Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects thousands of adults every year in the United States. According to the reports of ADAA (Anxiety and Depression Association of America), approximately 7.7 million Americans live with this condition. Plus, women are more prone to this condition as compared to men.
But why? It is because, in a lifetime, women are more exposed to traumatic events than men. Even in everyday life, a woman deals with different types of stress such as family health, child’s education, or professional growth. All such scenarios affect her mental wellbeing to a great extent. That’s why it is essential to look for effective recovery measures to cope with PTSD.
Do you also want to discover some fruitful approaches to keep the symptoms under control? If yes, then your search ends here. Continue reading to learn 5 effective ways to begin your recovery journey.
Mindful Meditation
Several studies have shown that meditation and mindfulness-based techniques help cope with different types of disorders. As for PTSD, meditation helps in reducing self-blame and avoidance symptoms. You can participate in various mindfulness-based stress reduction campaigns, or you can practice it in the comfort of your own home.
While meditating, keep the thoughts that are hurting you or affecting your movement away. Instead, focus on deep breathing and the present environment. If you feel the symptoms triggering, thinking about happy and positive thoughts will help you relax.
Muscle Relaxation
It is common knowledge that physical activities help in reducing stress and boosting mood. You can also try relaxation exercises to tame anxious thoughts and symptoms. Exercise will focus on alternating between relaxing and tensing different muscle groups, which helps deal with physical exhaustion caused by the trauma.
What type of exercise you want to do is totally your choice. Different people try different methods to relax their muscles, such as cardio, HIIT, or Zumba. You can look out for other options as well and select the one that suits you.
Using Cannabidiol
Cannabidiol or CBD oil is scientifically proven to reduce stress naturally. Its therapeutic properties help with insomnia, nightmares, and anxiety-related disorders. Depending on your desired effect, you can use CBD hemp oil varying from broad-spectrum to full-spectrum. There are different ways in which you can use this oil.
For example, you can dilute this oil with another liquor such as tea or coffee. Or, you can add a few drops in your mouth, hold it for 30 seconds, and swallow it.
Even so, when using CBD Products, it is essential to consult the doctor to learn about their use. You should also read the product description to learn about its flavors, ingredients, and suggested use.
Art Therapy
Over the past few years, art therapy is proving to be very effective in reducing stress and handling disorder symptoms. It helps the person materialize their feelings and cope with them using different art forms such as sculpturing, painting, or origami.
In fact, one specific study has shown that art therapy has helped numerous people suffering from PTSD overcome their signs and keep distressing emotions at bay. Furthermore, encouragement from family and friends for their artwork also helps them overcome their inner doubts and improve self-esteem.
It is noteworthy that you need not be good at art to avail benefits of this therapy. Instead, it is more about expressing your inner self and letting go of the feeling.
A Furry Friend
Last but not least, you can adopt a furry friend to cope with the symptoms of this condition. Studies have shown that pets create a positive aura and improve the health of pet parents. It can help you deal with the symptoms of depression , negative self-talk, excessive sweating, and nightmares.
To talk specifically about post-traumatic stress disorder, spending a minimum of 1 week with a trained dog can improve the symptoms by 82%. In case you are not ready to adopt a pet, you can visit the nearby animal shelter or pet cafe to spend some quality time with them. It will also help relax your mind and improve your condition.
Wrapping It All Up
Truth be told, it is not easy to deal with post-traumatic stress disorder. However, it does not mean that you shouldn’t try. Understanding a healthy and prosperous life begins from within. So, to keep the stress at bay, you should reap the benefits of the approaches mentioned above.
Remember that these approaches will help you live your life by accepting the inner fear and not suppressing the emotions. That’s the only way you’ll be able to recover from this condition.
This is a Sponsored Post – the author has requested this post be shared on WE Magazine for Women and WE were compensated for sharing.
The information in this article is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure, or prevent any disease. All material on WE Magazine for Women is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider for specific medical advice and before undertaking any diet, exercise, or other health-related programs including the use of dietary supplements or products.