84% of Active Duty Military Service Members with PTSD reduce medication in one month with TM
In 2016, Military Medicine (vol 181, 1) published a study showing that 84% of active duty military personnel with post-traumatic stress (PTS) who practiced Transcendental Meditation (TM) stabilized, decreased, or ceased psychotropic medications. 11% of this group increased their use of these medications. 59% of the non-TM control group stabilized, decreased or ceased medications usage, whereas 40% of this group increased their use of prescribed drugs. TM in the Military
Afghanistan and Iraq Veterans
In 2011, Military Medicine (176, 626-630) published a pilot study showing the effectiveness of the TM technique in reducing PTSD symptoms in veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Subjects showed a 50 percent reduction in PTSD symptoms after eight weeks of practicing the Transcendental Meditation technique.
Vietnam veterans
This study, conducted at the Denver Vietnam Veterans Outreach Program, suggests that TM, used alone or in conjunction with psychotherapy or other approaches may be very helpful for veterans. Participants in this study were randomly assigned to receive either TM instruction or psychotherapy. The participants in the TM group reported significant reductions in depression, anxiety, emotional numbness, alcohol consumption, family problems, difficulty in getting a job, insomnia, and overall symptoms of PTSD. |
"TM was the first thing to get suicide off my mind"
Luke developed PTSD as a result of experiences he had while serving in Afghanistan. This led to prescription medications for depression, high blood pressure and anxiety, as well as self medicating with alcohol. At several points, Luke considered suicide.
After learning TM Luke said, "For the first time in I don't know how long, I felt hope.... It's helped me out tremendously with my depression and blood pressure. I don't take anxiety medicine at all anymore." His wife agreed, saying, "This is the true Luke. This the happy Luke I knew when he was young and we could laugh and have fun.... things are better than they were before he went to Afghanistan." |