Page 460 - Total War on PTSD

A few months after turning 22 in 1986, having a degree in finance and working in a management position, I was found to have impressively high blood pressure measuring 162/105 and elevated cholesterol levels. I also suffered from compromising chronic back pain which became acutely sharp at times. Being 40 pounds heavier than the average weight for my height didn’t help the situation. Being allergic to many medications, including the most widely used array of prescription pain-killers, I had to explore other alternatives to find relief. My body had rejected even muscle relaxants which left me with little latitude to journey comfortably forward.
Fortunately, through some serendipitous events, a unique method of psycho-physical integration or somatic movement re-education system called The Trager® Approach came onto my radar. Named after Dr. Milton Trager who developed the technique over his lifetime and professional career, it seemed like a good place to start. At that time, I had only the pain to lose. Though my symptoms were not Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) related, some are shared by those suffering from PTSD. Not being able to follow conventional paths for relief, I felt alone in my pursuit for an effective alternative. For those who may suffer from such symptoms, The Trager Approach may provide them relief.
Alternative approaches, including massage, were considered ‘fringe’ in the late ‘80s as they still lacked wide acceptance. Nearly a decade later, in 1995, hands-on therapies, including The Trager Approach, were cited as “Eye of the Newt Therapies” in the Market Place section of a Wall Street Journal issue. The Trager Approach has stood the test of time. My first experience with The Trager Approach was profound and would prove to
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