{"id":1287,"date":"2015-06-26T05:52:40","date_gmt":"2015-06-26T12:52:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.tybeeacupuncture.com\/?p=1287"},"modified":"2015-07-01T18:35:24","modified_gmt":"2015-07-02T01:35:24","slug":"ptsd-and-acupuncture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tybeeacupuncture.com\/ptsd-and-acupuncture\/","title":{"rendered":"PTSD and Acupuncture"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.tybeeacupuncture.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/PTSD_soldier_2-e1435321062728.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-1289 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/www.tybeeacupuncture.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/PTSD_soldier_2-e1435321062728.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"175\" \/><\/a>You\u2019ve seen the strained look on his face.\u00a0 He\u2019s far away.\u00a0 He doesn\u2019t sleep well and sits around all day doing nothing.\u00a0 He\u2019s always tired.\u00a0 You\u2019ve invited him to the things he loves doing, but he never feels like doing them anymore.\u00a0 Sometimes he yells a lot\u2014really overreacts.\u00a0 But when you ask him what\u2019s wrong, he denies any problems.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019re happy he is back from Iraq, but you thought it would be different.\u00a0 You thought you could get back to normal.<\/p>\n<p>You thought that having him home safe would make both of you happy again; he\u2019s not at war anymore \u2014 why is he acting this way?<\/p>\n<p>Your loved one may have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>Many veterans suffer from PTSD.\u00a0 The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ptsd.va.gov\/public\/pages\/how-common-is-ptsd.asp\">Veterans Administration<\/a> (VA) reports that as many as 11-20% of veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars have it.\u00a0 Common war traumas include having been shot at, having seen someone shot or having seen death, but another cause of PTSD in veterans is military sexual trauma (MST).\u00a0 According to the VA, 23% of women in the military report sexual assault.<\/p>\n<p>These numbers are scary, but the good news is that there is help.\u00a0 There are even free clinics that provide acupuncture.<\/p>\n<p><b>What is PTSD?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>PTSD is a physiological disorder that can result from being exposed to a traumatic event.\u00a0 The disorder results in several different symptoms.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Re-experiencing<\/span>\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0Some PTSD sufferers relive the traumatic event over and over.\u00a0 This can be in the form of bad memories, nightmares and flashbacks.\u00a0 Sights, sounds and smells can trigger re-experiencing the event.<\/li>\n<li><b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Avoidance<\/span><\/b>\u00a0 Sometimes people with PTSD avoid the people, places and events that remind them of what happened.<\/li>\n<li><b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Numbing<\/span><\/b>\u00a0 Symptoms of numbing include trouble expressing emotions, loss of interest in enjoyable activities, and the loss of memory of parts of the traumatic event.<\/li>\n<li><b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Arousal<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>Anger, irritability, trouble sleeping, trouble concentrating, feeling on guard and being easily startled or surprised are common arousal symptoms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The effects of post-traumatic stress disorder in someone\u2019s life can be far reaching.\u00a0 Feelings of hopelessness, shame and despair, problems at work or with relationships, serious health problems, depression, anxiety and drug or alcohol abuse are not uncommon.<\/p>\n<p><b>How Can I Help my Friend or Relative with PTSD?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>There are many ways you can help your friend or relative with PTSD.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Learn everything you can about PTSD so you have a good idea what your friend is going through.<\/li>\n<li>Offer to go to doctor visits with your friend.\u00a0 Help keep track of medications and therapy.\u00a0 If your friend is learning new techniques to cope with stress, ask if there is any way you can help.<\/li>\n<li>Be available to listen, but be understanding if your friend doesn\u2019t want to talk.\u00a0 Listen with an open heart.\u00a0 Don\u2019t judge, argue or problem-solve.\u00a0 Listen with compassion.<\/li>\n<li>Plan fun activities to get him.\u00a0 Be aware of events or environments that are difficult and plan events to be as stress-free as possible.<\/li>\n<li>Encourage your friend to get support from family and old friends.<\/li>\n<li>Pay attention to any comments about hurting himself and report them to him therapist or doctor.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Sometimes supporting someone with PTSD is challenging.\u00a0 Get support for yourself so you are able to help your loved one.\u00a0 Seek safety and help immediately if your friend or relative becomes violent or threatening.<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><b>PTSD Crisis Resources<\/b><\/p>\n<p>If you or your loved one is in crisis:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Call 911.<\/li>\n<li>Go to your nearest Emergency Room.<\/li>\n<li>Call the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org\">National Suicide Prevention Lifeline<\/a>: 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255).\u00a0 Press \u201c1\u201d if you are a veteran.<\/li>\n<li>Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in Spanish\/Espa\u00f1ol 1-888-628-9454.<\/li>\n<li>Go to the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.veteranscrisisline.net\">Veterans Crisis Line<\/a> website to chat live with a crisis counselor at any time of day or night.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>There are many new treatments available for soldiers and veterans suffering PTSD.\u00a0 The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ptsd.va.gov\/public\/pages\/fslist-ptsd-overview.asp\">Veterans Administration<\/a> has information about some of the therapies that have been most effective.<\/p>\n<p><b>Acupuncture for PTSD<\/b><\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.acuwithoutborders.org\/veteransprogram.php\">Military Stress Recovery Project<\/a> (MSRP) is a unique program that provides free community acupuncture to veterans and active duty soldiers with PTSD and their family members.<\/p>\n<p>MSRP has its roots in helping hurricane victims.\u00a0 In 2005, Diana Fried organized <a href=\"http:\/\/www.acuwithoutborders.org\/\">Acupuncturists Without Borders<\/a> (AWB) to bring free community acupuncture to victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.\u00a0 With the success of this program, Diana decided to use the same techniques to bring trauma relief services to veterans.\u00a0 he created MSRP and the program has since expanded to 27 different clinics.<\/p>\n<p>Treatment in a MSRP clinic is unique for several reasons &#8212; patients are treated in a group setting, sitting in comfortable chairs, in an environment of calm and support. \u00a0The patients are treated using the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.acudetox.com\">National Acupuncture Detoxification Association<\/a> (NADA) protocol, a series of 5 needles placed in one ear. The program is designed to address all the needs of people with PTSD.<\/p>\n<p>The MSRP clinics have been very successful.\u00a0 Patients report stress reduction, improved mental clarity, improved energy, enhanced performance, better sleep, fewer bad dreams and headaches, less anxiety and depression, reduced anger and pain, improved general health and better relationships.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, if your loved one doesn\u2019t have a MSRP clinic nearby, or if he\/she prefers a private environment, you can contact me for an appointment (or a referral to local acupuncturist).<\/p>\n<p><b>What Can You Do to Help Veterans with PTSD?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>If you know someone with PTSD, reach out to them and offer support. \u00a0If you want to help even more, donate money or volunteer at community services for veterans. \u00a0 Many programs offer free services for veterans.<\/p>\n<p>Some places to start:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.acuwithoutborders.org\/donations.php\">Acupuncturists Without Borders<\/a>:\u00a0 Support MSRP clinics.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.acudetox.com\/nada-advocacy\">National Acupuncture Detoxification Association Advocacy<\/a>:\u00a0 Help to create community clinics near you.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Thank you to the soldiers and veterans who have served our country so bravely.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.tybeeacupuncture.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/PTSD_soldier_2-e1435321062728.jpg\"><\/a>You\u2019ve seen the strained look on his face.\u00a0 He\u2019s far away.\u00a0 He doesn\u2019t sleep well and sits around all day doing nothing.\u00a0 He\u2019s always tired.\u00a0 You\u2019ve invited him to the things he loves doing, but he never feels like doing them anymore.\u00a0 Sometimes he yells a lot\u2014really overreacts.\u00a0 But when you ask him what\u2019s wrong, he denies any problems.<\/p>\n<p> <a class=\"readMore\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tybeeacupuncture.com\/ptsd-and-acupuncture\/\">Continue reading <i class=\"fas fa-arrow-circle-right\"><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":1289,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[122,153],"tags":[113,142],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>PTSD and Acupuncture &raquo; 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