Kristina Derro
\nVeteran Advocate<\/p>\n
The University of Michigan<\/a> and the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System<\/a> teamed up to study the effects of mindfulness training among veterans suffering from PTSD<\/a>; the positive results of the study came as a surprise even to the researchers. Mindfulness training can be thought of as a form of meditation and yoga.<\/p>\n Veterans often describe their PTSD symptoms as \u201can endless video loop, horrible memories, and thoughts\u2026 they intrude at the quietest moments, and don\u2019t seem to have an off switch.\u201d Researchers hoped that mindfulness training could create that \u201coff switch\u201d these veterans are lacking.<\/p>\n The study was completed over 4 months of weekly sessions where veterans learned to focus on in-the-moment attention and awareness. The surprising effects were realized when researchers compared the pre- and post-study fMRI (functional MRI) brain scans.<\/p>\n Prior to the training, there was extra activity in brain regions involved in responding to threats or other outside problems. (more…)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Kristina Derro Veteran Advocate The University of Michigan and the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System teamed up to study the effects of mindfulness training among veterans suffering from PTSD; the positive results of the study came as a surprise even…<\/span><\/p>\n