PTSD – The How and Why Mindfulness and Meditation

PTSD – The How and Why of Mindfulness and Meditation

Many recent research studies have been published on the benefits of mindfulness skills and meditation practice for various clinical conditions.  Common interventions with these practices are used to improve anxiety, chronic pain, depression, depression relapse, addictions, addictions relapse, eating problems, and trauma. Since the year 2000 there has been growing and convincing evidence on uses of mindfulness and meditation in treatment of traumatic experiences.  To name the most popular: MBSR, DBT, MBCT, MBRP, ACT. Although The American Psychological Association’s expert panel on treatment guidelines for PTSD has NOT included mindfulness and meditation as a recommended intervention (at least they did not state any opposition), those of us who practice meditation or yoga on our own and use these skills in our therapy KNOW they can be effective in improving various traumatic experiences. Some proponents of CBT include mindfulness skills in their therapy. Here are the reasons why mindfulness and meditation may be helpful:

1. To develop solid grounding in therapy;
2. To reconnect with a softer, more caring heart in the process;
3. To learn and use calming and equanimity skills;
4. To improve self-compassion;
5. To cultivate better inner peace;
6. To practice good self-care via loving kindness meditation;
7. To rediscover your stronger true self under all the pain and suffering;
8. To build skills that allow you to connect with suffering and remain an integrated person;
9. To master choiceless awareness in the midst of your pain; and,
10. To build good coping skills that can be used free-of-charge for the rest of your life.

Additionally, learned and regularly used mindfulness and meditation practices provide the following possible benefits:

1. To respond effectively to stress reactivity;
2. To slowly radically accept moment-to-moment experiences – even if unpleasant;
3. To open the doorway to do work with your own body;
4. To take steps in the integration of body-heart-mind processes;
5. To learn how to befriend intrusive, painful memories;
6. To reduce your arousal level;
7. To learn to reduce avoidance behavior to escape psychological and physical pain;
8. To Learn how to balance your emotional and rational minds;
9. To learn curiosity and friendliness skills in the face of painful experiences;
10. To learn various breathing techniques to anchor your awareness and your body; and,
11. To, ultimately, achieve a level of equanimity in your recovery.

For more information refer to Davis, L. (2016). Meditation for Healing Trauma: Mindfulness Skills to Ease Post-Traumatic Stress…Oakland, CA: New Harbinger, pp. 1-36. Dr. Davis is a clinical psychologist working in the Veterans Administration and teaching at the Indiana University School of Medicine. She is an expert in using CBT and MBSR in therapy.

Anthony R. Quintiliani, PhD., LADC

From the Eleanor R. Liebman Center for Secular Meditation in Monkton, Vermont

Author of Mindful Happiness  

New Edition of Mindful Happiness in Production…Coming soon!