From Peace of Mind to PTSD Relief – How Yoga Works with Psychology to Improve Life off the Mat
Andrea and Zac chat with yogi-extraordinaire Roxanne Sundahl to explain why yoga is a metaphor for life. Whether you need to unwind, find your mojo, or keep your cool, there’s a practice for that.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a severe condition that can occur following a traumatic event, leading to symptoms like flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety. PTSD doesn’t just affect the mind; it also manifests physically in the form of tension, increased heart rate, and disrupted sleep. Recognizing this mind-body connection can significantly improve PTSD treatment outcomes, with practices like yoga playing a significant role. Further, incorporating therapeutic methods like the Shift Program can enhance this healing journey.
Yoga is a mind-body practice that combines physical postures, breathing exercises, meditation, and ethical principles.
For PTSD sufferers, yoga can help restore a sense of control and ownership over their bodies, often disrupted due to trauma. By focusing on breath control and mindful movement, individuals can reconnect with their bodies, learn to observe their physiological responses without judgment and promote relaxation.
Meanwhile, the Shift Program offers a therapeutic approach targeting the Limiting Beliefs often found in PTSD sufferers. These may include thoughts like “I am not safe” or “The world is a dangerous place.” These beliefs can maintain a state of constant fear and anxiety, intensifying PTSD symptoms. The Shift Program uses a process called Reconditioning via Exposure & Integration (REI), or Reconditioning, to challenge and change these beliefs.
The first step, identification, involves recognizing these Limiting Beliefs.
Trauma can deeply ingrain these beliefs, so this step might require professional assistance. Once identified, these beliefs are confronted in a safe therapeutic environment during the exposure phase. This could involve gradually exposing individuals to situations they perceive as threatening, under controlled circumstances, to challenge the belief that danger is omnipresent.
The integration phase then replaces these Limiting Beliefs with healthier alternatives
For instance, the belief “I am not safe” could be replaced with “I can protect and take care of myself.” Regular practice of these new beliefs helps to integrate them into the individual’s mindset.
When yoga and the Shift Program are combined, they can offer a comprehensive approach to PTSD treatment.
Yoga helps to reconnect the mind and body, providing immediate relief from physical symptoms, while the Shift Program addresses the underlying beliefs fueling PTSD. This dual approach can lead to profound healing and recovery.
In conclusion, the mind-body connection is a vital aspect of PTSD treatment. Practices like yoga can provide immediate relief and foster a healthier relationship with the body, while therapeutic methods like the Shift Program can address the root causes of PTSD. It’s a challenging journey, but with these tools, recovery is possible. No one should navigate PTSD alone, and with practices like yoga and the Shift Program, individuals can reclaim their lives from trauma and cultivate a healthier mind-body connection.