I have seen the video of David George and his mother Julia now many times (you can view below)—it never fails to move me. And no wonder. A courageous young person travels abroad to serve his country, is shaken and bombarded by the horrors of war, and returns home a changed person. By day, his mind is tormented daily by intolerable memories and flashbacks, which he may self-medicate with alcohol and risk-taking activities. By night, his sleep is disrupted by nightmares from which he may wake, . . . as though back on the battlefield.
Watch 5 minute video:
Mother of Iraq war vet says Transcendental Meditation saved her son's life
What happens in PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) is that the fight-or-flight response system is on overdrive, as though a person is still in the war zone, even after he or she is safely home.
David George was one of 5 veterans with PTSD whom we treated with Transcendental Meditation. Awful as his story was, it was not exceptional. Each young person told a tale that was, in its own way, as harrowing and heart-wrenching as David's. And each had a family who stood by helplessly watching.
How common is PTSD among our returning veterans? Estimates vary, according to a National Center for PTSD report, but 10% is a fair average—perhaps as many as 200,000 souls. Imagine the ordeal of David and Julia multiplied 200,000 over and you begin to get a sense of the scope of the medical problem and the human tragedy.
What evidence is there that Transcendental Meditation can help PTSD?
Global Good News will continue to feature Dr Rosenthal's post, in which he goes on to discuss studies showing beneficial effects of Transcendental Meditation on combat-related PTSD, and the need to 'act without delay' to make use of this program which has shown such promising results.
For the good news about Maharishi's seven-point programme to create a healthy, happy, prosperous society, and a peaceful world, please visit: Global Financial Capital of New York.
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