Page 319 - Total War on PTSD

chairs. Almost all of Pilates equipment uses springs to create resistance. The chair is the most compact piece of equipment and was initially developed so that people could have a piece of equipment that would fit in their crowded New York apartments! All Pilates equipment has a specific benefit and can be used for a multitude of exercises.
Exercise and the Direct Connection to Mental Health
Now that you have a brief overview of where Pilates comes from, I will return to the list of how exercise directly impacts mental health. First, increased neurotransmitter activity, also called neuroplasticity. This is by far the most fascinating and scientific aspect of Pilates. It also connects directly to PTSD symptoms and treatment, since PTSD creates significant change in the brain and endocrine systems (Scaer, 2014, p. 64). These changes are adverse in nature and what cause panic attacks, negative thoughts, and other symptoms. Pilates, along with other methods of exercise, can help us create new neural pathways. New pathways mean better brain function and the ability to create new habits. Most of my PTSD symptoms are on the anxious side of the spectrum, so developing new neural pathways, or neuroplasticity, is key for managing my PTSD symptoms. For example, I frequently suffer from racing thoughts, shame, panic attacks, and feeling like the world is against me. These types of symptoms are directly affected by working on my neuroplasticity because it forces my brain to stop the cycle of anxious and negative thoughts. It was previously thought that neural pathways were set by age 25, but current research is proving this to be false. While it is not as easy to do as when we were young, it is still possible. In my opinion, the amount of work that it takes to create neural pathways has been worth every second. The more I work on this, the more I can ease my anxiety symptoms. I have the old pathways and somatic responses sometimes, but these responses occur less and less the more I work on neuroplasticity.
Second, improved self-esteem. Pilates makes me feel strong. I have no trouble moving through life, picking up my daughter, or carrying the groceries in the house. Physical pain I had experienced previously has pretty much disappeared since I started practicing Pilates regularly. The two biggest complaints I had physically before Pilates were knee
319 of 1042