Kendra Beckenhauer

Complementary and Alternative Methods To Treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

The topic that I have researched is whether complementary and alternative methods

(CAM) for treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are effective for veterans returning

from combat. PTSD occurs when someone experiences a traumatic event such as a car accident

or active duty in combat. The individual then faces multiple side effects-both mental and

physical. Currently, the majority of veterans afflicted with PTSD turn to prescription drugs as a

treatment and sometimes end up abusing them. An alternative to this is the use of CAM. Some

CAM are relaxation and meditation, yoga, and acupuncture. It is important for patients,

specifically veterans, to know about alternative methods because they provide non-addictive

treatment. There is also a decreased risk of suicide when using CAM versus prescription drugs.

Alternative methods like meditation and yoga are ideal when treating the mental side effects of

PTSD, and acupuncture is great for treating the physical pain that often manifests as a result of

the disorder. This topic interests me because I have multiple family members actively serving. I

also have some that have previously served and spent time in combat. I wouldnt want my

cousins to only have prescription drugs as an option for treating the problems that PTSD gives,

and I would hate even more for one of them to end up either abusing them or committing suicide.

The thought of that in unbearable, and I dont want anyone else to lose a loved one to PTSD and

prescription drug abuse. I believe that CAM should become standard procedures when treating

PTSD, and hope to see it become a reality.

PTSD most often manifests itself after an individual experiences something that is either

a traumatic or distressing event. Some examples of events that can cause PTSD are automobile
accidents, physical or mental abuse, surviving a natural disaster or terrorist attack, being a

participant in active combat, as well as numerous other devastating incidents. When PTSD

occurs there are several symptoms that accompany the disorder. There are four categories that

make up the symptoms of PTSD. They include re-experiencing symptoms, avoiding situations

that remind the person affected of the event, changes in beliefs and feelings, and hyperarousal.

When re-experiencing occurs it may come in the form of nightmares, flashbacks where the one

afflicted feels as if they are reliving the event, or there may be things such as sounds or smells

that trigger a flashback. Triggers can also appear in the form of news reports or witnessing an

accident. The second of the four major symptoms is avoiding situations that could lead to

flashbacks. Examples of situations that are commonly avoided are large crowds, driving, media

such as movies that may contain scenes similar to the event, and avoiding help because it would

force the individual to confront and talk about the event that caused PTSD. Changes in the

patients beliefs and feelings are also common symptoms of the disorder. As a result of the

trauma that was experienced the person affected will view themselves and others differently.

This usually involves negative feelings towards others, and avoiding relationships altogether.

Pieces of the event may be lost from memory, or the individual may not have the ability to talk

about the trauma that they underwent. The negative thoughts that one feels towards others can

lead to them not trusting people, and believing that the world is dangerous. The last symptom

that someone with PTSD will most likely experience is hyperarousal. Hyperarousal -often

described as feeling keyed up- may lead to feeling jittery, being hyperalert, as well as irritable

or easily angry. Hyperarousal can make it difficult to sleep, concentrate, or lead to the individual

being easily startled. The symptoms discussed make it difficult for someone with PTSD to live a
normal life. PTSD puts someone at a higher risk for numerous health problems. Some of these

are diabetes, obesity, heart problems, and respiratory issues. The physical affects of this disorder

alone can make it nearly impossible to lead a fulfilling life. The mental effects prevent the

individual from experiencing a successful social life. PTSD increases the chance of having

unsuccessful relationships. Partners of people with the condition may be faced with a number

of stressors that go along with caring for and living with someone with a chronic disease. These

stressors include financial strain, managing the person's symptoms, dealing with crises, loss of

friends or loss of intimacy. (Tull, 2016, para. # 12 ) It is important for anyone dealing with

PTSD to seek out professional help so that the majority of these symptoms can become

manageable.

PTSD has the most effect on an individual psychologically. Numerous studies have

concluded that a person living with PTSD has a higher chance of developing mental health

disorders. Some of these include anxiety disorders, depression, eating disorders, and substance

abuse. There are multiple anxiety disorders that can be developed due to PTSD. Acute stress

disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder (which can also be accompanied by

agoraphobia), generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and other

specific phobias are a few of the psychiatric disorders that someone can develop. Panic disorder

is one of the most common anxiety disorders that co-occur with PTSD. Panic attacks are the

most obvious sign of panic disorder. The DSM-IV describes a panic attack as the experience of

intense fear or discomfort where four or more of the following things are felt: pounding heart or

increased heart rate, sweating, trembling or shaking, feeling as though you are being smothered

or having difficulties breathing, choking, chest pain or discomfort, nausea or abdominal pains
and/or discomfort, feeling dizzy, lightheaded, or faint, feeling as though things around you are

unreal or feeling detached from yourself, feeling as though you are going to lose control or go

crazy, fear of dying, numbness or tingling in extremities, chills or hot flashes. (Tull, 2016, para.

# 3) It has been determined that 7% of men and 13% of women who have PTSD also have panic

disorder. PTSD can also make it difficult for someone to feel as if they relate to others. This can

lead to the development of social anxiety disorder. Through studies, it has been found that

anywhere from 4% to 22% of people with PTSD also have OCD. The initial side effects of

PTSD can lead to the individual feeling out-of-control. The behaviors that are associated with

OCD can help make them feel more in control of their life, but eventually lead to even more

stress and anxiety. Based on previous research done on veteran returning from active combat in

places like Afghanistan and Iraq it is estimated that 10% to 18% of troops are likely to have

PTSD upon returning. It is estimated that anywhere from 3% to 25% of veterans also deal with

depression after experiencing active combat. There is also a higher use of tobacco and excessive

drinking. It has also been determined that PTSD doesnt often appear in veterans until many

months have passed since returning from active duty.

Along with the multiple mental health disorders that PTSD can cause, there are many

physical health issues that this disorder also contributes to. After researching what the effects are,

it became clear that PTSD causes much more than physical pain. Some of these are heart

problems, respiratory issues, diabetes, and obesity. PTSD has been known to increase the chance

of cardiovascular diseases like heart attack and stroke, but why? The authors found evidence

that PTSD leads to overactive nerve activity, dysfunctional immune response and activation of
the hormone system that controls blood pressure (the renin-angiotensin system). (American

Physiological Society (APS), 2010, para. # 1)

Along with the risk of heart disease there is a higher risk of diabetes and obesity.

Multiple studies have found that there is an increased risk of people with PTSD developing type

2 diabetes within a three - nine year period. However, the less severe the disorder the less of a

chance there is or developing diabetes. Studies have also investigated if there is a link between

PTSD and obesity. A study done by between 1989 and 2005 found what seemed to be a positive

association. We then examined the odds of becoming overweight or obese among women who

were normal weight at baseline and experienced trauma/ PTSD symptoms between 1989 and

2005. Women with 1 to 3 and 4+ PTSD symptoms had 18% (OR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.041.33) and

36% (OR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.191.56), respectively, increased odds of becoming overweight or

obese in adjusted models compared to women with trauma-only. (Kubzansky, Bordelois, Jin

Jun, Roberts, Cerda, Bluestone, Koenen, 2014, para. # 24) Due to the amount of symptoms

associated with PTSD, and the mental and physical issues that stem from this disorder it is

essential that a reliable treatment is available.

Possible treatments for PTSD are CAM. These include meditation, yoga, and

acupuncture. In recent years evidence has been gathered and provided to illustrate the

effectiveness of meditation on reducing the symptoms of PTSD. Research has shown that a

process called mindful meditation has a positive impact on the changes of brain structure and

function that may account for the decrease of PTSD symptoms. Meditation has also been shown

to help individuals dealing with the disorder confront the memories associated with the

experience. Acupuncture has become practised more recently in veteran hospitals to treat
physical pain. This is a great alternative to prescription painkillers, due to the non-addictive

nature of this treatment. Yoga also shows signs of being beneficial for individuals living with

PTSD. These methods should become standard practise in every facility that deals with trauma

patients, because of the natural and non-addictive benefits. The process of facing the traumatic

event and overcoming the experience is much healthier long-term compared to prescription

drugs.

In preparation for this paper I read multiple research studies regarding CAM and its

benefits for people with PTSD, whether PTSD increases the chance of developing cardiovascular

diseases, and if whether the disorder is related to the development of obesity later in life. All

three of these studies were well thought out and the topics were researched before beginning the

experiment. Each studys sampling size varied, depending on the research topic. Although it

wasnt consistently sized for all of the studies I believe that the sampling size was appropriate.

All of the studies had a well designed plan that included a control group that did not have PTSD,

numerous trials for research taken over the course of either several months or years, and

contained more than one variable. I agree with the results of these studies, because the data

collected doesnt contradict their analysis and the evidence supports my research topic. If I

could change anything about these research studies I would have broken them down further and

investigated if the factors for cardiovascular diseases are higher in women with PTSD than men,

or vice versa. I also wouldve liked to further investigate other alternative methods to treating

PTSD.

In conclusion, I believe that PTSD is an important issue to be discussed within and

outside the military. This disorder and the treatment of it should be a main priority for veteran
returning from active combat. There should be follow up screenings and a treatment plan based

around CAM. The use of prescription drugs as a primary treatment for PTSD is causing a large

amount of damage primarily for veteran, and needs to be reduced dramatically. I hope to see

CAM become the primary treatment plan for PTSD within hospitals and other facilities in the

near future. I hope for this not just because a non-addictive treatment is better than an addictive

one, but also because my own family members could potentially be in need of it. I will continue

to be interested in this topic, and plan to further researching it. I will continue supporting the

research of CAM on the symptoms of PTSD, and if needed I will gladly advocate for it.
Additional works cited:

Mental Health Effects of Serving in Afghanistan and Iraq (2015, August 13). Retrieved from

http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/PTSD-overview/reintegration/overview-mental-health-effects.asp
Tull, M. (2016, August 5). PTSD and Anxiety Disorders. Retrieved from

https://www.verywell.com/ptsd-and-anxiety-disorders-2797532

Symptoms of PTSD (2015, August 13). Retrieved from

http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/PTSD-overview/basics/symptoms_of_ptsd.asp

Tull, M. (2016, March 1). The Effects of PTSD On A Persons Everyday Life. Retrieved from

https://www.verywell.com/how-does-ptsd-affect-daily-life-2797536

Brudey, Park, Wiaderkiewicz, Kobayashi, Mellman, Marvar. (2010, August 15) Autonomic

and Inflammatory Consequences of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and the Link to

Cardiovascular Disease. Retrieved from http://ajpregu.physiology.org/content/309/4/R315

Kubzansky, Bordelois, Jin Jun, Roberts, Cerda, Bluestone, Koenen. (2014, January) The Weight

of Traumatic Stress: A Prospective Study of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms and

Weight Status in Women. Retrieved from

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4091890/