Severe traumatic event at 18- is the brain still developing at this age ?

[ptsdthanksforthat]

If so what sort of long term effect would a severe emotional trauma have ?

I have ASD and experienced a severe traumatic event at 18 after many years of emotional abuse.

Im trying to unpick things and interested to learn about the effect on the developing kind of severe trauma as I’m feeling like at that point some ‘bad’ connections were made in my brain and I’m trying to understand some behaviours that persist as I think it’s all connected to that trauma in an already troubled mind ?

Is there anything anyone can direct me to that I can read about this kind of thing there is so much out there that I feel overwhelmed and confused

This might help you
www.intechopen.com/chapters/41582

paradigmtreatment.com/teens-brain-fully-developed-age/

Brains aren't fully developed till 25 and trauma can impact development.

Trauma certainly can have an outsized impact on still-developing, 18-year-old minds. While you can do some research into that in order to better understand the mechanics of what is going on, I would definitely encourage you to not spend too much time dwelling on your trauma by yourself (easier said than done, obviously) and try to seek out some real-life, qualified support. It can make a world of difference. Are you able to access therapy?

This has a useful set of info on trauma that's free. Explains things at a good level too

cwmtafmorgannwg.wales/services/mental-health/stabilisation-pack/

Don't forget that while the brain is still developing until 25, it does not lose it's neuroplasticity - it's ability to learn and develop.

I say this as someone who had a fair amount of trauma pre 25 and lots of therapy post 25. It's not game-over because the brain was not developmentally mature.

So while development is impacted, and we're impacted, it's not all doom and gloom.

For a practical, clearer example, you may want to look into how work with stroke survivors has developed. While it's not the same as psychological trauma, it is a clear demonstration of how the brain doesn't stop learning and developing, even if it's slower than in it's immature phase.

Thank you. I’ve tried therapy in the past but I think I need a different approach as I always get chest pain and have to stop so I’m trying to look into things in general and work out what on Earth to do