Distinguished psychiatrist urges Transcendental Meditation to treat PTSD - cites excellence of TM research
by Global Good News staff writer

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13 December 2010

Distinguished psychiatrist and researcher Norman Rosenthal, MD,* recently discussed research on the Transcendental Meditation Technique in treating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). He considered the PTSD research in light of the impressive overall body of scientific research on the technique—especially its effectiveness in reducing stress and anxiety, and improving risk factors of cardiovascular disease.

Dr Rosenthal was addressing the 13 December conference in New York City that launched 'Operation Warrior Wellness'—the David Lynch Foundation's nationwide initiative to offer the technique to 10,000 war veterans and their families.

'Transcendental Meditation, as we know, is an ancient practice that has been . . . adapted so that we can do it every day, twice a day, in our modern lives, without much stress at all, and in fact very enjoyably so,' Dr Rosenthal said. 'But there have now been 50 years of research in this technique, and the results are astonishing.'

'I've been in many worlds of research—pharmacological, and therapeutic and various kinds,' Dr Rosenthal commented, 'and I came to this in recent years. But as I delved into the research . . . I was immediately intrigued and fascinated at the excellence of the science and the large number of peer-reviewed publications.

'One of the fascinating things about Transcendental Meditation is that the benefits of these twice-daily meditation sessions actually carry over into everyday life. Study after study, for example, has shown a reduction in blood pressure.

'So imagine, you've meditated in the morning—but six hours later your blood pressure is still lower than it was a couple of months ago. This reflects the steadying effects of TM on the ''fight-or flight'' responses, also known as the sympathetic nervous system.

'So we're getting this kind of soothing effect carrying through the day. And of more consequence even than blood pressure is its protective effects on diseases of the cardiovascular system, which as Dr John Hagelin mentioned,** are huge killers—greatly decreased in many studies by TM. And as you wouldn't be surprised, Transcendental Meditation has actually been shown in more than one study, to prolong life itself.

'But for me as a psychiatrist, one of the really intriguing things about Transcendental Meditation is its potential to help people psychologically, to relieve stress and distress in all the many forms it occurs. For example, many studies have shown that it reduces anxiety—and anxiety disorders could really be considered one of the major maladies of our age.

'The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that 40 million adults in any given year have some form of anxiety disorder. That's one in seven adults. These people feel an internal sense of their alarm bells ringing, even though there's no genuine stress. Or they're constantly feeling like they're under some kind of emergency signal. And there's actually nothing that's causing it.

'But as you can imagine, this really drains their resources, emotional and physical. And Transcendental Meditation can really help that.'

Dr Rosenthal went on to discuss the tremendous human and financial costs of PTSD—'a specific form of anxiety disorder'. He described recent research on Transcendental Meditation and PTSD with combat veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, which he conducted with Sarina Grosswald, EdD, published researcher on the effects of Transcendental Meditation on PTSD and ADHD, who spoke earlier in the conference.

Global Good News will feature more of Dr Rosenthal's presentation in the coming days.

See also Global Good News articles:
∙ 'Experts present research on benefits of Transcendental Meditation for veterans with PTSD'
∙ 'Dramatic improvement in PTSD in Iraq, Afghanistan veterans practising Transcendental Meditation'

* Norman E Rosenthal, MD, was a senior researcher in psychiatry and psychobiology for 20 years at the National Institute of Mental Health, and was the first to describe Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). He is clinical professor of psychiatry at Georgetown University Medical School, and conducted research on Transcendental Meditation and Iraq veterans with PTSD.

** World renowned quantum physicist Dr John Hagelin is President of the David Lynch Foundation

Watch replays of David Lynch Foundation live webcasts from New York City—13 December:

∙ Launch of 'Operation Warrior Wellness'
Paley Center for Media, New York City, 13 December - morning
Click here for replay.

∙ 'Change Begins Within' Benefit Gala
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 13 December - evening
Click here for replay.

Video
Healing the Wounds of PTSD Through Meditation

Links
DavidLynchFoundation.org
DoctorsonTM.org
DLF.TV — David Lynch Foundation Television

To view a bibliography of research on Transcendental Meditation, stress, and stress-related disorders, click here.

Global Good News comment:

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