09 Aug Mindfulness-Based Therapy Useful in Treating PTSD
23% of veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq are affected by Posttrauamtic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD can seriously impact quality of life, cause disability and other psychological disorders. Researchers have been working to determine the most effective therapies for PTSD in veterans, and a recent study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association has found mindfulness-based therapy results in greater improvement in self-reported PTSD symptoms.
In the treatment of PTSD, mindfulness-based therapy provides stress and anxiety relief by teaching people to be present in the moment in an accepting and non-judgmental way. Accepting thoughts and feelings as they occur without avoiding them, invalidating them or judging yourself for them targets PTSD where it operates. PTSD develops as a result of avoiding addressing powerful feelings that trigger a number of distressing psychological symptoms. For veterans who don’t respond well to existing treatments for PTSD, mindfulness-based therapy may be a good option.
Learn more about how the study was conducted and its findings at ScienceDaily. For additional information on PTSD in veterans, visit the National Center for PTSD, from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.