Healing Combat Trauma

Coming Out of the Darkness, One Step at a Time

I was having a conversation recently with one of my favorite veterans (and which veteran is not?!) about how we were going to take a look at his past in a way that wouldn't also cause him some sort of setback, which I wouldn't want (and nor would he).  I'd done a little digging on his behalf, and found a bunch of "the missing link" type information about what happened to his platoon that he served with in Vietnam, during a particularly vicious battle which had left very few of his buddies alive. 

 He was away from the field at the time, recuperating at a naval hospital in the U.S., and his finding out casually about the entire wiping out of his company of Marines has been the single hardest episode of his life.  What with one thing and another, I'd managed to find out much of the information he wanted to know, but was loath to share it with him, lest it cause him any more horror than it already had.  So I wanted to proceed gingerly with him, not just set him on the slippery banana peel of reflection, as it were, and give him a push.  Vietnam had already been plenty hard for him to process, and its explosive tentacles reached all the way into his present.

We discussed the methods back and forth for a while, of what would be comfortable to share with him, and what the pace could be, and then I asked him, was there anything "good" for himself that he could be doing, so that the material might be absorbed in as successful a way as possible? Was there any special place he could go to, music he could listen to, anything therapeutic he knew to do for himself, while he tried to take in bits and pieces of information about the most troubling time in his life, that has plagued him for the 40 years since it happened.  This is what he wrote back in response:

So, what I need is a very sunny mildly cool day, no monsoon weather or rice-paddy heat; a quiet place in the woods (back forty) with my three dogs; and a print off of the material to read, meditate on, cry, scream, cuss, and read some more; AND my cell phone with your number on speed dial.  That arm and hand reaching down to pull me up out of the darkness. 

 

You know when you save someone’s life, you own that life, until they save yours.  So if you save me, you own me…

(Can you tell why I just adore him?!)  But it did also put me in mind of one other "therapeutic" item we haven't talked about much on the blog yet, but which I know about from my previous writing life.  There's a former cancer nurse named Valerie Cooksley, who's written a number of books for Prentice Hall and others on aromatherapy, but from the scientific end of things, not the frou-frou end.  For a while she was a consultant to Tacoma General Hospital, among others, and their ICU, and she developed some essential oil blends (her term) or "potions" (mine), that have therapeutic aspects.  The ones I'm remembering, because they were directed to the dying and their families, were blends that attempted to enhance people's ability to both grieve the past, and to let it go.  Somehow I can't help thinking that essential oil blends like that would be of some potential value here, too.

It would be hard to quickly go into why and how medicinal aromatherapy works -- it has greater credibilty in Europe, where Cooksley's trainers were trained -- but the concept, in a nutshell, is that essential oils have properties that can modulate people's emotional states, and they're very effective "drug delivery" models, because they quickly cross the "blood-brain barrier" through the nose, directly into the brain's mood receptor sites. I've probably just botched the science by trying to explain it in two sentences and get back to the point, but that's the gist of things, and Cooksley knows what she's talking about.

If you're a fan of the Bible, you also remember essential oils in use with the "We Three Kings of Orient Are" types, who allegedly came to visit Jesus.  "Anointing people with oil" is a practice that dates back at least to Biblical times.  "Gold, frankincense and myrrh" were the three gifts the Wise Men brought (why do they sound like Mobsters, at this remove? Too much "Sopranos") -- and of those, two were rare, costly essential oils.

Just to be very clear on this, I by no means think that dabbing or sniffing a few essential oils is going to be a cure for PTSD.  However, as a pleasant adjunct to what you're already doing, or a lovely relax-i-fier that can be put into use at any time?  Great stuff, and a nice addition to life, in the way that a massage is, or great sex -- not curative in itself, but a nice and pleasant and stress-reducing aspect to life, that's wise to incorporate into your life as much as possible.

Herewith some lovely blends of Cooksley's, along with her notes as to why those particular choices.  Although she's focusing on "death and dying," expand the definition of that as you read these blends to include situations that would also bring up horrifically charged emotions around that topic, such as revisiting combat trauma, and those who were dead and dying there, plus the resultant grief, shame, guilt and confusion that typically surround these episodes.  (This may explain why my "lavender sleep pillows" for returning combat vets and their families, made from a Cooksley recipe, and blogged about here, were consistently such a big hit.)  The last two she mentions are the two I would particularly want to focus on.  You'd have to "read the directions" elsewhere on how to use essential oils (externally, obviously), but sometimes even a drop touched to the underside of your nose, at the point where it meets your upper lip, or waved underneath on a tissue, can give you an immediate "read" on whether the remedy might have some value for you. 

It's also fair to say that anyone I've ever made essential oil blends for, after Cooksley's recipes, has become a fan for life: they're "delish," and this is just lovely high-touch, low-tech stuff.  Women tend to be bigger fans than men -- they're six times as able to "notice" the scents themselves, though this isn't necessary for the scents to do their work -- but both sexes have been able to see the value, once they've tried a few of these for themselves.

“Serenity Blend”: Lavender 15 drops, Bergamot 6 drops, Mandarin 3 drops.

“Anti-depression”:  For depression or grief; useful for back or hand massage. 

Lavender 9 drops, Ylang-ylang 9 drops, Basil 2 drops, Geranium 2 drops, Bergamot 2 drops.

“Joyful Hope”:  Anti-depressant blend.  Uplifting and purifying, to encourage a healing and caring environment.  Orange 4 parts, Ylang-ylang 2 parts, Bergamot 1 part, and Lemon, 1 part.

“Grief and Bereavement”:  For dying patients and their families.  Lavender 4 parts, Marjoram 1 part, Hyssop 1 part.

“Ceremonial Oil”: A nurturing, peaceful blend, to be used with terminal patients.  Helps with feelings of fear, encourages faith.  Grounding hand or foot massage, solar plexus, or used to anoint head.  Lavender 10 drops, Ylang-ylang 8 drops, Sandalwood 4 drops, Frankincense 2 drops.

Another book on the suitably "grand and broad" topic of Aromatherapy and Healing the Spirit, mentions this blend for helping soothe "sudden psychological trauma" -- perhaps, in this case, as it is revisited in memory:

Lavender 3 drops, Frankincense 2 drops, Spikenard 1 drop.

And there's also an item that has a long therapeutic history in Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a blend of Bach flower essences called "Rescue Remedy," available, like essential oils, both online from Amazon.com and places like Whole Foods, Wild Oats, and other natural grocery stores.  Rescue Remedy is a low-tech, non-drug remedy for calming nerves that has an enthusiastic following among a diverse group of CAM adherents, including veterinarians. (I highly doubt even the skeptics suggest that animals are susceptible to the Placebo Response ;-).

 

I wonder if we can add one of these to the list of what my friend will be taking into the woods with him, when he wants to try processing his trauma from the past, in manageable bits and pieces; I hope so.

 

I'd actually like to see him outfitted with many of these items, some soothing, restful music, and Thomas Day Oates, Jr.'s spectacularly-soothing DVD, "Pacific Light," which we blogged about earlier, here.  Maybe he'll need a little red wagon, too -- to carry all that stuff into his healing space into the "back forty" of the woods, with the dogs running along beside him, hoping for the best.

 

In a perfect world -- ahh, I can dream, can't I? -- veterans healthcare options for PTSD would include scented oil massages with just the essential oils necessary for helping speed healing, or take the edges off the particularly hard memories.  As no less an authority on health than Hippocrates, the father of Western medicine, once said:

 

"The way to health is to have an aromatic bath, and scented massage every day...healing is a matter of time, but is sometimes also a matter of opportunity." -- Hippocrates, father of Western Medicine (460-377 BCE)

 

Here's hoping that my adored veteran buddy gets his healing, and his opportunity...

Floyd "Shad" Meshad, MSW

After earning his Masters degree in Psychiatric Social Work from Florida State University in 1968, Shad went on active duty in 1969 as a Captain in the U.S. Army. In 1970, he served one tour as a Social Work/Psychology Officer for I and II Corps in the Republic of South Vietnam.

Upon his return to the states, Meshad continued his dedication to American veterans by starting the Vietnam Veterans Re-Socialization Unit at the Brentwood, CA VA Hospital in 1971. He spent eight years working with Vietnam veterans and their severe readjustment problems in the Los Angeles area. Shad was one of the pioneers in the study of the disorder known as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD.

In the past 27 years, Shad has received many service awards and recognitions for his work. He authored a book about his year in Vietnam, Captain for Dark Mornings, which, highly acclaimed, is in its second printing. Meshad has made appearances on many major television networks and cable news talk shows, including 60 Minutes, 20/20, Dateline, Nightline, and CNN News. Shad continues to consult, train, and counsel nationally and internationally.

In 1986, Shad started a stress management and consulting service. In the early 90's he began focusing on treating compassion fatigue. This condition is identical to secondary traumatic stress disorder (STSD) and is the equivalent of PTSD. It is the stress resulting from helping or wanting to help a traumatized person. Through his associations, Shad introduced Charles Figley, Ph.D., a long-time friend and colleague to Dr. Roger Callahan who developed Thought Field Therapy. Dr. Callahan approached Meshad with the opportunity to study the effect of TFT therapy on veterans who suffered from PTSD. Impressed by the amazing results of this study, Shad has become a certified TFT diagnostician and practitioner, offering seminars on Levels I and II TFT nationwide.

In 2000 Shad founded Quantum Performance Institute with the goal of utilizing the amazing power of energy psychology techniques in the area of negative emotional states and attaining one's optimum performance level.

(More information follows, from a separate bio)

For more than 30 years, National Veterans Foundation (NVF) Founder and President Shad Meshad has worked as a therapist for veterans and an advocate for veterans’ rights. After receiving his master’s degree in psychiatric social work from Florida State University, he enlisted in the army in 1970, and served as a counselor for U.S. soldiers in Vietnam.

Upon his return to the U.S., Meshad founded and directed the Vietnam Veterans Re-Socialization Unit at the VA Hospital in Los Angeles, California. It was the first program of its kind, focusing on the readjustment problems of Vietnam veterans. During this time, Meshad was among the first to study the disorder now known as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD.

In 1978, he worked to develop and lobby for the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Bill. In 1979, he founded the Vet Center Outreach Program, which now serves veterans in more than 200 locations across the country.

In 1980, Meshad was nominated for the first Olin Teague Medal of Service Award. In 1982, he published a memoir of his experiences in Vietnam, entitled “Captain for Dark Mornings.” In 1985, he founded the Vietnam Veterans Aid Foundation, which he later renamed the National Veterans Foundation.

He has served on the faculty of the International Critical Incident Foundation; as President and Board Member of the Association of Traumatic Stress Specialists; and, recently, was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Green Cross Project.

In the wake of the catastrophic events of September 11, 2001, Meshad was called upon by the U.S. government to help train the critical incident and trauma teams at Ground Zero.

Today, Meshad consults and teaches stress reduction and anger management techniques to mental health, law enforcement, and critical incident professionals through Quantum Performance Institute, a firm he established in 2001. He continues his work with veterans in the Los Angeles area, helping them through the process of healing and readjustment.

Combat Veterans at Walter Reed Give Yoga a Try

As part of our continuing series on Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) and veterans, linked here, there's news that a specific type of yoga called "Yoga Nidra" is being used at Walter Reed, bringing benefits to veterans who've been trying it.  An article from the Washington Post about the practice, by Eileen Rivers, called "A Breath of Hope: Walter Reed Tries Yoga to Counter PTSD," was published on May 6 and is linked here.  One nice quote from the article - the yoga teacher reports that "Students in class come up to me and say, 'I haven't felt this relaxed in a long time,' " "They say that they are more patient with their family. They're not as angry," she adds.  One of the participants mentioned in the article, combat veteran Derrick Farley, a 29 year old Army sergeant from Fort Bragg, who has deployed to Iraq three times, says that what he's learned in class has helped him cope.  He practices what he's learned, stays in touch with the other participants he's met in the program, and appreciates the chance yoga's given him to get a more restful night's sleep.  As he says as the conclusion of the article, " "It's not about finding a cure for PTSD," Farley said. "It's about learning to cope."  Excellent and well-said!

To learn more about Yoga Nidra, including trainings offered for practitioners and individuals on both coasts, check out the link to the Center for Timeless Being, located in Sebastopol, CA, linked here. Or you can pick up the CD by that center's director, Richard Miller, Ph.D., called Integrative Restoration: The Ancient Practice of Yoga Nidra for Easing Stress, Healing Trauma, and Awakening to Your Timeless Presence, linked here.

Not Specific to Combat, Research Project Studies Use of Tibetan Meditation to Treat PTSD

Although not specifically directed towards combat veterans and PTSD, a research study is currently evaluating whether Tibetan meditation has benefit for PTSD sufferers. Miami and Ohio State university researchers will use an ancient technique to address a modern problem. With a $98,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Mental Health, Deborah Akers, Miami visiting assistant professor of anthropology, will work with co-researchers from Ohio State on a project titled "Treatment of Trauma Survivors: Effects of Meditation Practice on Clients' Mental Health Outcomes."  (For more information about the department conducting the study, click here.) Akers and co-researchers Moyee Lee, professor of social work, and Amy Zaharlick, professor of anthropology, will investigate the impact of Tibetan meditation on victims of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The project began this month and will continue for two years.

Researchers will work with a group of women diagnosed with PTSD who live in Amethyst House, a women's treatment program for alcohol and drug addiction in Columbus. Tibetan monk Geshe Kalsang Damdhul of the Institute of Higher Buddhist Dialectics in Dharamsala, India, will assist as a meditation instructor. "Participants will be taught specialized meditation techniques and will be guided through meditation for a period of six weeks," said Akers. Results could then provide a new option for treating other victims of PTSD, such as combat soldiers returning from war or victims of natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina. "This project charts new ground, bringing a holistic perspective to the treatment of PTSD," said Akers. She added that though meditation has been used in a variety of therapeutic settings in the West, such as reducing stress and coping with pain,its application in the treatment of mental illness, including PTSD, has not been extensively explored.

 

"Whereas in the West treatment of PTSD may require years of prescription medicine and counseling, the Tibetan approach has been successful within one to two years by focusing on the spiritual connection between the mind and the body that seems to allow the patient to process the trauma more effectively," said Akers. "Moreover, unlike Western medical therapies, meditation is free and can benefit individuals who cannot afford extensive therapy or medicine over long periods of time. The Tibetan approach is empowering, as it offers PTSD patients an alternative and less invasive form of therapy and enables them to participate in their own treatment." The project grew from a Miami summer field school program, "Peoples and Cultures of Tibet," conducted in Dharamsala, the residence of the spiritual leader of the Tibetans, the Dalai Lama, and location of the Tibetan government in exile. During the field school, Akers and Miami students learned about how Tibetan monks minister to political prisoners and victims of torture who suffer from PTSD. For more information about the program, click here.) Several Miami pre-med and anthropology students will assist in the Columbus project, gaining hands-on research experience.

"The PTSD research project and the summer field program in Dharamsala exemplify Miami University's continuing interest in South Asia," said Akers.

Mind-Body Medicine Conference - Includes Therapies for PTSD

A conference is planned for October 25-29th in Minneapolis, MN on Mind-Body Medicine, geared towards practitioners -- training the trainers -- around the topic, "Integrating Mind-Body Medicine into Clinical Practice, Medical Education & Trauma Healing."  The conference is sponsored by James S. Gordon, M.D.'s Center for Mind-Body Medicine in Washington, D.C.  The Harvard-trained Gordon is a luminary in the field of mind-body medicine, having authored numerous books on the subject, been featured in Bill Moyer's PBS series, Healing and the Mind, and has been a frequent speaker at the Smithsonian, in their public lecture series.  He is a clinical professor at Georgetown University School of Medicine, and is the former chairman of the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy.  The Center has done significant work with trauma in the Middle East, Kosovo, in Louisiana with victims of Hurricane Katrina, with 9/11 rescue workers, etc. 

The conference information is linked here. Dr. Gordon's bio is linked here.  The Center for Mind-Body Medicine is linked here.

Just Say "Om" - Yoga and Meditation for PTSD

Long before Mehmet Oz, M.D., was a regular guest on "Oprah" -- long before the Army started contemplating whether Complementary and Alternative Medicine had a place in treating PTSD, blogged about here -- there was yoga, and there was meditation.  For thousands of years, these techniques for helped adherents gain flexibility, quiet the mind, and often, restore some inner peace.  CAM for PTSD is in the news recently, but a book by well-regarded Rodale Press, from a dozen years ago, mentions both yoga and meditation, as well as sound healing, as possible therapies for PTSD.  Here's what they have to say:

Stress reduction is an essential part of recovery from post-traumatic stress disorder, says Stephen A. Nezezon, M.D., yoga teacher and staff physician at the Himal