Have you heard more retired combat veterans suffer from a PTSD problem? It’s something that’s regularly linked to veterans and military personnel. However, it’s crucial to keep in mind our veterans aren’t the only ones who suffer from PTSD. Thousands fight with PTSD every day and have their own unique story. More than likely, each individual and their loved ones have chosen a comfortable therapy.
There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to treating depression or anxiety. There’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to treating PTSD.
Both these conditions are categorized as “mental health ailments.” But make no mistake: PTSD is not the same as depression or anxiety. Do you know the distinction between the two? This blog is written for those who suffer from PTSD, whether combat veterans, active military, or the parents who lost their child in a traumatic event. I will define exactly what PTSD is. You’ll read the statistics on this disorder so you can fully grasp how problematic a disorder it is.
Defining The PTSD Problem
Generalizing thousands of patients who all suffer from the same ailment is an ineffective approach. It seems we put it on veterans like a badge. Yet, we ignore the fact there are numerous individuals who struggle with this disorder. We take the tag of PTSD and we automatically connect it to those who have come home from Iraq and Afghanistan. This may be true; certainly, PTSD cases have increased since the war began.
What Exactly Is This Disorder?
PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder is a psychiatric disorder that can take place in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a serious accident, a terrorist act, war/combat, and/or rape.
You may have heard terms like “shell-shocked”, often referring to those who have been to war. Here are some statistics regarding PTSD. They pertain to how PTSD has touched our retired combat veterans and active military.
- 1 out of 3 combat veterans returning home has been diagnosed with PTSD
- Those who seek help account for about 40{b91d9daa4ecb925a4d66f4a18ad6d9aae920791e62411a070901cef80c7f8e58} or fewer veterans/soldiers.
- 245 soldiers ended their own lives back in 2009.
These numbers are disturbing. Yet, it’s not enough to boost awareness among family members of combat veterans. It’s often too late for the friends and family to realize what it is happening. How common is this? The last numbers reported, showed on average 22 soldiers per day taking their lives.
PEMF For PTSD: A Better Option
There must be a better way to deal with PTSD before any more lives are lost. There are many reasons that veterans and active military face such challenges as homelessness and difficulty in finding work. Suicide rates topping the number of combat fatalities is an even bigger issue than imagined. Furthermore, the barrage of medications dispensed and meetings with mental health professionals isn’t effective.
Could PEMF therapy be the solution that these victims need? Let’s look at PEMF therapy and how it affects the brain. Traumatic brain injury, also known as TBI, is a common injury among combat veterans. Football players and those in high-risk jobs with heavy equipment are also at risk.
Events like car accidents may also cause traumatic brain injury, often through severe concussions. While this medical condition is complex, the process by which the symptoms of TBI are reduced, shed light on how effective PEMF therapy could be for PTSD. There are two actions to consider and review. They are:
- PEMF therapy has been able to reduce depression.
- A reduction of symptoms of TBI.
How PEMF Therapy Can Impact PTSD
If we look at how these processes occur in the brain, and how PEMF therapy can reduce symptoms of both, we can see how PEMF therapy may heal PTSD.
PEMF therapy is often referred to as “gentle pulses.” In order to truly understand the impact PEMF can have on the brain, you must understand how this therapy works on the inside.
During a PEMF therapy session, little microcurrents flow through the body, and research has shown that specific currents at various frequencies and intensities will elicit a particular response. This is great news for those who are seeking a more natural alternative. The body already has electromagnetic fields of its own, all reacting differently in various organs and tissues.
PEMF: Gentle Pulses
This is why modern medical imaging is possible and can give us clues into what may be happening inside the body. CT scan machines and MRI machines both have the ability to take images of the body. Your body works cooperatively due to the trace amounts of magnetite in the body, allowing the electromagnetic fields used in these medical devices to help us help those who are sick or injured. This is why stimulation to the brain can aid in awakening cells where “cell death” has occurred. This is true for those who have had strokes, seizures and many other forms of injuries. There are numerous benefits of PEMF therapy that can aid in reducing the severity and symptoms of PTSD.
Improved Sleep
Those who suffer from PTSD often lack a sound, restorative sleep. Books like “Once a Warrior Always a Warrior”, by Charles Hodge, mention that sleep is one thing many combat veterans lack. The traumatic events they have encountered prevent sleep and may lead to alcoholism. A small drink helps them fall asleep. Yet, staying asleep is still a big obstacle. This can be a vicious cycle during their transition to civilian life. The relaxation that a low frequency can bring in the evening may be enough to help fall and stay asleep.
Sleep Cycle Correction
Falling asleep and staying asleep is one issue. Another issue may be falling asleep at night and awakening when the sun is rising. This is known as the circadian rhythm. This may be a troublesome challenge for those combat veterans that have lost their eyesight. The ability to see night and day play an important role in the senses. Now, more medications are on the market to aid in helping to correct this rhythm. PEMF therapy has been proven to aid in correcting this circadian rhythm. Why not use this natural therapy first if there are little to no side effects?
Renewed Energy and Sense of Well-Being
Another natural benefit of PEMF therapy is renewed energy. It isn’t always easy to feel “awake” upon waking. Those who struggle with falling asleep and staying asleep will feel tired. As the cycle gets corrected, and renewed energy is felt in the morning, an individual will have an enhanced sense of well-being. Also, they’ll enjoy a sense of accomplishment. This will aid in reducing anxiety and depression.
There are many benefits of PEMF therapy. Pinpointing just one that may reduce the symptoms of PTSD is difficult. Research is continually coming to light as individuals are diagnosed with PTSD. No doubt a link exists between the brain’s functions and the impact PEMF therapy can have on people with PTSD. Based on the research we know regarding the brain, the nerves, and brain cells, there is hope.
In 2001, Pelka, Jaenicke, and Gruenwald did a double-blind study, treating patients who suffered from insomnia with PEMF therapy. 70{b91d9daa4ecb925a4d66f4a18ad6d9aae920791e62411a070901cef80c7f8e58} of them reported their insomnia was completely gone. 24{b91d9daa4ecb925a4d66f4a18ad6d9aae920791e62411a070901cef80c7f8e58} of them experienced major improvement. The remaining 6{b91d9daa4ecb925a4d66f4a18ad6d9aae920791e62411a070901cef80c7f8e58} said they experienced a small but significant improvement. In other words, 9 out of 10 patients who suffered from insomnia said they experienced major improvement via PEMF therapy. Some even stated their insomnia had ceased as a result of receiving PEMF therapy.
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