(Note: Our office will be closed today in recognition of the holiday.)

Before I get into today’s message, I would like to pay tribute on this Veteran’s Day to two veterans who are very dear to me—my father and my son-in-law.

Sadly, my dad has passed, but I will be forever grateful to him for having left high school as a football star in his senior year to join the Navy and ultimately fight in World War II.

And my son-in-law (who is now part of our Holistic Blends family, transporting our products from the manufacturer to our business location!) selflessly served in the US Army. Thank you, Brian.

Now for today’s message:

Today is Veteran’s Day, and while it may be easy to simply enjoy the day off, its meaning is much deeper than that.

Were it not for the incredibly brave and selfless men and women who were willing to fight and sacrifice their lives for our freedoms, our lives would look vastly different today.

And even if these courageous men and women were fortunate enough to survive, that doesn’t mean that they came home unscarred.

That includes my dad.

My dad was a Navy gunner during WWII and saw unspeakable horrors as his ship was hit in the South Pacific and his friends instantly perished around him.

Following his retirement after serving 20 years in the Navy, he spent most of his later life as an alcoholic…and as a kid, I just avoided him as much as I could.

What I didn’t understand then but do now was that my dad was suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Unfortunately like many other vets in that time period, my dad chose alcohol as his coping mechanism.

It’s not limited to the military

Although PTSD frequently affects people in the military, many others are suffering too! ANYONE who has witnessed or suffered a severe, shocking, or life-threatening event may develop PTSD.

That includes people who have experienced a natural disaster, abuse or assault, an accident, serious illness or the death of a loved one.

And it’s more common than most people realize too.

Experts estimate that about 7 out of 10 US adults will experience a traumatic event at some point in their lives, and about 20 percent of those will go on to suffer PTSD.

Interestingly enough, I believe I too was affected by PTSD. 

My dad died suddenly during the night from a heart attack when I was 15 and I was awakened by my mother screaming when she found him. I had nightmares and insomnia for months afterwards.

More than flashbacks

Our understanding of PTSD has grown in the last several decades, and there is a whole lot more than flashbacks going on.

PTSD may also include severe anxiety, depression, angry outbursts, nightmares, insomnia, refusal to discuss the event, being tense and on edge, and suicidal ideation.

There are also physical issues too. Researchers have found that people with PTSD have abnormally elevated levels of certain stress hormones, especially adrenaline.

Chronically elevated levels of stress hormones can wreak havoc in the gut microbiome, ruin digestion and weaken immune function.

The go-to treatment for PTSD is usually medication—antidepressants or anti-anxiety meds. While these may be helpful in getting relief in some instances, in others they do absolutely no good at all!

Plus let’s not forget these drugs come with a plethora of side effects which can include worsening anxiety or depression.

Beyond medication

Thankfully, there are safer ways to help with PTSD, starting with psychotherapy with a skilled therapist.

Many therapists have contended that cognitive behavioral therapy (examining thoughts to determine how they affect behaviors and self-perception) is very effective for PTSD sufferers.

In addition, here are some other natural ways to help bring about relief and healing:

Acupuncture

Acupuncture can help balance the energy flows in the body and induce relaxation, both of which can help reduce anxiety and stress levels. Acupuncture is my go-to during stressful times.

Relaxation techniques

These include deep breathing, meditation, stretching, prayer and yoga.

Yoga in particular has an impact on the physical workings behind PTSD because it affects the vagus nerve—a large bundle of fibers that connects your brain and many internal organs, sending chemical messages and signals between the two.

Studies have shown that you can directly influence the type of hormonal and chemical signals sent from the body to the brain…so if the body is encouraged to relax, similar messages will also be sent to the brain!

Regular exercise

Regular exercise is a natural antidepressant. While it may be difficult for someone suffering from PTSD and other mental health issues to feel the motivation to exercise, the end result is definitely positive.

Stress and nutritional support

Stress harms your gut, which in turn impacts your immune function, digestion and absorption of nutrients, so it’s essential to give your body the support it needs to combat those harmful effects.

Plus, most of your body’s serotonin (your natural antidepressant) is manufactured in your gut, so a healthy gut is vital when battling depression!

The best place to start is with a nutritious diet of wholesome real foods, including meats, fish and poultry, eggs, healthy fats, fresh vegetables and fruits. These are the foods that will give your body (and mind!) the nutrients they need to work properly.

At the same time, it’s crucial to avoid sugar, refined carbs and processed foods. They do not provide any measurable levels of nutrients, they create inflammation (which can affect your gut and mental health) and they pack the pounds on you to boot.

In addition, a full spectrum probiotic formula like Super Shield can help support and repopulate the friendly bacteria in your microbiome and counteract the harmful effects of stress on the gut.

Also helpful for mental health are Omega-3 fatty acids. Since our diets typically don’t provide nearly what we need (since most of us don’t eat oily fish 7 days a week), a top-notch fish oil formula like VitalMega-3 can provide health-supporting levels of these crucial fats, including the all-important EPA and DHA.

Reach out

People with PTSD have also found it helpful to join PTSD or other mental health support groups or to take advantage of volunteer opportunities in the community.

If you or someone you love has PTSD, take comfort in the fact that there are several ways to bring about healing and relief and do whatever you need to do to make that happen.

To your health,

Sherry Brescia