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Reply to the post, state whether you agree with your peers. Read and respond in a scholarly fashion, commenting on how they incorporated theory with evidence-based practice. At a minimum, your response should be three to four paragraphs of three to four sentences each.
Experiencing traumatic events can have a devastating and lasting effect on how the person functions cognitively, emotionally, behaviorally as well as physiologically. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5th edition (DSM5) as a group of symptoms in four clusters; 1) recurrent intrusive recall of the trauma, 2) continuously avoiding painful stimuli related to the event, 3) negative altered cognition and mood, 4) continuous symptoms of elevated arousal or mood reactivity (APA, 2013). The symptoms must be present greater than one month (APA, 2013). Those who have been diagnosed with PTSD report traumatic events such as being sexually abuse, suffering from violence, witnessing acts of violence, surviving natural disaster and catastrophic events and being burn survivors.
Mindfulness and Child
Research has shown that half of all children experience trauma in their lives and 10 to 30% will develop PTSD because of the traumatic event. PTSD in the child can interfere with their social and educational function and is related to long-term consequences such as anxiety, somatic symptoms, and suicide (Cervin et al., 2021). Mindfulness in children can help them manage physiological, emotional, and behavioral consequences related to trauma and PTSD. Research has shown mindfulness in children can help reduce stress related to school, improve classroom behavior, executive function, and attention, and decrease the severity of PTSD symptoms (Ortiz & Sibinga, 2017). Because mindfulness will help reduce the stimulation of physiologic stress responses, that occur in trauma and PTSD, the child’s short- and long-term outcomes will improve, thus decreasing poor health outcomes that may develop later in life (Ortiz & Sibinga, 2017). The literature notes when the parents and teachers participate in the process of mindfulness with the child, their outcomes are improved (Ortiz & Sibinga, 2017). Some examples of mindful programs for children include Inner Resilience Program, Mindful Schools and Learning to breathe. Mindful Schools is a program that can be taught in children with Autism, attention-deficit hyperactive disorder and children who have experienced trauma. Sessions are focused on different aspects of mindfulness such as using mindful breathing, listening, being aware of the body, thoughts, and emotions, gaining knowledge and performing corresponding skills. Students start by being taught the basics of mindfulness. They learn how to maintain a “mindful posture”, by remaining still and sitting quietly with their eyes closed or to look downward (Juliano et al., 2020). The students are taught to notice how still bodies, cause the mind to become quiet. Students can be taught how to listen mindfully, by paying attention to environmental sounds. The session can be started with a mindful tone. During this session, students should be instructed on how to listen for specific sounds and educated on how the sounds could be helpful in mindful listening (Juliano et al., 2020). Another session can include teaching students mindful breathing. Students can be instructed on “an anchor spot.” Anchor spots can include tip of the nose, the rising and falling of the stomach while learning to “stay at their base” (Juliano et al., 2020). Additional sessions can be taught about mindful thoughts and body awareness (Juliano et al., 2020).
Mindfulness and Adolescence
Adolescents who experience trauma and PTSD are shown to present with reports of feeling numb and dissociated from their bodies (Wheeler, 2021). This separation from bodily sensations is a form of escape for the body to protect itself from re-experiencing emotional suffering or physical pain. Mindfulness-based therapies can help teens become re-acquainted with their physical self by releasing the stress that is left behind from trauma and build a new connection to a felt sense of safety. Using tools like breathwork and meditation, mindfulness can retrain the brain and calm the nervous system from a state of anxiety, panic and depression (Calvete et al., 2022). An example of how to walk a client through this training would be to re-visit a traumatic event with guided assistance of how to process the emotions and feelings that get triggered. The client can verbalize where they feel the stress in their body and then identify what emotion is coming up for them. Next, the focus can shift to checking in with the breath and to see how long it takes to get distracted from concentrating on the quality of the breathing itself. Research shows that this work can help with adolescents who engage in non-suicidal injury as a method to control impulses and stop intrusive thoughts that arise during stressful situations (Calevete et al., 2022).
Mindfulness and Adults
Interpersonal distress, “rejection sensitivity” and psychological symptoms can be improved in adults by using mindfulness-based techniques (Joss et al., 2020). Adults that practice mindfulness who have experienced trauma or PTSD in their childhood have been shown not only to become more mindful and have a reduction in attachment issues but become more empathetic. Mindfulness that creates space for empathy in the trauma victims’ life, helps them reduce the emotional numbness and distress experienced by the trauma (Joss et al., 2020). Other areas of improvement using mindfulness in adults includes increased performance in interpersonal situations, the development of non-judgmental acceptance and the reduction in social anxiety. Additionally, mindfulness creates higher relationship satisfaction and reduces relationship stress in married couples. Some of the meditation skills to use with adults include being aware of the breath, scanning the body, practicing yoga-based mindfulness, and practicing meditation while walking (Joss et al., 2020). Patients with a history of trauma could possibly develop an elevated emotional reaction when using the scanning of the body skill or meditations skills that require longer periods of sitting, so for this reason the gentle movement meditation may be better for the trauma patient. Additionally, the “three-minute breathing space” practice has been used in combat veterans with PTSD (Joss et al., 2020).
Mindfulness and Older Adults
Research supports using mindfulness techniques with older adults to help with physical, emotional and mental health (Parra et al., 2019). PTSD in older adults can be harder to detect due to generational attitudes towards mental health issues and a lack of understanding with how getting help can improve one’s quality of life (Wheeler, 2020). A recent study used MSBR with a group of adults aged 65-85 consisting of mindful meditation exercises based on the works of Jon Kabat-Zinn (Parra et al., 2019). The participants in the study experienced behavioral changes that developed into healthier lifestyle choices and overall satisfaction with life. A treatment plan option I would offer to an older adult client suffering from PTSD would be to offer an 8-week MBSR program with regular weekly sessions culminating with an all-day silent retreat with the goal of establishing new habits and patterns of processing information to better manage the impact of PTSD (Wheeler, 2020). Activities offered would include daily yoga, journaling, body scans, relaxation and guided meditations and regular, open discussions (Wheeler, 2020). This immersive technique offers the benefit of close observation and rigorous repetition to ensure new brain pathways are developing and adequate support is in place for growth. Stress reduction mindfulness training in older adults has a great public health value and should be encouraged in community centers and by healthcare providers.
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