Page 336 - Total War on PTSD

People suffering with PTS are often stuck in, or too easily switched into, the Sympathetic mode of the Central Nervous System, commonly referred to as “fight/flight/freeze” mode. In this state, which is essential for survival in a dangerous situation, stress neurotransmitters and hormones are released to prepare the body to respond. When the danger is over, the body should shift back into Parasympathetic mode, also known as “rest/digest/heal” mode. This is the state we need to be in to absorb nutrients, get restorative sleep, and rebuild body tissues. If a person stays in Sympathetic mode chronically or enters it too often, there can be damage to the body and brain from the prolonged exposure to the stress hormones. This can lead to health problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, mood disorders, kidney damage, diabetes, impaired immunity, etc.
It is important to let the body and mind experience the Parasympathetic state so that a person can learn how it feels and can find ways to get there more often. Massage therapy can be very effective at bringing a person into this state, and helping them relax and feel at ease, so that it becomes a more normal state of being. We are hard wired to enter the fight or flight state more easily, since it is critical for survival in a dangerous world, but we need to be able to switch into relaxation mode when possible for long term health and well-being.
Many of my clients at the Veterans’ retreats suffer from insomnia, anxiety, hyper- vigilance, and depression. We have found that MFR, aside from the physical effects of normalizing tissues, can also induce a deep trance-like state in which the nervous system can reset the “tension thermostat” and experience profound relaxation and healing. This state is extremely restful, switching the body into Parasympathetic mode and allowing that neural pathway to become stronger. Many clients fall asleep while I’m
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