Before going any further, please note the following reminder:

The PTSD Retreat Rafio Talk Show is for Information/ Educational purposes ONLY. To make any changes or to ass any suggestion to your lifestyle, please consult your doctor or mental health professional first.

This question was given to me by an individual who loves to exercise a LOT, but has a negative impact on her body both physically and psychologically: can't sleep has jitters, etc. Here is my response below, but I would love to have some medical/mental health professionals weigh in as well, especially if my response is inadequate. Thanks! (If I do not receive a response I will consider that good news as well-it means it is accurate information and you are happy with the answer as a professional! Thank you!)



Nic



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In answer to the question, when you are dealing with a cortisol buildup, as you describe it, it is a lot like a sleep deficit. When you are so depleted of your sleep, it takes a long time to get yourself back on track. The same applies to stress in the body. Especially if we are the "work hard, play hard" group of people who are the hard-chargers, go-get-'em types. One of the ways I like to describe it is through an example using a drinking glass. If you would indulge me by doing this, I would appreciate it.



Please get the glass before continuing.



Now look at that glass. Is it empty or full?



Technically it is full, full of air. To give you a different reference, this is also your body. Even when empty we are still full: full of emotions, thoughts, feelings, etc.



Now, look at the glass again. If it is full, can we add more to it?



Technically we can. Because while it is filled with air, we can put stuff into it. The air will move, overflow the glass and merge with other elements, but we can still put things in. Let us start with a bit of water. No more than an inch or so.

Now that water is representing a trauma in our lives. We all experience trauma. No matter how we react to it, process it- all that really doesn't matter. The fact is we all have trauma. BUT, that said, if we do not process it, it sits there. One of the big issues with us as military we are taught to compartmentalize it. Meaning, we tend to "deal with it later" instead of processing it immediately. The problem with this mentality is that a lot of times we do not get back to the trauma that goes unprocessed because another trauma comes, maybe even a few traumas. Put another 2 inches of water in the glass.



What are you noticing with the glass?



It is filling up and becoming full. What happens when a glass is full and we keep putting in more water?



It overflows. Just like our body when we put too much stress, or 'trauma' into it. This can look like symptoms of PTSD, inability to sleep, inability to stay awake, fatigue, temper tantrums and much much more.



And, sometimes it only takes one trauma to do this, to cause overflow.



Further, just as it takes a little bit of time, sometimes our whole lives to build up to that point of overflow, so too does it take time to reverse the process and reach our baseline balanced state. In other words, it does not just happen overnight, or even in a single moment. It takes time. Do not be in a rush to get back to the adrenaline junky life. Or, if you prefer, to the exercise driven life.



If you are finding yourself going above and beyond stress wise, but still need to workout in some form, I would suggest switching to yoga-if you want a challenge that will stress your carcass (lol), then go to a Bikram Yoga class. You only goal for that day: to stay for the entire hour. Note, I did not say to be able to do everything. The goal is simply not to leave. I have seen professional athletes fail this one goal because it can be that challenging. That said, I have also seen a 350lb woman able to do the entire class and all the moves as well as the instructor. (She had been doing this for a while and had lost over 100lbs doing the class consistently over time. To my knowledge she is still doing it.) Yoga is a series of stretches that will relax the body instead of give it that "jolt". It is not just a regular 'bend over and touch your toes' stretch but a really good workout. Ask some of the NFL players doing yoga if it is easy or "just for girls".

I hope this assists you with your own struggles or questions. If you do Bikram Yoga, please share your experiences. If you have another alternative, please share those as well. To know more about The PTSD Retreat, or to submit your own questions, please go to www.theptsdretreat.org and submit your questions via the contact form. Thank you!




Your host,

D. Nicole Johnson Starr
The PTSD Retreat
www.theptsdretreat.org