Health News: Top Stories

Coping with PTSD
by Richard W. Schneider, RADM USCGR (Ret.),
President of Norwich University

Politico Translate This Article
8 May 2012

'A 2011 Norwich University study, with funding from the David Lynch Foundation and the Educational Foundation of America, showed the positive effects that Transcendental Meditation can have on helping students cope with the stresses of leadership in being a member of the Norwich University Corps of Cadets,' writes the University's 23rd president, Richard W. Schneider, RADM USCGR (Ret.), in Politico. 'TM has proven to be a highly effective coping strategy and has set a high bar to further explorations and research.'

The article was published 3 May 2012, the day of the National Summit on 'Resilience, the Brain and Meditation,' held in Washington, DC, at which more than 130 military and governmental leaders and medical researchers gathered to investigate the extensive scientific evidence and clinical experience using the Transcendental Meditation technique to promote resilience and overcome post-traumatic stress disorder among active-duty military personnel, veterans, and cadets.

Dr Schneider spoke at the conference and received the 2012 'Resilient Warrior Award' from Operation Warrior Wellness, a division of the David Lynch Foundation.

Other speakers included W. Scott Gould, Deputy Secretary, US Veterans Administration.

'Developing military leaders who are smart, strong and courageous—both on and off of the battlefield—is essential,' Dr Schneider writes in the Politico article. 'We are still learning how to create soldiers prepared for the emotional wounds of war. We need to teach coping skills to help these men and women reduce the terrible effects of post-traumatic stress disorder.'

Describing the terrible problems with PTSD suffered by 500,000 combat veterans who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, he also notes that 'even military cadets, when in a highly disciplined and rigorous academic environment, can feel similarly overwhelmed. Under intense stress, many men and women just give up. . . . We must give them the tools they need' to become our successful future leaders.

He also highlights initial results of the ongoing Norwich TM research, including 'reduced perceived stress, improved constructive thinking, decreased state anxiety, increased behavioral coping and reduced depression', acknowledging the David Lynch Foundation's work in providing TM to high-risk individuals and groups including the military.

Click here to read the full article by Richard W. Schneider, RADM USCGR (Ret.) in Politico.

© Copyright 2012 Politico

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