and relationships with others.
The thermal images show the dark, cold, inactive offline PFC of a client with CPTSD before her first ever session with Infrared Neurofeedback; and then — visibly improved — after the Training, as you can see yourself.
Temporal Lobe Hyperactivation
Normally, emotional memories stay in the background. In CPTSD, the Temporal Lobes and deeper emotional-memory circuits can be overactive and easily triggered. This can cause sudden waves of fear, shame, despair or overwhelm (emotional flashbacks).
Clients often describe “being abruptly overtaken by feelings” or reacting strongly to tone of voice or facial expressions; sometimes even to ‘triggers’ they hadn’t noticed.
High Beta Hyperarousal
Chronic trauma often pushes the brain into a state of hyper-vigilance. In CPTSD, the HiBeta “fight-or-flight” circuits run too fast and too often, even in safe situations. We see that as excess HiBeta in frontal and central areas (also seen in Migraine, Anxiety and Bipolar Disorder).
This can lead to racing thoughts, irritability, restlessness, jumpiness, an exaggerated startle response and trouble sleeping. Many clients say it feels like “never being able to relax”.
Low Global EEG Power
When trauma is repeated or prolonged, the Brain sometimes protects itself by partially shutting down. In CPTSD, this shows up as unusually low overall brain activity — a “freeze” response. This can create emotional numbness, fogginess, disconnection from the body, zoning out, or feeling “not fully here”. Clients describe “going blank” under stress or feeling like parts of themselves “switch off” to cope.
Overactive Default Mode Network (DMN)
The Brain’s Default Mode Network (DMN) handles self-reflection and internal dialogue. In CPTSD, this network becomes overactive and rigid, keeping the Mind stuck in loops of self-criticism, rumination and replaying past events.
This can lead to intense shame, guilt, overthinking and a constant sense of “something is wrong with me”. Many clients describe feeling trapped in their own thoughts, unable to shift into a calmer, more balanced state.
CPTSD Treatment Neurofeedback - Selected Scientific References
