PTSD, now frequently being referred to as PTS (Post Traumatic Stress), but still referred to as PTSD in this introduction, is a major problem, not just from returning veterans but also rape victims, victims of physical and emotional abuse, car accidents and other sources such as birth trauma which people often know very little about, therefore the need for birth truama awareness is crucial. Over the last few years it has become clear that PTSD is not just the result of experiencing a dramatic incident in war. It can also be the result of more ordinary and often repeated “domestic” trauma. The response to the trauma is more influential than the trauma itself. And studies have found an increased rate of marital breakup and suicide in those with PTSD. Much has been written about seeing this in returning veterans.

Clients who come to The Dubin Clinic with the diagnosis of PTSD typically report hyper-vigilance (always on the lookout for potential danger), insomnia, intrusive flashbacks, emotionally reliving traumatic events, over-reacting to sudden sounds and other abrupt stimuli, chronic anxiety, panic attacks and more. The nervous system is in a near constant state of over-arousal, with the environment experienced as a continual threat. It is as if the nervous system has forgotten how to return to a relaxed state, which is what a healthy nervous system automatically does after an actual or potential danger has receded.

One of the fundamental ways that Direct Neurofeedback works is by reducing the “fight or flight” response of the sympathetic peripheral nervous system while simultaneously enhancing the homeostatic or calming “rest and digest” parasympathetic nervous system. And this can be visibly seen in clients—posture and muscles relax, vision often seems brighter (from the pupils dilating), voices sound huskier (from muscles around the vocal cords relaxing) and speech slows down. Clients appear visibly more relaxed.

Currently the approach that research has shown to be the most effective, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is still very problematic. Clients are forced to confront their fears hoping that with exposure to the same memories but in a safe environment will gradually lead to a reduction of terror. This approach is very confrontational and many veterans and others are not willing to re-experience traumatic episodes. About half of those with PTSD who do start a course of CBT drop out because the recurrent exposure is too painful.

We have found combat veterans and others to be much less resistant to working with Direct Neurofeedback because it is so easy and not threatening and immediately relaxing. There is no reliving of events or experiences. This is particularly appealing to those who have already experienced other types of PTSD therapy. And we have found almost all our clients who work with Direct Neurofeedback continue to completion. The reason is they almost all report relaxation starting with the first session. Initial experiences of relaxation are relatively short (a few hours to a few days), but with additional sessions that sense of relaxation and emotional resilience become more durable and long lasting. There will be some patients out there who will turn to alternative medicines like medical marijuana to help treat their PTSD. Discussing it at length with a doctor and going to a fully lisenced distribution centre to get things like a $25 medical card online to be able to use this treatment is something that they may do, it is all about how the patient wants to do their treatment.