Every day, someone who has been diagnosed with anxiety, depression, or Post Traumatic Stress (PTS) will feel heightened levels of unrest due to fluctuating levels of triggers or stressors; from loud parties and fireworks, to relationships, jobs, and traffic jams.
Whether out and about, gathering with family and friends, or at your child’s sporting event, overstimulating moments can be debilitating for anyone with PTS, and those around them.
“Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder” (commonly known as “PTSD”), can be life-altering. Caused by experiencing or witnessing terrifying events, violence, or going through extended periods of extreme stress, the symptoms can occur right after a stressful time or can appear many years later.
There are also so many hidden things that survivors battle, that many may not even realize – even to survivors with different histories from each other. “There’s such a misconception with PTS to begin with,” stated Lucas Moore*, US Navy Veteran. “People group all members of the Military together, assuming we all battle PTS due to a TBI, or ‘getting blown up.’ There’s SO much more to it than that – but it’s exhausting to try to explain that to people.”
Research has confirmed that factors that may contribute to PTSd cause changes in brain function, often showing up as a disruption in the front of the brain. Specifically, it is common to see two competing alpha frequencies in the frontal lobe and slow-rolling waveforms (delta and theta waves) drowning out what should be a single strong alpha frequency.
MeRT (Magnetic EKG/EEG Resonance Therapy) is an emerging technology that aims to improve brain function and communication. The equipment used in MeRT is FDA-cleared to treat Major Depressive Disorder and OCD and is used to treat a wide variety of conditions. FDA clearance studies for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), PTSd, and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are ongoing.
The MeRT process begins with sophisticated diagnostics and imaging so each treatment is fully customized, based on the location, frequency, and amount of power used by the magnet, specific to each person’s unique condition.
PTS can prove to be an unforgiving battleground to the many who struggle with food, disordered eating, and/or addictions. To add insult to injury, an upsetting number of trauma survivors are grappling with chronic physical health issues, too – most of which are due to their trauma, whether they realize that relationship or not.
Warriors Heart – a private treatment facility, exclusively for Warriors, providing care for addiction, chemical dependency & PTS for active military, veterans, law enforcement and first responders – recently introduced MeRT to their clinical use of therapies.
By stimulating specific areas of the brain, MeRT at Warriors Heart Lodge can enhance memory, attention, and problem-solving abilities. This makes it a promising option for individuals with conditions such as ADHD, traumatic brain injury, and dementia.
TMS has been FDA-cleared for the treatment of Treatment-Resistant Depression, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Smoking Cessation, and Chronic Post-Traumatic / Surgical Pain. It works by delivering magnetic pulses to stimulate nerve cells in the brain, which can improve symptoms of depression and other conditions.
“These survivors are in pain, sick, or exhausted – wanting to engage in so many parts of life (like the daily activities of their children), but are unable,” stated Tom Spooner, co-founder of Warriors Heart. “The list goes on, and we know just how hard many of these Warriors are fighting to stay above water. We want to help however we can.”
The team at Warriors Heart recognizes and understands the unique demands of our warriors and their families – and works to successfully navigate healing and recovery while in the company of people who personally understand individual experiences. Warriors Heart is a place where that mentality, warriors helping warriors, resides in the hearts of every member of the team. Other warriors and team members personally connect with those who have reached a point in their life where they think they have nothing to live for; showing them that strength is found in this unique facility, that simply and truly believes in the power of the warrior community, the power of each client that walks through the door of Warriors Heart and the power of each graduate who proudly emerges through the gates after graduation.
The battlefield at home has proven to be a far greater a foe than any frontline – domestic or overseas. Veterans, active members of the military, first responders, and firefighters are often faced with traumatic events during their service. The experiences they live each day slowly cause a feeling of dread that can lead to PTS and unravel into a dependency on alcohol and substance abuse as they seek comfort from nightmares, flashbacks, and more; further heightening the damage caused by the memories of those events.
There is no one-size-fits all guide to get through living with PTS. Helping a loved one is difficult when it comes to addiction and mental health issues; specifically for Veterans who return from combat zones or active duty and can find everything challenging from waking up in the morning to sleeping soundly at night, going to work, shopping, or even being around family without disruption. Their moods, behavior, and thoughts may be confusing to family, especially when they’re used to who that person “used to be.”
For many living with PTS, the most empowering moments are simply being honest about what they are feeling. “It was liberating and gave me a sense of control over myself, that I thought I had lost all grip on,” recalls Moore.
“Setting expectations upfront is key when supporting with a loved one living with PTS,” said Warriors Heart Co-Founder, Lisa Lannon. “Many family members walks on eggshells afraid of how their loved one would react to the most common daily things, without realizing the nightmare they was living in his or her head.”
At Warriors Heart, Warriors in every walk of life are treated, offering a variety of treatment for those undergoing the damaging effects of PTSd and MTBI, as well as chemical dependency. For those who have fought battles to defend our country and our citizens, fighting the battle against addiction, depression and reintegration doesn’t need to be done alone.
Military (both active duty and veteran), first responders and law enforcement have very different life experiences from the rest of the population; facing unique physical, emotional and mental health demands. These exceptional circumstances oftentimes lead to issues with Substance Abuse Disorders and chemical dependencies, as they provide temporary feelings of relief or self-medication for stress, trauma and PTS symptoms.
There is a well-known saying among veterans and first responders, “The only one that knows what a soldier is going through is another soldier.”