I’ve been so busy posting everywhere else, I forgot to put a blog post on my own website! In my role as Ph.D. candidate/researcher, I am now conducting my research study for my dissertation. I knew finding participants would be difficult, but I didn’t know it would be this difficult. I am looking for adults in the Bay Area who have both post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic low-back pain. There is a significant overlap between the two conditions, and they appear to be connected through muscle tension. Very little is known right now about how to help people who have both conditions.
The study is important to me for more than just finishing my Ph.D. I truly believe that self-help muscle relaxation techniques can be beneficial for people who have both PTSD and chronic low-back pain, but there is no published research in this area to date. Lack of funds, lack of access, lack of time, stigma, and side effects are all reasons people may not seek out traditional medical treatments. Having a self-help technique, rather than having to go to a professional for treatment, could mean that many people who do not currently seek treatment or who have given up might find some relief.
Perhaps you are someone who suffers with these conditions, or you have a loved one who does. Maybe you are a medical or mental health professional who treats people with one or the other condition and have never asked your patients/clients if they have the other. Many people who see a doctor for back pain will not volunteer that they also have PTSD, and many people who see a therapist for PTSD will not mention having chronic pain. If you are any of the above, please check out this web page or contact me for more information. Be well! http://www.cygnustransformations.com/research-central/muscle-relaxation-study/