REGINA – Post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, has recently made headlines across the country after a number of first responders took their own lives.
Now, a new study out of the University of Regina is researching different symptoms and treatment options which is supported by local veteran, Jason McKenzie.
Originally from Moose Jaw, McKenzie joined the military after high school and was soon after deployed to former Yugoslavia.
He said he currently lives with PTSD and explained that his own experiences motivated him to join two friends on a cross country trek to raise awareness on the often misunderstood disorder this summer.
“After returning home my behavior completely changed. I self medicated with alcohol, and I was a completely different person,” McKenzie explained. “There was life before the military and my life after. It’s not even the same person.”
Dr. Gordon Asmundson is leading the study to determine if regular exercise can reduce symptoms of PTSD.
He said he’ll be examining a group who exercises, a group receiving psychotherapy and a group receiving both over a 12 week period.
“If we demonstrate exercise alone is effective in eliminating symptoms of PTSD then we have a treatment that’s easily accessible to anybody that has the ability to exercise,” he added.
Chris Lindford served in the Canadian military for 33 years and shared his struggles with PTSD in the book, ‘A Warrior Rising.’
He explained that exercise has been fundamental in his treatment, but add it doesn’t act alone.
“I could do the hard work and therapy sessions but then getting out every day, walking first, and running and poking around at yoga, that really helped to round up my therapy.”
The Canadian Institute of Health Research has funded the $450, 000 study.
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