Meditation Improves PTSD Symptoms

​PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) is a normal response to an abnormal circumstance.  PTSD occurs during a situation that drastically alters life experience and effects a very subtle part of the brain, the amygdala.  It turns the amygdala on to high alert, which is a signal to your system that it needs to remain in high alert, it must determine at all times if it is in danger, or if there is a threat, and finds it difficult to trust anything or anyone.  Another way to say it, is that fear is in high gear and it won’t shut off.

In a practice such as Ishayas’ Ascension, the relaxation response is invoked which down-regulates the amygdala very quickly. It gives one a simple way to redirect the mind when one is caught in a loop, helps to bring awareness to what you’re actually experiencing in the present moment without judgment and helps you be aware of your emotions, again without judgement.  All of these skills are helpful in dealing with PTSD symptoms.

PTSD effects anyone who has experienced trauma, so this includes vets as well as women who have been assaulted.  In the USA, it is believed that 10% of women and 5% of men will have PTSD during their lifetime. It is believed that 24 million people may experience PTSD symptoms each year.

In a study of 18 vets, half assigned randomly to psychotherapy and half assigned to learn meditation, the meditators not only reduced their symptoms of stress, but experienced 84% less alcohol use, 37% improvement in insomnia, 54% less depression, and 56% less emotional numbness.  Whereas the therapy group experienced 4% drop in depression, 7% drop in emotional numbness, their insomnia became worse!

In a 2013 study of war refugees who were homeless, jobless, and with an unknown future, were tested 5 times, 3 times prior to learning to meditate and twice following.  The 3 times prior to learning, their symptoms were increasing.  Following learning, their symptoms decreased significantly, but 30 days following learning, 90% of the participants were asymptomatic.  That is quite an amazing result.

Since body awareness and numbness is one of the symptoms, yoga has also been evaluated and shown to be an effective adjunct treatment for those with PTSD.

Another recent study on Meditation in prison aimed at those who experienced trauma, showed a reduction by almost one half in anxiety, depression, dissociation, sleep-disturbance, and stress over 4 months of regular practice.

In a practice such as Ishayas’ Ascension, the relaxation response is invoked which down-regulates the amygdala very quickly. It gives one a simple way to redirect the mind when one is caught in a loop, helps to bring awareness to what you’re actually experiencing in the present moment without judgment and helps you be aware of your emotions, again without judgement.  All of these skills are helpful in dealing with PTSD symptoms on a long term basis.