“A brain shaped by years of hypervigilance is finely tuned for survival.

Imagine the power of that same brain when it’s re-trained to scan for connection, opportunity, growth and for good.

The Reticular Activating System doesn’t lose its focus—it simply learns to trust.

When we begin to trust ourselves, our brain becomes our greatest ally.”

— Deborah Crozier

The Reticular Activating System (RAS), located within the brainstem, is a key neurological network responsible for filtering sensory information and directing attention. It determines which environmental stimuli are brought into conscious awareness, significantly influencing what we notice and respond to. In the context of trauma, the RAS becomes attuned to threat and danger, perpetuating a state of hypervigilance. However, post-healing, that same system can be recalibrated to seek cues of safety, connection, and opportunity—a shift supported by both neurobiology and therapeutic practice.

Trauma dysregulates the nervous system, activating the amygdala and sensitising the RAS to detect and prioritise threat. This results in a persistent state of alertness, where perceived danger is filtered through and amplified, often regardless of actual risk.

As noted by van der Kolk (2014), trauma leaves a physiological imprint on the nervous system, particularly affecting areas involved in threat detection and arousal. The RAS, in collaboration with the amygdala and brainstem structures, plays a key role in maintaining hypervigilance.

Because trauma is held in the body, effective healing often begins with bottom-up approaches that address dysregulation at the level of the autonomic nervous system. Somatic interventions (e.g., grounding, breathwork, EFT, movement, sensory awareness) help to regulate physiological arousal, re-establish safety in the body, and quiet the overactive threat detection systems—including the RAS.

Porges’ Polyvagal Theory and the work of practitioners such as Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) and Bessel van der Kolk emphasise that bottom-up regulation is foundational in trauma recovery. These methods support the recalibration of the nervous system, gradually shifting the RAS away from a constant threat focus.

Once a level of bodily safety and regulation is achieved, top-down approaches—such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), narrative processing, and cognitive reframing—can become more effective. These interventions allow individuals to reinterpret past experiences, challenge unhelpful beliefs, and develop new cognitive patterns. As beliefs shift and attention is retrained, the RAS adjusts to prioritise different kinds of input, including cues of opportunity, safety, and connection.

Research in neuroplasticity shows that intentional cognitive focus alters neural pathways. Mindfulness-based practices, CBT, and narrative therapies have all demonstrated measurable changes in attentional bias, suggesting that the brain—including the RAS—can be reoriented over time (Siegel, 2012; Davidson & McEwen, 2012).

In conclusion, The Reticular Activating System, once conditioned by trauma to scan for threat, can—through an integrated healing process—be repurposed to identify and prioritise opportunity, connection, and hope. This transformation is supported through a combination of bottom-up (somatic) and top-down (cognitive) approaches that honour the body’s role in storing trauma and the mind’s capacity for reframing and growth. The interplay of these modalities not only restores regulation but also reshapes perception—opening the door for a more empowered and engaged life.

The hypervigilant brain becomes exceptionally finely tuned after years—sometimes decades—of scanning for threat. This constant state of alert trains the Reticular Activating System (RAS) to filter for danger with remarkable precision, often without conscious awareness.

But imagine the potential of that same brain, once healing has taken place—when the nervous system is regulated, and trust in self is restored.

A brain that once scanned for threat can become a brain that scans for opportunity, connection, and meaning.

The RAS doesn’t just protect—it focuses. And once re-trained, it becomes a powerful ally, helping individuals tune in to what truly matters: relationships, purpose, creativity, and safety.

When we begin to trust ourselves again, the brain doesn’t lose its vigilance—it redirects it. The same system that once kept us alive can now help us thrive.

 

#ReconnectAndRegulate

#STAND #ParentsAsProtectors