May 28, 2007 3:37 pm US/Eastern
Vets Doing Yoga To Treat Post-Traumatic Stress
by Dr. Mallika Marshall
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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It doesn't look like your typical yoga class -- because it's not. All the men are war veterans who are now trying to find peace from post-traumatic stress disorder.
CBS
A recent study found nearly a third of the soldiers returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan are diagnosed with some form of mental illness. The most common condition is post-traumatic stress disorder. Now, a group of former soldiers has found a new way to help them deal with the condition, using a very old technique.
It doesn't look like your typical yoga class -- because it's not. All the men are war veterans who are now trying to find peace from post-traumatic stress disorder.
"The primary problem I had was quickness of temper, flying off the handle very quickly," said Vietnam veteran Michael Dziokonski, who suffered symptoms for decades until he discovered yoga and meditation. "I have had periodic bouts of depression…that really helps identify what you are really feeling so you can short circuit and overly active temper."
With post-traumatic stress even though the body has left the battlefield, the mind is still on guard. That can lead to symptoms like avoidance, anger, depression and nightmares.
Vietnam veteran and counselor Tom Boyle started this class specifically for vets. He believes yoga can put the mind at ease, relieving stress and tension. "Overall, we think that the vets have benefited from it. People are sleeping who haven't slept in years."
Instructor Lucy Wagner uses a simple strategy. "We talk about living in the present moment… It's not about talking about what happened, it's about being present."
This is one of the only known classes available of its kind. The hope is veterans' affairs will start offering yoga nationwide. It could be just in time for thousands of troops dealing with the mental wounds from the current wars.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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