The first documented case of psychological distress was reported in 1900 BCE, Egypt by an Egyptian physician who described a “hysterical” reaction to trauma (Veith 1965).

Railway spine was diagnosed in the nineteenth-century for the post-traumatic symptoms of passengers involved in railroad accidents. The first full length medical study of the condition was John Eric Erichsen’s On Railway and Other Injuries of the Nervous System, published in 1864. For this reason, railway spine is often known as “Erichsen’s disease”. Many physicians thought that the symptoms were due to the “excessive speeds” (about 30 mph), and that the human body could not cope with speeds that fast. It was later found to be purely psychological in origin, and no longer

exists as a valid disorder.[1][2]

There are numerous reports of military veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)-like symptoms for over 100 years. Veterans of the US Civil War who suffered emotional problems were diagnosed as being afflicted with “soldier’s heart” or Da Costa s Syndrome which shares many symptoms like PTSD. Shell shock was a term used to describe the condition of veterans of World War I who seemed emotionally disturbed in a similar fashion. In World War II, these symptoms were classified as “battle fatigue” or “combat fatigue”. Other terms used to describe military-related mood disturbances include “nostalgia”, “not yet diagnosed nervous”, “irritable heart”, “effort syndrome”, “war neurosis”, and “operational exhaustion”.[3][4][5][6][7]

PTSD first appeared

in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) in 1980. The criteria for PTSD has in part, socio-economic and political implications (Mezey & Robbins 2001). War veterans are the most publicly-recognized victims of PTSD; long-term psychiatric illness was formally observed in World War I veterans. The syndrome entered wide public consciousness after the Vietnam War.

More recently other life-threatening natural and manmade disasters, major public health problems, physical and sexual abuse incest and rape, violent trauma, domestic violence and accidents are included as criteria in a PTSD diagnosis.

The most effective approach to PTSD treatment is Holistic Healing using the unconscious mind a.k.a. healing emotional issues at the core. Holistic healing addresses the all-important relationship to one’s true

spiritual nature. Transforming the psychological conditional patterns and unconscious beliefs that arise from our personal histories and adaptations effectively transforms our mind, body and spirit.

Hypnosis has emerged as a dynamic and vital therapeutic modality embracing many disciplines with traditional and non-traditional practitioners in the treatment of PTSD. Hypnosis is client-centered with its focus on the discovery of the origin of a client’s issues. And through the process of hypnosis the unconscious mind goes to the original cause, which then gives the client and therapist the opportunity to process the original feelings surrounding the original experience or even thus the cause of the symptoms labeled PTST can be healed at the deepest level.

Thus, you transform how you feel,

sense, and experience global political mass consciousness, as well as your individual consciousness, like never before. A Mind, Body, Spirit approach addresses the three critical aspects of one’s being, therefore opening the door to true balance and emotional healing.

Well-being comes from the understanding of the Self, the family, the local community in which we live, and the global community of which we are a part. We are each one heart of the Whole; each heart here to express its unique piece of the Whole. Knowing Self creates a sense of “I as a piece of this Whole,” different and one at the same time.

American Health Magazine reported these findings from a comparison study.

Behavior Therapy:

Creates a 72% recovery after 22 sessions
Psychoanalysis: Creates a 38% recovery after 600 sessions
Hypnosis: Creates a 93% recovery after 6 sessions

1. Herbert W. Page, Injuries of the Spine and Spinal Cord Without Apparent Mechanical Lesion, and Nervous Shock, in their Surgical and Medico-Legal Aspects (London: J. & A. Churchill, 1883), p. 162.
2. Trimble, M. R. (1981) Post-Traumatic Neurosis, From Railway Spine to the Whiplash, Chichester: John Wiley & Sons.

3. Dispatches:Lessons learned for Soldiers; Stress Injury and Operational Deployments, The Army Lessons Learned Centre Canadian Forces Base Kingston, Vol 10, No.1, February 2004.

4. Posttraumatic Stress

Disorder Revisited, Friedhelm Lamprecht and Martin Sack, Psychosomatic Medicine 64:222-237 (2002)
5. PTSD and Older Veterans, National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, US Department of Veterans Affairs
6. Shell Shock to PTSD Military Psychiatry from 1900 to the Gulf War (Maudsley Monographs), Edgar Jones, Psychology Press; 1 edition (January 13, 2006), ISBN-10: 1841695807
7. Flashbacks and PTSD, D. M. Hambridge, and Author’s Reply, E. Jones, R. H. Vermaas, C. Beech and S. Wessely, H. McCartney, I. Palmer, K. Hyams, edited by Stanley Zammit, The British Journal of Psychiatry (2003) 183: 76-77.

Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, Life Coach, Hypnotherapist, Author, “101 Great Ways To Improve Your Life.” Mind, Body, Spirit healing and Physical/Sexual Abuse Prevention and Recovery. As an

inspirational leader, Dr. Neddermeyer empowers people to view life’s challenges as an opportunity for Personal/Professional Growth and Spiritual Awakening. http://www.drdorothy.net