Are you struggling with PTSD? And if so, is it negatively impacting your overall well-being, relationships, or other areas that affect your quality of life? In this blog post, I’ll share some tips for living with PTSD after the military.
Anyone living with PTSD knows how difficult and challenging life can be sometimes. Once you get it, your life is never the same. The good news is that more ways of treating it are being discovered and explored.
While there isn’t a definitive cure for PTSD, there are numerous treatment options available to help you take back control of your life. But everyone’s different and suffers from varying levels of severity. So what works for one individual might not do anything for someone else.
That’s why it’s important to try different things and not give up when one method doesn’t seem to be working. On the other hand, there are also some unhealthy coping mechanisms that should be avoided. We have a lot to cover here. So without further ado, let’s dive in!
The Progression of PTSD Over the Years
PTSD isn’t a new phenomenon and has been around since ancient times. It’s been called different things throughout history, based on the understanding of it during different time periods.
For example, it was referred to as “soldier’s heart” in the Civil War era and “shell shock” during World War I. But it wasn’t until the 1980’s that it really came into the limelight after being identified as a mental disorder by the American Psychiatric Association.
More recently, public awareness of it quickly grew again during Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), when returning service members were getting diagnosed with it in large numbers.
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, about 11–20% of veterans who served in OEF or OIF have PTSD in a given year.
My Experience With PTSD
Some Early Warning Signs
It was inevitable that I would end up getting PTSD after serving a 13-month combat tour in Iraq. When I returned home from the military, I struggled with a lot of things initially and faced numerous challenges.
And while getting re-adjusted to civilian life, myself and others close to me began noticing some changes in my behavior.
One of the first things I noticed was how hypervigilant I was. For example, I overreacted when a car backfired in the parking lot at the grocery store. Any sudden noise startled me. I also noticed that I couldn’t stand being in environments with lots of people around.
I remember the first time I went to the state fair with a family member after returning home. For some reason, I couldn’t stand being around large crowds of people and felt uncomfortable. It was bothering me so much that we eventually had to leave.
Another noticeable thing was how easily I became irritated and angry about things. This became most apparent while driving. I was also ignoring traffic signs and dodging debris in the road by swerving in and out of lanes. Eventually, I realized this was all linked to Iraq.
I primarily spent my time in Iraq doing convoy security missions. This consisted of escorting civilian and military convoys delivering supplies from point A to point B. And it was our job to ensure they made it to their destination in one piece.
One little mistake could make all the difference between life and death. It eventually became obvious that this mentality and all that survival training never left me when I came home.
Coping With PTSD
I was in denial about all of this for a few years after coming home. But eventually, I acknowledged that something was different about me. It wasn’t easy. But thankfully, I listened to feedback from family and friends and eventually sought help at the VA.
The VA prescribed me antidepressant medication that was supposed to help. Unfortunately, one of the side effects was something that I wasn’t willing to tolerate long-term.
I’ve become very health-conscious over time, and I’m really big on health and fitness. I’m a strong proponent of natural medicine and holistic approaches to treating health issues, whenever possible. This is due to a health scare I had awhile back.
I’ll go into that more in a future blog post. But my point is that I’m all about going natural whenever possible. So when the prescription antidepressant medication wasn’t working out, I decided to explore some alternatives.
I’ve tried numerous things over the years. Through a lot of trial and error, I eventually discovered what works best for me. But it wasn’t smooth sailing by any means.
I often used alcohol as a coping mechanism when things got tough. That just made things worse and led to other problems.
Thankfully, I’ve got that under control now and found healthy alternatives. And many of my early PTSD symptoms eventually went away or became more manageable.
PTSD Remedies
The following are five less common remedies that are either being explored or are currently being used to treat PTSD.
Some of them are things that have benefited me personally. Others are just things I came across while researching PTSD remedies online that I think are worth looking into.
1. Cannabis Products
Cannabis products come from the marijuana or hemp plant. Marijuana naturally contains more THC compared to hemp, which has less than 0.3%.
THC is the chemical responsible for creating the psychological effects, or “high” that people experience when using it. And while THC can help some veterans with PTSD, too much of it can have the opposite effect.
What many people aren’t aware of is something called delta-8 THC. There are multiple types of THC that exist in cannabis plants. Delta-9 THC is the dominant form of THC found in marijuana. It’s also found in small amounts in hemp.
The lesser-known delta-8 THC is found in small amounts in both plants. However, it can be added in potent amounts by using a unique extraction process. And thanks to a loophole in the 2018 Farm Bill, it’s legal at the federal level when extracted from hemp.
There are a few unique things about delta-8 THC that make it a viable option for some people. It’s a lot less potent than marijuana. But it still gives you many of its benefits and effects without causing disorientation or loss of focus.
In fact, it’s been known to help increase focus and productivity! Think of delta-8 THC as somewhere in the middle between CBD and marijuana.
Just be aware that you’ll fail a drug test since they don’t distinguish between delta-8 and delta-9 THC. And while it’s federally legal at the time of this writing, it’s still illegal in some states. So this might not be an option for some veterans.
But before ruling out cannabis as a possible treatment for PTSD, consider the benefits of some of its other ingredients. Popular options include CBD and CBN. Both offer amazing benefits and are non-psychoactive.
2. Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a component of Chinese medicine that has been used to treat numerous health issues for thousands of years. Needles are inserted through the skin into various areas of the body.
Chinese medicine theorizes that everyone has a life force of energy, called chi. Chi flows through the body via multiple different pathways, called meridians.
The goal and intent of acupuncture are to rebalance the flow of chi throughout the body by targeting these meridians. Doing so helps alleviate certain health symptoms.
To treat PTSD, acupuncture targets specific points that control areas of the brain responsible for regulating nervous function. This helps alleviate some PTSD symptoms and reduce things like stress and anxiety.
It’s interesting that while western medicine primarily treats symptoms, Chinese medicine’s goal is treating the disease or ailment itself!
Not enough data exists yet to prove acupuncture’s effectiveness for treating PTSD. But there’s definitely some promising research showing positive results.
Another thing to consider is that some insurance plans won’t cover alternative medicine treatments, like acupuncture. But the good news for veterans is the VA has approved it as a treatment option. So it’s definitely an option worth considering.
3. Yoga and Meditation
Relaxation is important for overall health and stress reduction. Some of its benefits include promoting emotional well-being and lowering blood pressure. So there’s little doubt that it plays a big role in managing various PTSD symptoms.
But what about those who have difficulty relaxing naturally? That’s where activities like yoga and meditation come in handy!
Meditation is a mind-body practice involving various techniques that’ve been used around the world since ancient times. It alters the consciousness in ways that ultimately allow one to find inner peace.
It also has numerous health benefits for psychological well-being, such as stress reduction and memory improvement.
Recent studies even suggest it can reduce PTSD symptoms in wartime veterans by reducing stress hormones in the body! Just be cautious because some types of meditation can exacerbate symptoms of mental health conditions like trauma.
Yoga is an ancient discipline originating in India. It consists of various postures and other types of physical exercise, breathing techniques, and meditation.
The ultimate goal of yoga is to help improve physical and mental well-being. It helps with things like mood, balance, flexibility, relaxation, and much more.
There are many different types of yoga, each with a unique focus. For veterans suffering from PTSD, trauma-sensitive yoga is worth looking into. It takes a slightly different approach by being less hands-on with adjustments and encouraging more gentle movements.
Some studies have also shown that trauma-sensitive yoga significantly helps reduce PTSD symptoms in veterans.
4. Martial Arts
For those who prefer a more aggressive approach to alleviating PTSD, consider a contact sport or discipline, like martial arts!
When I say “martial arts” here, I’m not just referring to traditional styles like Karate or Kung Fu. It could be something like MMA, boxing, or any other number of disciplines out there.
Martial arts have been a big part of my life. I’ve trained in various styles over the years and I’m currently training in boxing. I really love it and am passionate about it! It’s an amazing workout and is very practical and effective for self-defense.
What’s interesting is that I’ve noticed that all of the styles I’ve personally experienced have one thing in common. No matter how bad of a day I’ve had, I always feel like a million bucks when I leave that gym or dojo!
5. Living a Healthy Lifestyle
Okay, so you’re probably thinking this last one is either obvious or that it shouldn’t be considered a PTSD remedy. But the truth is that none of these should be considered treatments by themselves.
A combination of different things is the best approach for most people. With that being said, let’s briefly discuss how a healthy lifestyle can help you be at your best. I believe that a healthy lifestyle consists of multiple things, including, but not limited to, the following:
- Health
- Fitness
- Nutrition
- Adequate Sleep
It’s important to start somewhere, even if it’s small! Making little changes here and there will create better habits and a healthier lifestyle over time. Let me give you an example of what I mean here.
I eat very healthy most of the time. But I have what I call a “cheat day” every now and then where I’ll indulge in something not so healthy, like pizza and jalapeno poppers.
Whenever I do this, I definitely feel it the next day! I notice a difference in things like my mood, energy levels, aches and pains, and more!
Every step taken and each thing implemented adds up over time and makes a difference in how you feel daily. This, in turn, will help manage PTSD symptoms. So experiment a little and try some new things until you find out what works best for you!
What steps are you taking to mitigate the effects of PTSD, so you can live an extraordinary and fulfilling life?
If you’ve found something that works great for you, be sure to comment below and share your experience! Who knows? You just might help and inspire a fellow veteran who could greatly benefit from your knowledge and experience!
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