Post Traumatic Stress Help

It is very probable that most if not all veterans returning from conflict experience some form of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. This can vary from mild to extreme. Subjective experience in training veterans has shown that training in Shou' Shu' can be very therapeutic for PTSD.

This may be extremely counter intuitive for many. shou' shu' is an aggressive self defense art. However time and time again it has been shown to reduce aggressiveness in many individuals. If taught properly in a positive atmosphere it can have incredible results.

Everyone can realize tremendous benefits from martial arts training but these benefits are even more pronounced in those dealing with stress. We've seen a number of veterans drastically improve their lives through training over the years. There are many reasons martial arts are beneficial in the treatment of stress disorders but the main one is the total absorption in the activity. The motions of kung fu are complex. Although they are fun to learn they completely involve the mind and the body. The student is completely involved in body awareness and focusing on the lesson. There simply is no room for stress.

This concept has been taught by many in different formats. One of my favorites are the teachings of Eckhardt Tolle in "The Power of Now" and "A new Earth". The books wonderfully explain how being present in the now is the way to becoming self aware. Shou' Shu', in my opinion is the strongest way to get into the now. Through training body awareness is developed and this is the path to the now. I would reccomend the teachings of Eckhardt Tolle for those interested in acheiving self awareness.

In addition to bringiing the student into the now I believe Shou' Shu' has some other benefits for those suffering from any kind of stress disorder. Stress is a primal biological response to what is ussually a non biological threat. The stress response served us well in the past when there was a tiger hunting us but in today's world it is not always the best response. Shou' Shu' training puts us mentally into the situation that calls for a biological self defense response. We develop our visualization skills and put ourselves there. We then handle the situation and defend ourselves. The threat is taken care of. Because the subconscioous does not realize the difference between imagination and reality this imagined response satisfies it and it relieves us of our stress.

In essence we take care of the stress with our minds which is fitting because our minds created it in the first place.

Students typically leave the school feeling energized and stress free. This is a welcome mental break for anyone suffering from cyclical negative thought patterns. Simply being able to be free of those mental patterns for a while often helps in ridding oneself of those patterns. This phenomena has been noticed by martial arts teachers for years.

Training in a safe and welcoming environment can be very helpful in assimilating back into society and the training itself is a nice great outlet for stress

Unfortunately a good Shou' Shu' school is very hard to find. But there are alternatives. I can't reccomend all martial arts. Not all have the attributes that make it therapeutic. As a matter of fact I think it's rare to find those that do. But there are some.

Things to look for:

• A self defense art, not a competitive art
• Reality training- Mentally putting yourself into the self defense situation.
• Positive environment- this is essential. the last thing you want is to generate more negativity with an ego maniac instructor.

• Sophisticated motion- if it's easy forget it. Hopefully there is a good program for helping you learn the art but the art itself should be difficult. It is the complexity that involves and distracts the mind.

These things are essential. If you can't find them in a martial arts school in your area try something else.

I reccomend:

• Yoga- great for creating body awareness and bringing into the now. I think everyone should train in yoga in addition to martial arts anyway. but look for an instructor who does not treat it as a competition but as a personal development system.
• Tai Chi or Chi Kung- also great for body awareness and physical development. Many other teachers of Tai chi have noticed great improvements in their PTSD students.

PTSD and other stress disorders can be cured with a combination of these therapies and any others that bring the studsent into the now, develop body awareness, work the mind, and work the body. Get out there and explore how it can help you.