If you’re like most people, you hear the world post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and reflexively think of soldiers struggling to deal with the aftermath of their time on the battlefield. To be sure, returning veterans often struggle with the events they witnessed and took part in during times of conflict. However, PTSD isn’t just something that impacts warriors. Instead, it is a condition that can be caused by any number of traumatic events. One treatment that seems to be help many patients involves the use of reflexology therapy.
Who Else Suffers From PTSD?
PTSD is a condition that can afflict anyone who has suffered any sort of trauma. That trauma can be either physical, mental, or emotional, though it is typically associated with violent events. However, women can sometimes suffer from PTSD in the aftermath of the birthing process – particularly when there was an abnormally high level of concern about the pregnancy. Painful births and unusual complications can also trigger this stress.
Others who experience PTSD include domestic abuse survivors, law enforcement officials who have been involved in shootings, people who have suffered through natural disasters, and more. The truth is that just about anyone can be impacted by this stress disorder after enduring any sort of shocking event or circumstance. The symptoms are not always easy for family members or patients to diagnose, but include things like anxiety, depression, emotional numbness, and ever flashbacks to the inciting event.
Can Reflexology Alleviate Their Suffering?
Researchers have long studied post-traumatic stress disorder, and applied various types of treatment methodologies to help patients afflicted by the condition. In recent years, that research has led to studies to determine whether reflexology can assist in patient recovery. While different reflexology trials have been conducted by schools and social workers in places like the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, the best evidence seems to have been developed through tests by Israeli researchers.
Using a test group of 15 Israeli soldiers suffering from PTSD, the Israelis discovered that regular reflexology therapy proved to be of significant benefit in reducing those patients’ stress-related symptoms. With two or more reflexology sessions a week, those patients enjoyed noticeable reductions in their levels of depression, emotional imbalance, and need for medication. In addition, they experienced improved sleep patterns and concentration. Those results mirrored the findings of researchers in other countries as well.
While research is ongoing, the facts seem clear: reflexology may indeed have a role to play in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. At Tiffany Beauty Spa, we are excited by that possibility, and hopeful that PTSD patients everywhere can benefit from this non-invasive, pain-free therapy. Our on-staff therapists provide the best reflexology services in Fort Lauderdale, so we already know that this therapy offers many benefits to those who receive it. Whether you suffer from PTSD or a milder form of stress or pain, there’s a good chance that this therapy could help you too. Give us a call today to schedule your next appointment, and discover the many amazing benefits that reflexology can offer.