Two people can live through the exact experience and the psychological results can be widely different.

PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder) is not only reserved for the realm of military combat. Anyone experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event can develop PTSD. Recent studies show that transcendental meditation is effective in reducing symptoms associated with PTSD.

PTSD Symptoms

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd-and-complex-ptsd/symptoms/. Vivid flashbacks, as if a person were living a traumatic experience again, can cause panic, anger, rapid heartbeat, hypervigilance, insomnia, irritability, and aggressive behavior. Additionally, some people are easily startled and have difficulty concentrating. Most of us have heard the story of a veteran showing intense attention with a car backfire. The sound from the car is close enough to gunfire to trigger an anxiety attack.

The experience, the nightmare of the trauma, arises randomly. Physical sensations of pain, sweating, nausea, and more are expected. Reminders of the previous shock can appear instantly.

Transcendental Meditation (TM)

https://tmhome.com/transcendental-meditation/. I remember hearing about transcendental meditation for the first time when the Beatles were learning TM with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. TM is a simple way to calm your mind. Two twenty-minute sessions daily are recommended. TM is not traditionally mantra-based meditation, but it does use mantras.

It can be expensive to hire a trainer or attend classes. TM has had excellent success reducing blood pressure, mending the immune system, changing eating habits, improving sleep, managing stress, and more. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNfenCYWGRQ is a YouTube link to learn the basics.
TM and PTSD

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/could-transcendental-meditation-treat-ptsd. Success was observed with veterans employing TM to address PTSD symptoms. While traditional therapies focus on the trauma, TM focuses peripherally on the traumatic event and works to relax the mind and body.

Results expected can be sleep improvement, drama and depression reduction, and anxiety levels returning to near normal.

TM Study Results

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jts.22665 and https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lanpsy/PIIS2215-0366(18)30384-5.pdf provide study results. PTSD patients did not have to dwell on their disorder’s causes and facilitated faster healing responses.

Northwell Health used a twelve-week randomized trial with 40 veterans divided into two groups. One group did TM while the other group used conventional therapy. Fifty percent of the TM group veterans were evaluated at the end of the study as no longer meeting the clinical requirements for PTSD. The traditional group recorded a ten percent improvement in the reduction/elimination of PTSD symptoms.

Conclusion

Psychological problems are challenging to address. Many factors are contributing to the complexity of the solution. Sometimes, prescription medications are part of the cause. Even foods can inflame the brain and interject a degree of difficulty. Some people have exceptionally tough times addressing a specific traumatic event. TM appears to mitigate that aspect of treatment.

Live Longer & Enjoy Life! – Red O’Laughlin – RedOLaughlin.com

 

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