Scientists are always trying to understand the human body, and recently researchers studying stress hormones have linked one to chronic trauma. Long after the traumatic event, they measured it at significantly elevated levels in the study group. This hormone is known to regulate appetite and excess weight.
Acyl-ghrelin hormone, abbreviated to GH, is made in our stomachs and small intestines. Have you ever heard that your guts contain a “second brain” or that your guts regulate your body as much (or more than) your brain? GH, cortisol, and other hormones in the guts control a wide variety of body functions, and this complex system directly affects our mental health.
When doctors experimenting with animals gave them GH directly, they found that the animals gained excess weight and decreased their activity levels. The animals ate more often and ate more with each meal. In humans, those who have gone through gastric bypass surgery have significantly reduced levels of GH in their blood (because GH is mainly made by the stomach). There is a definite link between the stress hormone GH and how our bodies crave and use food.
These observations and studies are simply clues for scientists and doctors to understand how the human body works. Nobody has concluded anything yet and they all want to do more studies with humans. The research is exciting for people working in the trauma field (like You Are Beyond Brave) and exciting for survivors of violence.
If you involve a medical doctor in your mental health management, talk to them about stress hormones and ask to have your GH levels measured. The more you know about your body, the more you can understand how YOU work and how to help yourself recover from trauma. If you find your GH levels are elevated and you have trouble keeping a healthy weight, you have just discovered a clue to how stress, trauma and the human body work together.
If you have survived sexual violence and any number of other traumatic experiences, you are NOT broken because you still have fear or anxiety or hold onto your weight. You are NOT broken. Your body and brain are still responding to your trauma experiences.
Dealing with what you can — your traumatic memories and continued responses — helps your mental health and your body health. While researchers are not ready to draw direct conclusions between stress hormones and chronic trauma responses, if you feel this makes sense for you, let’s get together to deal with what you can.
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If you are really into reading science-y articles with tons of huge words, check this one. Tritos N and Kokkotou E (2006). The physiology and potential clinical applications of ghrelin, a novel peptide hormone. Mayo Clinic Proceedings 81(5): 653-660. https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(11)61710-2/pdf
If you’d rather read a more understandable article, check this one. Mount Sinai Hospital (2020). Elevated “hunger” hormone leaves trauma-exposed teens at higher risk for PTSD. Neuroscience News. https://neurosciencenews.com/teen-ghrelin-ptsd-16885/