Yoga, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and the Mind-Body

“I don’t want to remember, but I can’t seem to forget.” PTSD sufferer

YOGA AND PTSD: Learn techniques to quiet the “inner storm” through yoga postures, guided imagery, affirmations, relaxation techniques, breathing exercises and meditation.

UPCOMING WORKSHOP: The next workshop on Yoga and PTSD with Lucy will be August 26th for yoga teachers, 2-5pm at Kripalu Center in Lenox, Mass. Read more.

WHAT IS PTSD?  PTSD means: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

DEEP EMOTIONAL WOUNDS

BEING EXPOSED TO A TRAUMATIC EVENT

TRAUMATIC EVENTS CAN BE DESCRIBED AS:
1. Man-made, deliberate, malicious
• War
• Abuse
• Rape
• Riots
• Kidnapping
• Torture
• And more…

2. Accidents, Technological disasters

3. Acts of Nature (natural disasters)

War: During World War II, PTSD was known as “battle fatigue”. Before that, it was called “Shell Shock”, in Civil War times, “Soldier’s Heart” Now we call it, “Post Traumatic Stress Disorder”. Read more about yoga for veterans.

WHAT ARE SYMPTOMS OF PTSD?

• Anger
• Anxiety
• Chronic pain
• Compulsions
• Confusion
• Crisis
• Delusions
• Denial
• Dependence
• Depression
• Grief
• Guilt
• Loneliness
• Negative self-concept
• Obesity
• Obsessions
• Passive Aggressive behavior
• Phobias
• Rape Trauma Syndrome
• Sleep disorders
• Substance Abuse
• Suicidal Behavior or Ideation
• Suspiciousness/Paranoia
• Withdrawn Behavior

PEOPLE WITH PTSD

People with PTSD want to avoid revisiting the trauma, so they may avoid people, activities, places and things. Some may become housebound, turn to drugs, alcohol, live in a fantasy world, trying to pretend nothing bad happened. They may feel disconnected from family and friends and even disconnected from his/her future. Said one with PTSD, ”I can’t get past the past, so how can I think of the future?” But, one cannot numb painful memories without also numbing joyful ones. One must suppress all feelings in order to numb painful feelings.

WHY YOGA FOR PEOPLE SUFFERING WITH PTSD?

“Yoga is therapeutic, because it isn’t therapy. There is no analyzing, no talking, no remembering.” Mark-PTSD survivor

“There is turmoil inside, we don’t know Self. We are trying to find ourselves again, and I can sense that through yoga.” Paul-PTSD survivor

• Yoga begins with the question, “What is right with me?” not “What is wrong with me?”

• Yoga helps us recognize and make peace with our feelings.

• For example: Soldiers in battle are in a constant state of “flight or fight”. When they return home that fight or flight response does not turn off, making the transition to normal life difficult. Yoga retrains the mind-body connection.

• The key to recovery is evoking the relaxation response, the body’s antidote to the stress response. According to Dr. Herb Benson, founder of Harvard’s Mind Body Medical Institute, the relaxation response causes the release of neurochemicals in the body, creating a soothing effect. Yoga is one of the activities that evoke the relaxation response.

• Yoga gives them the tools to lower anxiety thresholds, increase anger management skills, and increase the ability to self-calm.

• A regular yoga practice helps alleviate symptoms, which include anger, anxiety, depression, guilt and paranoia.

• Yoga helps gently unlock rigidly held memory material in ways that normal talk therapy might not. The feelings may be too complex for words or the person may be too self-conscious and find it difficult to talk directly about their feelings.

• Yoga puts us in touch with who we really are. The part of us beyond the body, and the intellect. Yoga taps into our own healing program.

• Yoga relaxes and strengthens the body.

• Yoga helps release emotional issues. It puts us in touch with our emotional body. It allows us to safely expresses stored emotions such as guilt, shame, anger, sadness and grief so we can better understand and integrate those feelings.

• Better body awareness

• Our lives feel better balanced

• Through yoga, the body becomes associated with pleasant sensations

• Through yoga movements, a person can unfreeze the bad memory and create a new bodily memory. For example: A combat veteran might recreate a desired response now that there is less danger and fear.

• Specific yoga postures can be used for nurturing and comfort.

• Feelings of joy and personal empowerment

• The mind becomes clearer and more open

• Acceptance of the self

• Hatha Yoga raises endorphin levels, improving mood and lessening pain.