By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Transcendental Meditation: Benefits, News, & MoreTranscendental Meditation: Benefits, News, & More
  • Benefits
  • People
  • News
  • Books & Videos
  • Learn Meditation
  • Submit an Article
Reading: Dramatic PTSD relief for African refugees
Share
Aa
Transcendental Meditation: Benefits, News, & MoreTranscendental Meditation: Benefits, News, & More
Aa
  • Benefits
  • People
  • News
  • Books & Videos
  • Learn Meditation
  • Submit an Article
Search
  • Benefits
  • People
  • News
  • Books & Videos
  • Learn Meditation
  • Submit an Article
  • Advertise
© 2022 TMhome.com
Transcendental Meditation: Benefits, News, & More > Benefits > Dramatic PTSD relief for African refugees
Benefits

Dramatic PTSD relief for African refugees

Mary Swift
Last updated: 2022/11/06 at 1:16 PM
Mary Swift
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE

Discover how Transcendental Meditation can transform your life: reduce stress,  more happiness and boost energy. Click to learn more.

A significant percentage of veterans returning from wars exhibit symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This is now recognized as a serious health problem, but what about the victims of such violence? Refugees live with the constant reminder of what war has done to their lives and those of their families.

A randomized / matched study published in the April 2013 issue of Journal of Traumatic Stress (Vol 26/2, pp 295-298) measured the severity of PTSD symptoms in refugees in Africa before and after learning the Transcendental Meditation technique. The reductions were dramatic.

42 refugees from the Congolese civil war, living in Uganda, were assigned to learn Transcendental Meditation (TM) immediately or wait until after the study. The participants were matched on age, gender and severity of symptoms at baseline. All participants were given the PTSD Checklist (PCL) at baseline, and 30-day and 135-day after learning TM meditation.

Graph on sciectific research results on PTSD and Transcendental Mediation -- study of effect on African refugees from the civil wars of Congo
While a drop in 11 points on this measure is considered clinically significant, Transcendental Meditation practice led to three times that drop in PTS symptoms after 30 days practice. Graph credit: Maharishi University of Management.

PCL scores in the control group trended upward from baseline to the two post-tests. In contrast, PCL scores in the TM group went from high at baseline, indicating severe post-traumatic stress symptoms, to a non-symptomatic level after 30-days Transcendental Meditation practice, and remained low at 135-days.

Colonel-Brian-Rees Lead author of the study on Transcendental meditation effect on posttraumatic stress disorder on refugees from Congo
Lead author of the study, Col Brian Rees MD, MPH.

“We anticipated improvement, but I didn’t expect this magnitude of change. The continued improvement at four months also led us to conclude that Transcendental Meditation may be a very worthwhile intervention for anyone suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.”

Dr Fred Travis co-author of the study on Transcendental meditation effect on posttraumatic stress disorder on refugees from Congo
Co-author Fred Travis, Ph.D., Maharishi University of Management.

“I was surprised to see how quickly Transcendental Meditation practice had an effect on posttraumatic stress symptoms in these refugees, who had no home, no job, and very little support from their environment. These findings suggest that TM may be an effective antidote to the rising incidence of PTS in the world.”

The following video was taken of Esperance Ndozi, one of the Congolese refugees participating in the study. She was interviewed before learning the TM technique, and one week after regularly practicing it twice a day. The transformation was noticeable. Video credit: David Lynch Foundation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goWNosrfFvI&playnext=1&list=PLUyyzUdEYObOk9j2u351S1KwhMX8UgUbI

A person with PTSD may be hyper-vigilant, sleep poorly, distrust others, have memory problems, and have difficulty making decisions and following through. Traumatized populations are challenged both by outer circumstances and by inner conditions to help themselves. Thus, posttraumatic stress symptoms are resistant to change by usual therapy. Reductions in posttraumatic stress in African refuges replicate findings in previous research with Vietnam veterans and Iraqi / Afghanistan veterans.

— Ken Chawkin,
Maharishi University of Management

MORE INFORMATION:
Africa PTSD Relief, a non-profit project aiming to reduce the pandemic of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder throughout Africa

Discover how Transcendental Meditation can transform your life: reduce stress,  more happiness and boost energy. Click to learn more.

Recent Posts

  • How meditation may save you from harmful levels of stress
  • Unveiling Serenity: How Transcendental Meditation Unleashes Inner Calm During Anxiety
  • Discover how Transcendental Meditation can improve your life: reduce stress & boost energy
  • Quotes: beat anxiety and stress with TM
  • Ann Purcell: Kindness – We All Want It
TAGGED: Africa, meditation research, PTSD, refugees, scientific articles
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Copy Link Print
Share
Previous Article Report: TM lowers blood pressure
Next Article New York firefighters relieve stress with meditation

Search

Latest News

How meditation may save you from harmful levels of stress
Benefits May 31, 2023
Unveiling Serenity: How Transcendental Meditation Unleashes Inner Calm During Anxiety
Benefits May 28, 2023
transcendental meditation
Discover how Transcendental Meditation can improve your life: reduce stress & boost energy
Benefits March 3, 2023
Quotes: beat anxiety and stress with TM
Benefits March 2, 2023
Ann Purcell: Kindness – We All Want It
Benefits February 17, 2023
Author Pat Barrett talks about the inspiration behind his book ‘A Readable Yoga’
Books & Videos January 11, 2023
transcendental meditation
Transcendental Meditation: Technique and Benefits
Benefits January 2, 2023

Stay Connected

686k Followers Like
85k Followers Follow
2k Followers Pin
155k Followers Follow
127k Subscribers Subscribe
//

Bringing health, happiness, and well-being to society

Privacy Policy

Contact Us

Quick Links

  • Benefits
  • People
  • News
  • Books & Videos
  • Learn Meditation
  • Submit an Article

Top Categories

  • Meditation Research
  • Videos on TM
  • Testimonials
  • Interviews
  • Benefits of TM

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

© 2022 TMhome.com
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?