As Prince Harry recently pointed out at the launch of his mental health charity “Heads Together” anyone can suffer with mental illness; including royalty. After experiencing the sudden death of his mother, and having spent time in the armed forces, he knows first-hand how it feels to experience the devastating effect of trauma, and although he doesn’t claim to be an expert in the subject, he certainly has the credentials to support others who have had similar, tragic experiences.
As an herbalist, and someone who has also experienced trauma, I find myself in a similar situation. I’m not a medical doctor, trained counsellor, or expert in the subject of mental health; however, I hope to share what I’ve learned from my own personal journey, and the work I’ve done with others, to shed light on how herbal therapy and nutrition can help people facing life with PTSD.
The current situation:
The NHS is currently under immense strain to serve the people it was set up to help. For this reason, the work of professional, natural therapists can go a long way to help support people who often “slip through the net”. This includes the many people who are experiencing issues related to anxiety and PTSD who don’t always seek the help they need due to the stigma that is often attached to their well-being issues. As someone who has sat on both sides of the fence, my dearest goal is to support the work of people like Prince Harry who are working hard to break down the barrier that stands between those who experience mental health issues, while at the same time offer people an alternative and gentle route to self-help, showing them that there is much they can do to help themselves through immensely difficult times.
How natural therapies can help:
My name is Sarah. I used to be a teacher; that was before the tragic death of my own brother in an unprovoked street attack, which showed me that anyone anywhere can unwittingly, and through no fault of their own be thrown into the dark world of PTSD literally overnight.
In some respects, I am extremely lucky. Before this happened I spent five years training at the College of Naturopthic Medicine in London where I specialised in western herbal medicine and Ayurveda. Although this may seem an unlikely benefit, I found myself in a fortunate position in that I had some measure of idea about the kind of tools I could use to help myself through my despair without the need to wander into the world of anti-depressants and benzodiazapene medication which at the time, seemed to be the only solution on offer for my trauma.
Although these drugs may be beneficial in the short term, it’s an undeniable fact that they are not without their pitfalls, and for some people this can lead to a lifetime of dependency and unpleasant side effects which compound the devastation caused by trauma. My own experience of PTSD has shown me that for some people (who are already literally on the ceiling with hyper-vigilance and panic) that drugs that lift the mood can often make the situation worse. But what other alternatives are there?
Natural therapies for PTSD
My work at present is to help people build a routine which includes gentle exercise and herbal support to give the body the energy it needs to repair and heal after a traumatic event. Although this may seem benign and even of little benefit, what I have found is this: for those who lose all sense of self after severely traumatising events, routine and good nutrition go a very long way in helping to re-establish a sense of security and a platform from which they can begin to work on their healing journey.
It is my strong belief that PTSD is in fact the body’s normal response to a completely abnormal situation. If the person can be supported through their trauma instead of medicated, the prospects for a return to health are entirely possible. Talking therapies, Yoga, Meditation and herbs that have been used for hundreds of years, can in fact provide valuable tools for people looking to take charge and manage the horrible, isolating symptoms that manifest with PTSD.
It’s a well-known fact that anti-depressant medication can take up to three months to take effect, so what can be done in the meantime to support the person through this initial phase, should they wish to take this route? For a start, good nutrition, fresh air, gentle exercise, breathing techniques and talking therapies have all been shown to be extremely beneficial, and yet are rarely recommended in the GP’s office. From a cost point of view, signposting people to established and proven therapies such as EMDR, trauma yoga, and meditation is highly beneficial not just from a wellness standpoint, but for the certain benefit of the NHS budget.
It is my strong belief that if alternative therapies were employed more frequently, we would be in a far better situation than simply offering drugs for what is a very complex and multi-faceted problem.
The future for people with PTSD:
It’s heartening to see that some headway is being made for people who do not want to go down the medical route for their trauma. The current IAPT scheme which is being rolled out across the UK offers instant access to talking therapies for those in need. This is a huge move forward for people who will no longer have to join a three month waiting list to be seen by a counsellor.
Initiatives such Kernow CCG (which I am thrilled to be a part of) are offering hope to people with long term health conditions which do not respond well to conventional medical treatment. In addition, we live in a digital age where a network of online support groups is accessible 24-7. The tools are there for those in need, and I am pleased to see that there is some funding going towards supporting this.
However, it is unfortunately a limited pot. How wonderful it would be if more money could be put into projects that support the growing community (which includes young soldiers returning from war and victims of crime) of people currently living with PTSD.
For my own part, I can say with confidence that life free from PTSD is possible without medication or drugs, it is simply a matter of pointing people towards the resources that best support their recovery and working together to ensure that funding is available for those that are endeavouring to offer help. The future is positive, but there is still much to be done if we are to offer people with PTSD and other anxiety related disorders the support they need to get their lives back.
About Me:
Sarah Murphy is a naturopath and herbalist based in Newquay, Cornwall. She helps people who are suffering with a range of anxiety related issues using herbal therapy and nutrition. She is the author of “Talking About Trauma” a resource aimed at counsellors and talking therapists to help people work through ways to move forward with their life after traumatic events. You can find out more about her work at www.thefreelancenaturopath.com
0
0
0
0