Operation PTSD: Veterans Healing Themselves Through Meditation | Erik Younger | TEDxWilmingtonWomen

22 Veterans will commit suicide each day due to PTSD.
Meditation can reduce the effects of PTSD allowing peace into a veteran’s life.
See how meditation is changing the lives of America’s veterans. When Erik Younger returned from combat, he thought he knew what the enemy looked like. But returning to civilian life held life-threatening perils of its own. Erik began experiencing chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, nightmares, hypervigilance, insomnia and depression along with other symptoms frustrating him and his doctors. In 2014, Erik was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, which has no cure. Roughly 22 veterans commit suicide every day and veterans make up 18% of the suicides in the US though they are only 8.5% of the population. Looking to provide hope and help for fellow soldiers suffering from PTSD, Erik founded Vetitation, a focused training program teaching veterans how to meditate. Pursuit of a daily meditation practice has provided Erik with release from the intense symptoms he experiences and he believes it can bring others dealing with traumatic stress happier, healthier lives. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@johncedricabad1092]

I'm not a veteran but I feel him deeply and I'm sorry for him and for all the people suffering from PTSD like me.

[@nickie88ful]

PTSD is so tough

[@maseol]

With a tear in my eye, i feel you man, really feel you. 19 years in the army, 3 tour til Afganistan, Iraq and Kosovo. i can really related, but WE are not alone and We can get through this also, together Brothers and Sister.

[@frankhartman323]

Its tough! I don't have a clue what I'm doing now most of the time now! I miss the brotherhood!

[@ahmadfarqualeet8584]

I have gone through PTSD It's Soo much hard to go through PTSD in Pakistan...... People in countries like America recognize mental illnesses but no one here Recognize these illnesses.... We are not mentally but also physicaly Alone here But My Father and family was able to recognize me and they supported me through intense periods. It was an exceptional case but I wonder how many other people with PTSD go through in countries like Pakistan

[@BRExteriorPro]

Probably alot. We are all human. Here in America they recognize it but not much help

[@macintoshimann9892]

Trauma is very strange I can relate to much of what he spoke about wit his physical health. I developed a full blown movement disorder after a car accident. Science says its neural damage but I'm getting my life back through meditation. What I'm learning is every bad thing my body does is in response to trauma. The very promising thing is there doesn't seem to be limits on the healing despite what science says! More research please!

[@anniewhite8373]

Powerful! He had everyone crying and clapping at the conference. Thanks for showing us masculinity and vulnerability can co-exist.

[@rosemarieloxton3279]

Brilliant talk right from the heart thank you. My brother needs this kind of help he's been suffering with PTSD for decades and at this moment he's in a state of crisis and I'm desperate to find a path through it for him. I'm a firm believer in meditation but we're in the UK and I'm telling a veteran to do meditation (not easy) but a programme like this is just what he needs. If anyone could share some pointers on where to find a programme like this in the UK I'd be very grateful. He's ex British army 'Royal Signals'.

[@minifix]

This is one of the most sincere, moving, and relevant talks I have ever heard. What a service he is rendering.

[@jonneiss7562]

Please note that there are a wide variety of meditation techniques and if one technique does not work, there are others to try. Also, meditation practice is a process. It can take time to take hold. So, have patience with letting the process do its work. Meditation is a term that has created confusion. If you go out fishing in a quiet nice place in nature and just enjoy the day...that itself is a meditation on nature. The truth is, everyone meditates, we just don't use the term. Practicing meditation techniques, just enhances a natural process that everyone engages anyway.

[@nickie88ful]

Awesome. Thank you!! As a psychotherapist working with Veterans I have found it very difficult to get patients to attempt to even try meditation. I am sending your video to those. SO HELPFUL

[@crazymerkz]

Can second this video. For me the breakthrough was an eeg measuring headband which tracks brainwaves (muse). Real time feedback and the regular tracking through an app really helped me overcome the stigma. Now my headband is as indispensable as alcohol and herbs were. Keep up the good work Barb!

[@rosemarieloxton3279]

I understand that my brother has struggled with PTSD for over 30 years "(British Army Signals Regiment) He's in a state of crisis and I'm trying to find him a way through it. This video streams the solution for him as it's a veteran talking to a veteran so I live in hope. 🙏

[@nickie88ful]

@@rosemarieloxton3279 Always keep hope

[@shannonolear7697]

This is so important. Thank you for your bravery.

[@Vineeth..v]

This is the wisdom from experience. The is way out of pain and suffering and continue to help others. Well deserved standing ovation.

[@amybrown3307]

You are soooo correct!! It is so frustrating with the VA, who believe that more and more medication is the solution for everything when it’s Not. My husband has struggled for the past 6 mos after having Covid 19 which exacerbated his PTSD to a point to where he lost his job of 10 years as a police officer in our town, a job he loved!! This was and is no ordinary PTSD it carried along with it some severe and debilitating anxiety and depression. All he does is sleep all day every day. He says it’s his only relief from the emotionlessness that he says he gets tired of talking himself off of the ledge each and every day. I’ve searched and searched and searched since august 2021 for something that would help because the VA obviously wasn’t helping at all. He was on 7 different meds of which NONE were working in the least. And thank GOD I found a non profit organization that is going to pay for him to go and get treatment which includes 40 Hyperberic oxygen treatments and a more Holistic approach to blood tests. Because lord knows the standard doctors and labs in America who test our blood use a scale where the range of “normal” is as wide as the Empire State Building. Which is NOT EVEN CLOSE TO CORRECT.

[@amybrown3307]

Well he got HBOT and ketamine infusion, acupuncture, chiropractor adjustments, and vitamin infusions, none of which has worked or even helped. He’s waiting to get TMS therapy as we speak. I hope and pray it works! I need my husband back!

[@nemrak4385]

Erik Younger, your an awesome person! May i just say your a funny dude! I had some heartfelt laughs thank to you ❤ thank you for your service! May God bless you, heal you completely, keep you safe and use you to help all veterans get healing from their PTSD!

[@dommarcilla7982]

This story gave me goose bumps.

[@WaterWyndz]

Hope requires action. Outstanding work Erik! Thank you for your life. 🙌❤️

[@saoirse108]

Every school kid should hear this, maybe the US would be less war-pushing, less kids would die to become soldier.

[@AlexiaVernon]

I had the privilege of seeing this talk live and Erik, and his message, have left an indelible imprint on me. Like Annie, I could watch this talk over and over again and continue to have new discoveries.

[@Siobhan94404]

God bless you. Thank you for your service...thank you for your story....thank you for your profound interest in healing yourself and fellow veterans. You are a true hero!

[@josephwilliams5399]

Thank you

[@anniewhite8373]

I wish I could like this talk 100 times

[@ThePhilMuz]

God bless you 💪

[@rishikeshsarang5593]

A big thankyou

[@sandraguti46]

You are awesome!!! Great JOB

[@apkreviewbangla366]

A very beautiful video. I like it very much

[@MorganLeeModelxo]

This was beautiful 😢

[@waltergodsoe5526]

No, thank you. The only relief from PTSD I have ever known, were retreats held by Insight Seminars, meditation is at the heart of them. Though PTSD returns haunting me into old age.

[@rishikeshsarang5593]

thankyou erik brother

[@mdrejumia3632]

Thanks

[@tedxwilmington4139]

Such a moving talk, Erik. Just as powerful as I remember in person. What a pleasure to have you on the TEDxWilmington stage. -evan

[@payalk2898]

Many of us who dont fight get for their country, do not know how to turn off this stress response. Dr Joe Dispenza teaches how to turn off this vigilance through meditation, he calls it the survival or the fight/flight mode.

[@rishikeshsarang5593]

Thankyou so much from full heart 💓

[@Shortysding]

Excellent talk.

[@TheDivefree1]

Great video!

[@mikegrant5721]

I'm 65 years old until the same way

[@rishikeshsarang5593]

Maha maha maha thanx

[@nickricholetti754]

✊🏼✊🏼✊🏼✊🏼✊🏼✊🏼

[@rishikeshsarang5593]

Maha maha thanxx

[@husainsattar4671]

Anyone know how to contact him or a webpage for his organisation?

[@davidfrazier7662]

I really need your help I'm a marine veteran every second of everyday I want to die

[@BRExteriorPro]

Is there a link to this website? I have been looking for this organization and I can't find it

[@martysnider9188]

I'm a disabled veteran that has been left to suffer and die from my injuries during military service. Can anyone help me

[@Padavic165]

How can I get ahold of him and his organization?

[@staceywi2288]

👏👏👏

[@GabrielofAdonai]

Its mind boggling to me that thenptsd vids have the least views. Infuriating. Actually.

[@paradoxsoul248]

😍

[@user-lb8oj5qo4r]

👆👌💊🍄👆👆

[@BeatsByClover]

Meditation doesn't work

[@alvarobg4082]

It's a tool, is not the cure.

[@muxammilshaikh]

The Best way to get No Scars is to avoid going on WAR ...!!

[@timothythompson7750]

That's a bold statement sir. Quite bold indeed!