Wounded Warriors Find Relief in MMA and Yoga
The military spends millions of dollars each year on mental health care and research. Although advances in medications and talk therapies for disabling and chronic psychiatric conditions are a sound investment, other less expensive and non-traditional alternatives can provide substantial relief.
Recently, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has found an accepting home within the military ranks - understandable considering the highly competitive and aggressive nature of the sport. MMA is successful in alleviating the emotional distress associated with combat, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and severe depression. Some believe it is related to increases in self-worth, social connectedness, and a sense of meaning. Others attribute it to the opportunity to have an emotionally cathartic experience through physical means. Regardless of why it works, the potential for helping countless people is real.
On the other side of the spectrum, yoga has been shown to help troops recover from a variety of psychological problems, particularly PTSD. Yoga is the Hindu practice that combines controlled breathing, meditation, and different bodily postures for the purpose of inducing a sense of spiritual, mental, and physical well-being. Yoga combats psychological distress by bringing a person’s fight-or-flight response back into equilibrium. That response is the delicate system in the body that prepares one to either fight or flee when faced with a threat, which can become disrupted in those with PTSD.
Recently, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has found an accepting home within the military ranks - understandable considering the highly competitive and aggressive nature of the sport. MMA is successful in alleviating the emotional distress associated with combat, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and severe depression. Some believe it is related to increases in self-worth, social connectedness, and a sense of meaning. Others attribute it to the opportunity to have an emotionally cathartic experience through physical means. Regardless of why it works, the potential for helping countless people is real.
On the other side of the spectrum, yoga has been shown to help troops recover from a variety of psychological problems, particularly PTSD. Yoga is the Hindu practice that combines controlled breathing, meditation, and different bodily postures for the purpose of inducing a sense of spiritual, mental, and physical well-being. Yoga combats psychological distress by bringing a person’s fight-or-flight response back into equilibrium. That response is the delicate system in the body that prepares one to either fight or flee when faced with a threat, which can become disrupted in those with PTSD.
Yoga also helps those suffering from PTSD fend off the distressing thoughts associated with the trauma. Disturbing memories are among the hallmark symptoms of PTSD. Through meditation and relaxation, a person with PTSD can redirect their thoughts and prevent the negative emotions from occurring. The same may be true for night terrors, another common symptom of the disorder. Practicing meditation and other relaxation exercises before bed may prevent night terrors from occurring.
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