Events involving death, serious injury, threats to oneself or others, and where intense fear, horror, and helplessness are experienced can trigger such symptoms.
People at high risk of post-traumatic stress are survivors of natural disasters, torture, or violent crimes, or those whose work is associated with violence—such as soldiers or emergency response teams.
Children may develop PTSD if they have been attacked or subjected to bullying.
At the core of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the fight-or-flight response—the body's natural reaction to perceived danger.
Vision sharpens, awareness heightens, heart rate increases, and pain sensitivity decreases.
The body and mind remain in a state of heightened stimulation and are unable to relax due to the intense imprint of the traumatic experience.
To some degree, this phenomenon can be observed in all of us—but in PTSD, the associated dysfunctional effects deeply disturb and confuse the individual’s personality over a long period of time.
Yoga offers a unique ancient system for managing the mind and emotions.
There are several principles that yoga provides to help us understand the mystery of our experiences and the impact they leave on us.
According to the ancient knowledge of yoga, one of the main stressors on our nervous system is the wandering of the mind between the past and the future.
We can clearly observe this in action when we simply pause and notice our thoughts—constantly returning to past events or worrying about what the future holds.
This tendency becomes stronger in the process of healing PTSD and, due to the added complications, turns it into a complex and sensitive psychological condition with uniquely personal manifestations.
When we dwell on the past, we are consumed by regret, anger, dissatisfaction, and guilt, while thoughts of the future make us anxious.
Of course, there are positive memories too, but the mind has a tendency to cling to negative experiences and thoughts.
Our perception is also influenced by our past experiences. These are the five aspects of perception:
Understanding – Perception based on direct experience or reliable sources.
Misunderstanding – When logic fails and incorrect information dominates, preventing us from deeply understanding what we perceive. This often stems from past experiences.
Imagination – Pleasant illusions or unfounded fears. Fantasy can lead to severe cases of paranoia.
Sleep – When the mind is not in any of the above states.
Memory – All conscious experiences leave impressions stored as memories. However, it is not possible to definitively determine whether a memory is true, false, incomplete, or imagined.
Yoga knowledge can help calm the mind, guide us, and provide clarity of consciousness.
This is the greatest form of self-help.
But first, we must calm the mind and harmonize the entire nervous system.
The first step in practicing yoga is to connect the mind and body through breath, gaining awareness of the present moment.
Strong sensations and intrusive thoughts can be noticed and reduced if the mind becomes calm and still, and the body allows the sensations to fade.
Experiencing a deeper level of existence becomes possible, allowing the mind and body to feel peace, generate positive emotions, and enter a state of transformation.
With consistent practice and proper guidance, yoga can bring long-term relief and a renewed perspective to the lives of those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
