African PTSD Relief
Reducing the horror caused by violence and war
In the past 20 years, 18 African nations have been ravaged by war. It is estimated that up to 100 million Africans have been victims of war, violence, sexual abuse or natural disasters or witnessed horrific acts of terror and now suffer from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
PTSD can be disabling. Its influence ripples out, affecting the lives of friends and families, co-workers, communities- and the nation as a whole. In many ways, PTSD disorder keeps affected communities under the shadow of trauma, even after the overt disturbance has passed.
Our approach: rapid and significant reductions in PTSD
Traumatic experiences leave an indelible impression in the victim’s brain leading to persistent flashbacks, inability to relate to others, disassociation, constant fear, hyper alertness, insomnia, isolation, drug abuse and frequent outbursts of uncontrollable anger. Individuals suffering from PTSD need a procedure to neutralise this neurophysiological condition.
Two recent peer reviewed studies, published in the Journal of Traumatic Stress demonstrate that Transcendental Meditation® (TM®) can help relieve PTSD symptoms in African refugees. These studies extend earlier research reporting that TM practice significantly reduces PTSD symptoms in Vietnam and Iraq/Afghanistan War veterans.
Study 1
In this 135-day study, 90% of refugees with high levels of PTSD symptoms decreased to non-symptomatic levels within 30 days of learning Transcendental Meditation. In contrast, the non-meditating control group showed no reduction in PTSD symptoms.
Reference: Journal of Traumatic Stress 26: 295-298, 2013.
Study 2
War refugees exhibited clinically significant reductions of PTSD symptoms within 10 days of learning Transcendental Meditation in this second study. Over the subsequent 30 days, practitioners continued to experience reductions in PTSD symptoms.
Reference: Journal of Traumatic Stress 27: 112-115, 2014.
About Transcendental Meditation
Transcendental Meditation (TM) is a simple and natural technique that can be universally learned by anyone regardless of age, educational background or walk of life. TM produces a unique and profound state of rest and relaxation by eliminating stress and restoring healthy, coherent cognitive functioning. Transcendental Meditation is not associated with any religion, philosophy or doctrine.
Survivors of war, violence, sexual abuse and natural disasters are able to overcome traumatic stress and re-establish a positive state of physical, emotional and social well-being by practising TM.
African PTSD Relief can help survivors of war, violence, sexual abuse, and natural disasters overcome the effects of traumatic stress and re-establish a positive state of physical, emotional and social well-being by making TM available to sufferers of PTSD in Africa.
Over 340 published research studies and $26 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health document the efficacy of TM for reducing stress-related disorders and promoting mental and physical health.
Support African PTSD Relief
Over the next year, African PTSD Relief plans to provide the TM technique to 5,000–10,000 Africans suffering from or at risk of PTSD and rapidly scale up over the subsequent years.
African PTSD Relief will work with top humanitarian organizations and NGOs to empower the victims of decades of war and violence in Africa. When people can overcome traumatic stress and overwhelming suffering in their lives, they experience a rapid rise in health, happiness and success.
